Special Study 25/08/2014 CAUTION AGAINST UNCHARITABLE JUDGMENT Matthew 7:1,2; John 7:24 “Judge not.” This is Christ’s command to every Christian. He cautions every child of God on the common practice of judging and condemning one another. It is not acting on the principle of love when anyone turns the family or the Christian community to a law court and appoints himself a judge or magistrate over all others in his family, in God’s family or in his community. The true child of God possesses a new heart and a new spirit. A critical spirit that makes someone to criticise and condemn everyone and everything around him is not the Spirit of Christ. Love is of God and the perpetual state of mind that watches for others’ faults while overlooking his own faults is contrary to fairness, kindness and love. Demanding very high standard of love from others while he himself demonstrates low moral standard is unchristian; it is unscriptural. After removing the beam in our eye, we can help our brother remove the mote in his eye (Matthew 7:5). After examining ourselves, after genuine repentance, and transparent righteousness in our own lives, we can correct and counsel our fellow brother (Colossians 3:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:14,15). 1. EXPLANATION OF UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37; John 7:24,51; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16,17; Isaiah 29:20,21; Romans 14:10-13; John 8:26,44-47. “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” “Judge not” is Christ’s command but what is the meaning of this command? If we do not understand what Christ means by this we shall not be able to properly obey. Does it mean that we must never see, evaluate, correct any wrong thing others do? Does it mean that we should not hold to any standard of behaviour, be indulgent and tolerant, accepting whatever anyone does as right? Does it mean to cover up sin and wrongdoing, leaving everyone to his own conscience and never correcting anyone? No. We must take all the words of Jesus together and not interpret one part to contradict another part. In this same chapter, He says, “First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). To do that, we have to see and point out “the mote” as wrong. Christ says, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs ” (Matthew 7:6). To obey this command of Christ, it is necessary to observe and form an opinion about the character of others. Furthermore, He says, “Beware of false prophets ... Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-20). The false prophets come “in sheep’s clothing” and they appear innocent, harmless and friendly. If we do not examine and judge their fruit how can we disapprove their character and know them as “ravening wolves, inwardly”? In His teaching on dealing with offences against us (Matthew 18:15-17), He also teaches us not to be neutral when others do wrong (Luke 17:3,4). “Judge not.” What does that mean? “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). These are the words of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord. 2. EXAMPLES OF UNLAWFUL JUDGMENT Matthew 7:1,2; Genesis 38:24-26; 2 Samuel 12:1-7; Job 22:1-10; 32:3; 42:7-10; Ezekiel 16:52; John 8:1-7,9-11; Acts 28:1-5; Romans 2:1-3,17-24. Life is full of unlawful judgment in our daily interaction with one another. Men judge and condemn one another and they increase hatred and condemnation in the human family. The Lord is calling us to live by the law of love. Our priority in life should be to live in righteousness and grow in grace and holiness each day. We should be more strict and firm with ourselves and compassionate and tender towards others rather than demanding much from others while we are lenient with ourselves. Those who demand perfection from others while they tolerate imperfection in themselves will always be guilty of unlawful judgment. “Examine yourselves” and judge yourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged ” (1 Corinthians 11:31). It is unwise to correct and counsel others to be righteous and holy, so eager that they get to heaven while we ourselves excuse our sin and unrighteousness, on our way to hell! Examples are many, even from the Bible, of people who carelessly and rashly judged others. Christ cautions us against (1) hypocritically judging others, condemning in others what we excuse in ourselves. (2) He warns us of hastily judging others, condemning others before the facts of the case are known.(3) His words rebukes us for presumptuously judging others, jumping to uncharitable conclusions on the basis of unconfirmed rumours. (4) He forbids unfairly judging others, ignoring everything that is favourable to our brother and not giving him a fair hearing. (5) Christ’s teaching restrains us from unnecessarily judging others, condemning our fellow brother on something the Scriptures are silent about. (6) He teaches us against unmercifully judging others, instructing us that those who have received mercy must also show mercy and refrain from judging. (7) He reproves us for officially, and officiously judging others when no one has made us a leader, ruler, judge or magistrate over them. 3. EXHORTATION ON UNBIASED JUDGMENT Matthew 7:1,2; John 7:24; Proverbs 31:9; Zechariah 8:16; John 5:30; 1 Samuel 3:11-14; 1 Corinthians 5:1-3,11-13; 6:1-10; 11:27-32; Revelation 2:14-16,20-23. The same Christ who said, “Judge not” also said within the same paragraph, “First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” He commands us to be clean first and to be pure from pride and spiritual blindness first before attempting to judge, correct and guide our brother to live righteously. He also said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” He does not want us to be hasty, rash or superficial. No, we must not be shallow or careless with others’ character or life; we should be thoughtful, slow and kind, considering facts scripturally before arriving at any conclusion. “Judge righteous judgment.” * * * * * * * Congregational Songs: LORD, SPEAK TO ME, THAT I MAY SPEAK 1. Lord, speak to me, that I may speak In living echoes of thy tone; As Thou hast sought, so let me seek Thy erring children lost and lone. 2. Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead The wandering and the wavering feet; O, feed me, Lord, that I may feed Thy hungering ones with manna sweet. 3. Oh, strengthen me, that while I stand Firm on the Rock, and strong in Thee, I may stretch out a loving hand To wrestlers with the troubled sea. 4. Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach The precious things Thou dost impart; And wing my words, that they may reach The hidden depths of many a heart. 5. Oh, give Thine own sweet rest to me, That I may speak with soothing power A word in season, as from Thee, To weary ones in needful hour. 6. Oh, fill me with Thy fulness, Lord, Until my very heart o’erflow In kindling thought, and glowing word, Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show. 7. Oh, use me, Lord, use even me, Just as Thou wilt, and how, and where; Until Thy blessed face I see, Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share. SPEAK A WORD 1. Speak a word, a loving word for Jesus, Ev’rywhere you go; Tell poor sinners how He died to save them From eternal woe. Speak a word for Jesus, speak it quickly, Swiftly glides the time away, Daily tell the wondrous story of the Master’s glory, Speak a loving word today. 2. Speak a word, a tender word for Jesus, To the sin-sick soul; Tell him Christ, who came to save the vilest, Waits to make him whole. 3. Speak a word, a warning word for Jesus, Speak it day by day, Strive to lead some weak and wand’ring brother In the narrow way.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 11:24:44 +0000
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