BOTTOM LINE: We need to be right w/God before we can help others get right w/God.

INTRO

What comes to mind when you see…

  • Trump
  • Biden
  • Mr. Beast
  • Taylor
  • Johnny Depp

What do all these people have in common? You judged them without actually ever meeting them in person.

A study shows that we automatically judge people after 30 milliseconds.

TENSION

Have you ever been judged? How did that feel?

(Series recap) Tonight, we’re looking to what Jesus has to say about judging others.

We need to be right w/God before we can help others get right w/God.

TRUTH

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

  • Background: Jesus’ greatest sermon ever. His disciples came to him, and he taught them. It wasn’t for the church but should be applied to the church. Themes are the kingdom, repentance, happy life, and greater righteousness.
  • Context: Living today for that day; What to do with treasures and money, knowing God will judge us. Sandwiched between anxiety and asking.
    • Dr. Quarles: Believes chapter division should be after 7:6.

Four things to do when you feel judgy:

  1. Take a seat (v. 1a).

People take this sermon to two extremes:

  • Never be discerning about anything and be ok with everything (license).
  • See, it’s in the Bible! We get to judge people!
  • Both of these attitudes reveal issues in your heart.

Context – Jesus was speaking to a hyper-critical audience.

  • They were upset that Jesus healed a lame man on the Sabbath (John 5).
  • They made extra-Biblical rules and taught them as right and wrong (Matthew 15:1-9).
  • They “trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt” (Luke 18:9).
  • They weren’t judging people because of sin, but because of their personality, weaknesses, the way they looked/dressed, and the way they did things differently.

This doesn’t mean:

  • People in authority shouldn’t make right judgments.
  • Believers shouldn’t be discerning (see v.6).
  • Believers shouldn’t help others get right w/God in a sin issue.
  • Learn a lesson (v. 1b-4).

The lesson: Being critical reveals self-righteousness, and opens us up to being judged by the Great Judge.

  • Judging someone else w/o being willing to hold yourself to the same standard.

Lesson One: The speck and the log.

  • The speck doesn’t mean sin is a small deal. Have you ever had a speck in your eye?!?
  • Note the progression:
    • Judgment starts by making a silent judgment (“see”).
    • Judgment then gets vocalized (“say”).

Lesson Two: The blind leading the blind (Luke 6:39-42). [BLINDFOLDS & OBSTACLE COURSE]

Self-righteousness: The deadliest sin [Co2 detector]

  • It hurts us, because we’re usually the last to see it in our lives.
  • It hurts others, because were in no position to be doing eye surgery with a beam in our own eyes.
  • Save a life (v. 5)

The point isn’t to ignore the person with the speck in his eye, the point is to get yourself to a place where you can be of help! It starts by dealing w/your hypocrisy.

  • “First” – look at the priority (Psalm 51:13, read)
  • Take the log out – Get right w/God. Confess your sin. He’ll forgive and clean!

“Then you can see clearly”

  • You may see that you’re still in no position spiritually to teach others (James 3:1, read).
  • You may see that the issue was more about personality and style than it was about right and wrong.
  • You may see the heart of the person and what has brought them to that point. Compassion will inform…
    • Your words and tone toward them
    • Your words and tone about them
    • Your actions toward them
    • Galatians 6:1 – ““Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
  • You may see the glory God will receive when this person is restored to a right relationship with God (right motives).

Jesus saw a world lost in sin and responded with love. If we see a world lost in sin and do not respond with love, what does that say about our clarity of vision?

  • Get a clue (v.6)

Jesus ends his section on judging by talking about dogs & hogs.

Dogs – Not like Rover today

  • Meat would be brought to the temple to be sacrificed, then the priests and Levites would be able to eat the remaining portions.
  • A Jewish person would have never given meat dedicated to God to a dog.

Hogs – No Jewish person farmed pigs at the time. They were not to be seen, touched, or eaten.

  • Pearls were some of the most expensive things you could buy.
  • To give them to pigs would not only be immoral, it would be irresponsible.

This does NOT mean that God’s Word is only for certain ethnic groups of people. The main point here: We need to be discerning. Not everyone will receive the truth of God’s Word from us with gladness.

  • Some just need time and space.
  • Some need to hear it from someone other than you.
  • We can’t change peoples’ lives, only God can.
  • Our responsibility is to take the message of God to everyone, and to continue with those who will listen.

APPLICATION

#1 – Take a seat. Stop judging other people based on your personality and preferences.

#2 – Learn a lesson. Ask God to reveal any hypocrisy in your heart and life. Get right with God personally. Receive God’s forgiveness.

  • Get right positionally
  • Get right practically

#3 – Save a life. Is there someone who needs a compassionate friend to help them get back on track spiritually? God has perfectly engineered your life to intersect with theirs.

#4 – Get a clue. There are only two ways to grow in wisdom and discernment: (1) Read your Bible (2) Walk with the Holy Spirit. Spend your days with Jesus, and you’ll learn to know the difference between right and wrong.

LANDING