1.      There is an idea in our culture today that we are not supposed to judge.

2.      Reality is that we must make judgments’

 ~ God expects us to judge

3.      Scripture says one day we will judge the “Spiritual Realm” – so we ought to make good judgments in the “physical realm”.

4.      God has delegated the role of judge to his people throughout scripture.

1. Est. judges in the old testament  Book of Judges

2. Paul told us to identify divisive saints and make a judgment accordingly Romans 16: 17-18

3. John tells us to distinguish the spirits to determine which ones are from God – which ones are not . . . 1 John 4: 1-3

4. Believers are to make distinctions between good and evil  Hebrews 4:12

II.   Wrongful Judgment  --  James 4: 11-1

Question:  Does this contradict what we just learned?   At first glance it would appear so.

1.      The Bible is clear we are to judge, but not using our standards

2.      We don’t make the rules by which we judge

3.      James said: One law giver and judge – we must use His laws and rules to do so.

4.      Whenever we judge by our own standards, we become self appointed – illegitimate judges.

a.       Question – What are some areas we judge wrongly?

o  A person’s appearance?

o  Economic/social class?

o  Race?

o  Dress?

b.      Question - What can we judge?

o  Not motives – only God knows the  motives of the heart   Psalm 44:21

o  Judge actions – because we see them with our own eyes – judgment of action should be revealed through His word

·   i.e. Dale involved in extra marital relationship – this is a clear example that should be judged and confronted

III.    Hypocritical Judgment – Matthew 7: 1-6

Question – God has given us the authority to judge actions in the lives of other believers, but how are we to go about doing that?

1.      Not to be hypocritical in our judgment.

i.e. – we’re both doing wrong – but their action is sin:

• I steal to feed my kids
• I steal to meet the need of my addiction

2.      God’s Word teaches us to judge in a way that discerns right from wrong

3.      We should refuse critical judgment that tries to hurt . . . not to help.

4.      We should not be like the Pharisees’ in this passage who found great joy in exploiting the wrong doing of others, while not attending to their own shortcomings.   

Pharisees’ found the small speck or splinter in another’s eye – but chose to ignore the logs in their own eye.

Question: What is the issue here?  Problem lies with their observation; they are more concerned with splinters than the logs in their own eyes.

5.      Sometimes we can make proper observations that are negative, but dismiss favorable reports.

6.      Quick to tell you what is wrong -- but offer no help.  Matthew 7-12 

      Question – how are we to treat others? The way we want to be treated -- We want others to hear about our problems and offer love and compassion – we want to be encouraged to seek God’s ways above all else. 

7.      When we see sin in someone else, first look at our own heart to see if we have the same struggle – if so, we must address it or we can’t be good to anyone else.  Once we’ve dealt with our own sin – we’re good to help someone else.

IV.   God’s Judgment  -- Matthew 7

1.      If we’re a critical judge that is how God will relate to us.

2.      God says what we “get” is what we “gave” – if we don’t give grace, mercy, help . . . they’ll be none for us either – OUCH!

3.      A pig won’t appreciate a fine pearl – Matthew 7:6

Jesus Christ will not share his treasures of . . . love, grace and mercy

with those who do not appreciate it.

4.      He gives us His Love, Grace and Mercy to pass on for his Glory.

5.      He doesn’t give us riches so we can drag them through the dirt and tear them up.

Summary:

We are an unrighteous judge if all that we do is recognize specks without offering to help remove them. 

When we point out the sin in someone else’s life and offer to help, we are running the risk of rejection.  However, there is always a risk involved in loving someone.

“When we function as children of God, he lavishes His treasures on us and we share them with other”.  Dr. Tony Evans