JUDGING OTHERS IS THE FAVORITE PAST TIME OF HYPOCRITES
Jesus was frequently criticized by the religious leaders for his association with sinners. They searched high and low looking for opportunities to condemn Him and his disciples. Christ confronted their hypocrisy with a phrase that has become famous. Like other items it is also misused and misunderstood. We will look deeply at the statement and the full meaning that Jesus had in mind. Like all of Jesus' teachings, it will be beneficial for us. Note what the Messiah had to say:
Matthew 7:1-6 NKJV 1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
The Pharisees and others were quick to categorize others as degenerate sinners. They assumed that they were pure and Godly. They were deeply self deceived, religious bigots, and were clearly in more trouble with God than the tax collectors and harlots. Jesus gave his most harsh condemnation to them. Christ had additional advice for us.
6 "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
Further, Jesus is advising us to not give spiritual advice to biblical critics or to those too far gone into worldliness and sin. They will not really understand the Godly advice and turn on you like a pack of wild dogs or swine. Perhaps He was also including the Pharisees in the category of swines and dogs for they seemingly did not really understand his criticism or teachings. Then Jesus tells true believers if they want sound spiritual advice and understanding to ask for it in prayer.
Matthew 7:7 NKJV 7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Humbly ask God for a deeper understanding of scripture and our own nature and sins. He will answer us out of love.
DO NOT CONDEMN BUT DO DISCERN RIGHT FROM WRONG
CONDEMNING PEOPLE IS WRONG. God is the ultimate judge of mankind's fate. Some people may be bogged down with sin, but He is not finished with them. Someday in the future, He will save most of them.
Luke 6:37-38 NKJV 37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
Jesus wants us believers to have a magnanimous heart, one that is forgiving and not judging. A heart that is kind and not harsh to others with problems and not be condemning of others. Yet still able to see correct behavior and avoid following evil trends and Satanic traps and lies.
Luke 6:39 NKJV 39 And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?
Jesus is telling the crowds that taking spiritual advice or evaluations and judgments from the Pharisees is like following the blind. Much of what is considered the cultural norm of the times is like following the blind. Further, Christ is in no way saying we cannot decide or judge right and wrong which is like being blind. With God's Spirit we can do it.
Luke 6:42 NKJV 42 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.
Believers who are wise and can see right from wrong and have worked on themselves sufficiently and can humbly help others. This is encouraged by Christ. A society that is decadent and failing is one that cannot discern good from evil.
Isaiah 5:20-21 NKJV 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!
God would never say to believers anything goes! Christ has high standards just read Mathew Chapter 5. However we need to use kindness toward those that are weaker. See Romans 14.
JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE APPOINTED TIME
Christ will be the final judge of all men. Our goal is to grow in love and to become magnanimous to others who may be lost for now.
1 Corinthians 4:3-5 NKJV 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
We are not the judges of each other. We can give advice to those who might be receptive that their way of life is causing pain and sorrow and encourage them to repent. But we believers are not the judges of others. Jesus has that role.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.
Those who are called now are being judged. We must remain faithful to a merciful Christ until the end. The remainder of mankind will have their final judgment during the millennium or the GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT PERIOD.
Revelation 20:11-13 NKJV 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it,.... 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.
The term books in Greeck biblios means the books of the Bible. People do not fully understand the books the Bible but in this judgement period they will understand it. It will be opened to them.
And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Hebrews 8:11 NKJV 11 "None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
Habakkuk 2:14 NKJV 14 For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11:9 NKJV 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.
All mankind will be judged based on Bible standards , the books, and the book of life will be opened up to enroll all those that with the help of God's Spirit, succeed in the mind of Christ. We can judge good and evil but Jesus judges mankind.
