Jesus Offers Discernment
CHRIST IS THE KING
SERIES
MATTHEW 7:1-5
THEME: When we reject
a false righteousness, it will enable us to reject a false system of judgment
also.
RELEVANCE: The Lord
wants us to exercise wise judgment regarding ourselves, other people, and the
Lord himself.
INTRODUCTION: “They have a right to censure that have a
heart to help.” -- William Penn
1. This is a final illustration of Pharisee’s practices
pertaining to judging. The Pharisees were then judging Christ and finding Him
to be inadequate. He was not offering the kind of kingdom they anticipated or
asking for the kind of righteousness they were exhibiting. So, they rejected
Him. Jesus therefore warned them against hypocritical judging.
2. This passage does not teach that judgments should never
be made; Matthew 7:5 does speak of
removing the speck from your brother’s eye. The Lord’s point was that a person
should not be habitually critical or condemnatory of a speck of sawdust in
someone else’s eye when he has a plank in his own eye. Such action is
hypocritical. Though judgment is sometimes needed, those making the
distinctions must first be certain with their own lives.
3. Furthermore when seeking to help another, one must
exercise care to do what would be appropriate, appreciated, and beneficial. One
should never entrust holy things (what is sacred) to unholy people (Phil. 3:2) or throw pearls to pigs.
4. The scribes and Pharisees were guilty of exercising a
false judgment about themselves, other people, and even the Lord. Their false
righteousness helped to encourage this false judgment. This explains why our
Lord closed this important sermon with a discussion of judgment. In it He
discussed four different aspects of judgment: discernment, dynamics,
discretion, and discipline.
MESSAGE:
I.
Discernment: Judge Yourself Before You Judge Others
(Matt. 7:1-6).
The first principle of judgment is
that we begin with ourselves. Jesus did not forbid us to judge others, for
careful discrimination is essential in the Christian life. Christian love is
not blind (Phil. 1:9–10). The person who
believes all that he hears, and accepts everyone who claims to be spiritual
will experience confusion and great spiritual loss. But before we judge others,
we must judge ourselves. There are several reasons for this.
Discernment is keenness in seeing
and understanding for the purpose of good and shrewd judgment. The eyes of our
soul require a discernment whereby we can instantly read the character of
others.
a. Consider the Personal
Repercussions (vs. 1-2)
i. We
Shall Be Judged (v. 1).
a. The
tense of the verb judged signifies a once-for-all final judgment. If we
first judge ourselves, then we are preparing for that final judgment when we
face God.
b. The
Pharisees “played God” as they condemned other people; but they never
considered that God would one day judge them.
ii. We
Are Being Judged (v. 2).
a.
The parallel passage in Luke
6:37–38 is helpful here.
i. Luke 6:37-38, Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn
not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: [38]
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
ii. Not
only will God judge us at the end, but people are also judging us right now;
and we receive from people exactly what we give.
b. The
kind of judgment, and the measure of judgment, comes right back
to us. We reap what we have sown.
iii. We
Must Not Be Judgmental (Matt 7:1-2).
a. The
word “judge” can mean evaluate or
analyze. It also refers to private, judgmental attitudes that tear down others
in order to build up oneself.
b. The
command “judge not” does not refer
to judging in a court of law, nor is it a blanket statement against critical
thinking.
i. Believers
should be discerning and make certain judgments.
ii. For
example, Jesus said to expose false teachers (Matt.
7:15-23) and to admonish others in order to help them (Matt. 18:15).
iii. Paul
taught that we should exercise church discipline (1Cor
5:1-5).
iv. Judgment
is appropriate when confronting sin (1Cor. 5:12).
c. But
as followers of Christ, we should not be critical or condemning in our
attitudes toward others.
i. A
judgmental, critical spirit differs radically from love.
ii. Believers’
special position with Christ does not give us license to take God’s place as
judge.
1. Those
who judge in that manner will find themselves judged likewise by God. As God
will have mercy on the merciful (Matt. 5:7) and
forgive those who forgive (Matt. 6:14-15), he
will condemn those who condemn (Matt. 7:2b).
2. The
way we as Jesus’ followers treat others is the way God will treat us.
iii. The
religious leaders taught that God judged the world by two “measures” -- mercy and justice. Each person
receives what he or she measures out, either with mercy or with severity.
d. “Judge not, that you be not judged” may be the
most-often-misquoted text from the Bible.
i. People
frequently apply it as if it were a flat command against all moral judgment.
ii. In
fact, people use it to judge what they consider a judgmental attitude on the
part of another.
iii. Jesus,
however, gave these words as one negative application of the Golden Rule. That
is, we should not treat others as we do not want to be treated. We should seek
to measure ourselves and others by the same standards.
e. Jesus
declared it unacceptable to excuse our personal sin while holding others
accountable for similar behavior.
i. When
you perceive a fault in others, your first impulse may be to confront or reject
that person. But ask yourself first if your awareness of the failure mirrors
your own life.
ii. Your
effort to help will be in vain if the person can point out the same fault in
you. Practice your own remedy before you ask others to do it.
f. Jesus
tells us to examine our motives and conduct instead of judging others.
i. The
traits that bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in ourselves.
1. Our
untamed bad habits and behaviors are the very ones that we most want to change
in others.
2. Do
you find it easy to magnify others’ faults while excusing your own?
ii. If
you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same
criticism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your
neighbor.
b. Consider a Personal
Examination (vs. 3-5)
i. We
Must See Clearly To Help Others (Vv. 3–5).
a. The
purpose of self-judgment is to prepare us to serve others. Christians are
obligated to help each other grow in grace.
b. When
we do not judge ourselves, we not only hurt ourselves, but we also hurt those
to whom we could minister.
c. The
Pharisees judged and criticized others to make themselves look good (Luke 18:9–14). But Christians should judge themselves
so that we can help others look good. There is a difference!
ii. Our
Lord Jesus Illustrates This Very Point With The Eye.
a. Jesus
chose the symbol of the eye
because this is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body.
i. The
picture of a man with a two-by-four stuck in his eye, trying to remove a speck
of dust from another man’s eye, is ridiculous indeed!
ii. If
we do not honestly face up to our own sins, and confess them, we blind
ourselves to ourselves; and then we cannot see clearly enough to help others.
iii. The
Pharisees saw the sins of other people, but they would not look at their own
sins.
b. In
Matthew 6:22–23, Jesus used the illustration of
the eye to teach us how to have a spiritual outlook on life.
c. Jesus
didn't point out our sinfulness so we would simply let each other off more
easily.
i. He
made it clear that a problem noticed usually requires more than one person's
response. Both speck and log must be removed.
ii. The
person with the speck-sized problem may actually be in a better position to
help remove the log than the other way around.
iii. This
means that when you notice a problem in someone else's life, you may have to
ask that person to help you with the same problem in your own. A problem in
common can be an excellent starting point for accountability.
iii. We
Must Not Pass Judgment On Others’ Motives.
a. We
should examine their actions and attitudes, but we cannot judge their
motives—for only God can see their hearts.
i. It
is possible for a person to do a good work with a bad motive.
ii. It
is also possible to fail in a task and yet be very sincerely motivated.
b. When
we stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat, He will examine the secrets of the
heart and reward us accordingly.
i. Romans 2:16, In the day when God shall judge the secrets of
men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
ii. Col. 3:22-25, Servants, obey in all things your masters
according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness
of heart, fearing God: [23] And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the
Lord, and not unto men; [24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the
reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. [25] But he that doeth
wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect
of persons.
iv. We
Must Be Loving and Tender When Helping Others.
a. The
image of the eye teaches us another truth: We must exercise love and tenderness
when we seek to help others (Eph. 4:15).
i. I
have had extensive eye examinations, and I appreciated the tenderness of the
physicians. Like eye doctors, we should minister to people we want to help with
tender loving care.
ii. We
can do more damage than a speck of dirt in the eye if we approach others with
impatience and insensitivity.
b. Two
extremes must be avoided in this matter of spiritual self-examination.
i. The
first is the deception of a shallow examination.
1. Sometimes
we are so sure of ourselves that we fail to examine our hearts honestly and
thoroughly.
2. A
quick glance into the mirror of the Word will never reveal the true situation (James 1:22–25).
ii. The
second extreme is what I call a “perpetual autopsy.”
1. Sometimes
we get so wrapped up in self-examination that we become unbalanced. But we
should not look only at ourselves, or we will become discouraged and defeated.
2. We
should look by faith to Jesus Christ and let Him forgive and restore us. Satan
is the accuser (Rev. 12:10), and he enjoys it
when we accuse and condemn ourselves!
iii. Our
personal priority must be addressing ourselves first (vs.
5). After we have judged ourselves honestly before God, and have removed
those things that blind us, then we can help others and properly judge their
works. But if we know there are sins in our lives, and we try to help others,
we are hypocrites. In fact, it is
possible for ministry to be a device to cover up sin! The Pharisees were guilty
of this, and Jesus denounced them for it.
c. Consider Your Personal
Perception (vs. 5-6)
i. The
Reason We Must Judge Relates to Our Ministry of ‘Holy Things.’ (v. 6).
a. As
God’s people, we are privileged to handle the “holy things” of the Lord.
i. He
has entrusted to us the precious truths of the Word of God (2 Cor. 4:7), and we must regard them carefully.
1.
2 Cor. 4:7, But we have
this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of
God, and not of us.
2.
No dedicated priest would throw meat from the
altar to a filthy dog, and only a
fool would give pearls to a pig.
3. So
who are these “dogs” and “swine”? (Matt 7:6)
a. They
are unholy or “unclean” people who, when presented with the gospel, treat it
with scorn and contempt.
b. “That which is holy” refers to the special,
consecrated food that only the priests and their families ate (Ex 29:33-34; Lev 22:10-16; Num 18:8-19). It would be
unthinkable to give this sacred food to scavenger dogs.
c. In
the same way, it would also be futile to give pearls
to pigs. “That which is holy” and “pearls” picture the teaching of the gospel of
the kingdom (see 13:45-46 where the kingdom of
heaven is compared to a pearl of great value).
4. Jesus
explained the futility of teaching the gospel to people who do not want to
listen; such people will only tear apart what we say.
a. Pigs
do not realize the value of pearls; all they know is that they cannot eat them,
so they spit them out and then trample them into the mud.
b. Contemptuous,
evil people cannot grasp the value of the gospel, so they scornfully cast it
away.
c. We
should not stop giving God's Word to unbelievers, but we should be wise and
discerning so as not to bring scorn to God's message.
ii. When
Is Evangelism Wrong? Is evangelism ever inappropriate?
1. Sometimes
our witnessing requires discretion. There are times and places when witnessing
can be rude and offensive. As a result, the gospel will be ridiculed.
2. When
you witness, there will always be resistance to the message. Don't be put off.
Resistance is normal.
3. But
when your witness provokes anger, slander, or ridicule, consider another time
and place.
4. All
people need to hear the gospel, but effective witnessing occurs in appropriate
settings.
b. While
it is true that we must carry the Gospel “to every
creature” (Mark 16:15)….
i. It
is also true that we must not cheapen the Gospel by a ministry that lacks
discernment and appropriateness.
ii. Even
Jesus refused to talk to Herod (Luke 23:9), and
Paul refused to argue with people who resisted the Word (Acts 13:44–49).
ii. The
Reason For Judgment Is to Have a Discerning Ministry.
a. It
is not that we might condemn others, but that we might be able to minister to
them appropriately.
b. Notice
that Jesus always dealt with individuals according to their needs and their
spiritual condition.
i. He
did not have a memorized speech that He used with everybody. He discussed the
new birth with Nicodemus, but He spoke of living water to the Samaritan woman
at the well.
ii. When
the religious leaders tried to trap Him, He refused to answer their question (Matt. 21:23–27).
iii. It
is a wise Christian who first assesses the condition of a person’s heart before
sharing the precious pearls.
c.
Christians must exercise discernment; for not everyone
is a sheep. Some people are dogs or hogs, and some are wolves in sheep’s
clothing! We are the Lord’s sheep, but this does not mean we should let people
pull the wool over our eyes!
CONCLUSION:
When we reject phony righteousness, we become able to eliminate false systems or sanctimonious standards of judgment also. Our Lord invites us to exercise wise, loving, sensitive, compassionate discernment towards ourselves and other people. Will you accept his generous invitation?
