Ok ... we've seen the tattoos - read the T-Shirts - heard the phrase - "Only God Can Judge Me!" Is that true? Are we supposed to Judge? In Matthew Jesus tells His followers not to judge - what exactly does that mean? Are we not to tell a murderer that he is wrong? Isn't that "judging?" Did Jesus mean that no one can tell us we are wrong? That's "judging" isn't it? Even if we say we are "right" - isn't there "judging" involved? Quite the quagmire don't you think?
Judging
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures,
criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment.
That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a
smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.
Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your
own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show
mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just
living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit
to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. "Don't be flip with the
sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries
to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting
sacrilege. Matthew 7:1-6 (MSG)
Word for Judging is "krino" - which is used in 3
different ways in the New Testament.
Titus 3:12 (NIV) As
soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at
Nicopolis, because I have decided
to winter there.
1. Krino = Decided (Not how it is used in Matthew)
John 18:31 (NIV) Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own
law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews
objected.
2. Krino - Courtroom Setting -
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV) Therefore judge
nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to
light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts.
At that time each will receive his praise from God.
3. Something God Does -
Involves exposes motives of people's hearts.
John 7:24 (NIV) Stop judging
by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."
So
what is God saying in Matthew 7? No more
decisions? No more Courts? NO.
Jesus
is saying - So ascribing motives and worth to a person based on what you see
them do.
·
To judge is to raise
yourself by lowering them.
·
To judge is to assume
divine responsibility for the evaluating the worth and value of another.
·
To judge is to do God's
Job.
The Judging that is being referred to here means to
means to criticize, condemn, judge, censor. It is fault-finding; it is being
picky. It is the habit of censorious and carping criticism. It is not the moral
judgments that have to be made sometimes (cp. 1 Cor. 5:3-5, 12-13); not the specific
occasions when value judgments have to be made; not the careful discrimination
that is sometimes necessary (Matthew 7:6). Note that the beam in
the criticizer's eye is much larger than the speck in the eye of the one being
judged.
When a person has come short or done wrong and
fallen, he is often judged, condemned and censored. However, such judgment
misses a critical point.
1. When a
person has slipped, it is time for compassion not censoring. It is time for
reaching out with one's hand and offering to pull the person to oneself, not to
push him farther away. It is time to speak kindly of him, not negatively and
destructively (Ephes. 4:30-32).
2. There is
never a spirit of criticism in the humble and loving person. There is only a
loving compassion for those who have come short (Galatians 6:1-3).
There are
several reasons why people tend to judge and criticize.
·
Criticism boosts our own self-image. Pointing out someone
else's failure and tearing him down makes us seem a little bit better, at least
in our own eyes. It adds to our own pride, ego, and self-image.
·
Criticism makes us feel that our own lives (morality and
behavior) are better than the person who failed.
·
Criticism points out to our friends how strong we are. Criticism gives good
feelings because our rigid
beliefs and strong
lives are proven again. Proven how? By our brother's failure.
·
Criticism is an outlet for hurt and revenge. We feel he deserves it.
Subconsciously, if not consciously, we think, "He hurt me so he deserves
to hurt, too." So we criticize the person who failed.
Matthew
7:3-5 (NIV) "Why do you look at the speck of
sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own
eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,'
when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take
the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the
speck from your brother's eye.
There are several
reasons why no person should ever criticize.
·
All
the circumstances and all the facts are never known.
·
All
people—religious as well as non-religious—come short, fail, and fall. And we
all sin often (1 John 1:8, 10). No one is ever
exempt from sin. When we criticize and judge, we have a problem: we forget that
we are sinners.
·
All
there is to know about a person is never known. How then can we criticize?
·
Judging
others usurps God's authority. When a person criticizes another, he is saying
that he is worthy and has the right to be the
Judge over other lives. He is claiming the right to be God, which
is ridiculous. Yet most lay claim to the right at one time or another, and some
claim the right to exercise a judgmental spirit all the time.
Entrusting Others to God
Matthew
6:9-14 (NIV) "This, then, is how you should pray:
"'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your
will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when
they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
How You Deal With Life - Who do
you trust! - Entrust all of Life to God
·
Father
who is in Heaven - I acknowledge God's Holiness - I am a Spiritual Being made
in your image.
·
You
Kingdom Come - There is an agenda outside of my own that is more important
·
Give
us today - Trust God for what I need today
·
Forgive
us our debts - Trust God for our Past
·
Lead
us not into Temptation - Trust God for Your Future.
Jesus is teaching us to entrust ourselves to
God - live without worry and anxiety.
Matthew
6:25 (NIV) "Therefore I tell you, do not worry
about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will
wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than
clothes?
If you do not trust God - then you will worry. If you worry - you have no fully entrusted
yourself with God.
Then Jesus goes into Trust God
with People. - Entrust Others to God
If you don't trust God with people .... you
will judge them .... try to control them.
Control them by negative - Judging
Matthew
7:6 (NIV) "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do
not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their
feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Pearls - that which is precious. Pigs have no idea what is of Value. Pig is unable to appreciate that which is
good.
Trying to Control by offering what is
Precious - "Forcing" it on them.
Can't force Christ on someone.
Ephesians 4:15 (NIV) Instead,
speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the
Head, that is, Christ.
Entrust
Life to God - and rest in Him. Speak the Truth in Love - and entrust them to
God. If not, you will be a controlling
anxious person and will be miserable.
Galatians
6:1-5 (MSG) Live creatively, friends. If
someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments
for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out.
Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens,
and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you
are badly deceived. Make a careful exploration of who you are and the
work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed
with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take
responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
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