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Who
are you to tell me how to live? Is it ever right to say you are
wrong?
Mat 7: 1-6 (Judge not,
that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you
will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you
get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can
you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your
eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite,
first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Do not
give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before
swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you.
)
With a causal reading, this passage appears to be telling us
that it is not right to judge others. However, in this passage,
Jesus is chastising hypocrites who go about judging others
according to a standard that they themselves can't or wont meet.
Mat 7:28,29 (And when
Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his
teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not
as their scribes. )
Jesus spoke and preached with authority. As one with complete
understanding and knowledge of what He was saying and had the
power to enforce His words.
Mat 5:20, 46-48 (For I
tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes
and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. For
if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not
even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only
your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not
even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be
perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. )
Jesus warns us not to be like the hypocrites and heathen. They
judge others according to there standards not according to
God's. The motivation for the hypocrites is to better
themselves at the expense of others.
Mat 6: 1,2,5,7,8,16
(Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen
by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who
is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet
before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the
streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you,
they have received their reward. And when you pray, you must
not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in
the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen
by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do;
for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for
they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by
men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. )
In these versus, Jesus is contrasting the hypocrite and heathen
(or gentile) with the true believer.
The hypocrite seeks to draw attention to himself to show others
that he/she is better than others.
The believer seeks humility. Rather than drawing attention to
himself , he/she would rather direct the attention to God the
Father and His Son Jesus.
Mat 7:1,2 (Judge not, that
you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will
be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.
)
Believers are to use wisdom and discernment. Deciding what is
right and wrong using the Bible as the standard. Worldly
standards are flawed and constantly changing. Worldly wisdom is
often based on feelings and opinion rather than fact.
Jam 1:5 (If any of you
lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously
and without reproaching, and it will be given him. )
Ask God for wisdom.
Phil 1:9 (And it is my
prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge
and all discernment, )
Seek discernment from God.
1 Thes 5:21,22 ( but test
everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of
evil.)
We are to test everything. Holding all things to the standard
that God has set for us through the Bible.
1 Sam 16:7 (But the LORD
said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height
of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD sees
not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the
LORD looks on the heart."
Don't judge by appearance.
Psalm 44:21 (would not God
discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. )
Only God can know the heart.
Rom 2:16 (on that day
when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by
Christ Jesus.)
Jesus is the ultimate Judge. Everyone one will stand before
Jesus.
Prov 16:2 (All the ways of
a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.
)
Even though people can and often do deceive themselves God sees
through to the heart. He will not be fooled.
How
are we to Judge?
T -
Is it True? Fact or opinion
H -
Is it Helpful?
I -
is it Inspiring? Are you playing God
N -
Is it necessary?
K -
Is it Kind? The Golden Rule
Mat 7:12 (So whatever you
wish that men would do to you, do so to them;)
When it is necessary to confront someone, we are to do so in
love. Treating others as we would have them treat us.
Luke 6:36 (Be merciful,
even as your Father is merciful. )
Lean toward mercy. |
