SOTM 32—Judge

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.Introductory commentsWe are called to a high standard of holiness (chapter 5), to be lived out not to impress others, nor as a program to enrich ourselves materially (chapter 6). Next the Lord warns us, urges us, and instructs us about many pitfalls that can wreck our faith, like judgmentalism, the broad road, false prophecy, and failure to build on his Word.Matt 7:1 is the most quoted verse today, eclipsing even John 3:16. Yet Jesus did not intend it to be used as it often is—defensively. Jesus does not forbid judging others' salvation (though ultimately the Lord is their judge), or correcting false doctrine, or addressing serious sin (as in Matt 18).Those who adhere to high standards can easily lapse into judgmentalism. "It is a mark of fallen human nature to notice the faults in others and be blind to our own."We are encouraged to help our brothers and sisters, but only sincerely.Jesus words connect to the Lord’s Prayer. The context is forgiving others, as the NT and the early Christian writers make clear. “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Do not judge, and you shall not be judged. Do not condemn, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:36-37).Cyprian: “We should ask that our debts be forgiven us in such a manner as we ourselves forgive our debtors. For the forgiveness we seek for our sins cannot be obtained unless we ourselves have acted in a merciful way in respect to our debtors. Therefore, Jesus also says in another place, ‘With what measure you measure out, it will be measured back to you again.’ And the servant who, after having had all his debt forgiven him by his master, would not forgive his fellow-servant, was cast back into prison.” …There remains no ground of excuse in the Day of Judgment, when you will be judged according to your own sentence. And whatever you have done, that you also will suffer.” On the Lord’s Prayer 23John Chrysostom: “You ask, ‘If someone commits fornication, may I not say that fornication is a bad thing? Can I not correct someone who is behaving wantonly?’ Of course! Correct him, but not as an enemy. Do not do it as though you were exacting a penalty from an adversary. Rather, correct him as a physician providing medicine. For Christ did not say, ‘Do not correct him who is sinning,’ but ‘Do not judge.’ That is, do not be bitter in pronouncing correction.” Homilies on Matthew 23.2.Matthew 18 doesn't nullify Matthew 7? Imperfections and minor sins we should overlook in love. Matthew 18 concerns sins so serious that failure to repent ca lead to a disfellowship. In such cases, we must talk to our brother about these kinds of sin, for his eternal life is at stakeTertullian: “Remove the speck, or rather the beam, out of your own eye, so that you may be able to extract the speck from the eyes of others. Amend your own lives first.” To the Nations 1.20Chrysostom: “Do you wish to judge? Judge your own sins. No one will accuse you if you condemn yourself.” Homilies on Hebrews 21.8.It is not hypocritical to care about others and desire to help them to mature spiritually. It is hypocritical, however, to pretend to care, while actually taking pleasure in tearing others down to boost one's own ego.Chrysostom: “Here He says, ‘You hypocrite.’ Why? Because your judging does not come from protective care for others. Rather, it comes from ill will to another man. While the one who judges puts on a mask of benevolence, he is doing a work of the utmost wickedness. … On account of this Jesus called him ‘hypocrite.’ When it comes to other men’s actions, you are so critical that you see even the little things. So how is it you are so remiss in your own? How is it that even the major things in your own life are passed over by you?” Homilies on Matthew 23.2.Jesus' teaching was perfectly understood by the apostle Paul (Rom 2:1-22, 17-22, 28-29).Next: Swine