As Christians, it is sometimes easy to become pious and look down our nose at others thinking that they just don’t measure up to what God would have them to be. We can get the idea that we have somehow managed to become what God wants and others have just missed the boat. It is easy, sometimes, to lose sight of our own shortcomings and forget that we, too, still are creatures of sin, just like everyone else. In today’s portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses man’s tendency to judge others.
Jesus addresses this lesson in two different places in the Gospels. Let’s read first where Jesus addresses the topic in Matt 7:1-6. In this text, Jesus states very directly that we are not to judge others or we too will be judged in the same way that we have used to judge them and in the same measure. Our Lord is promising to judge us exactly as harshly as we choose to judge others. Those of us who know God’s mercy and have received forgiveness for our sins should be able to extend some of that same mercy to others and show some forgiveness to others also. This is God’s expectation of us in return for the mercy we have received from Him.
Jesus also spoke in this passage about how a person can be worrying about a speck of dust in their brother’s eye and not notice that they have a huge plank in their own eye. Before we worry about a speck of sin in our brother’s eye, we need to address the plank in our own eye. We must attempt to live a humble and self-examined life so that we do not miss the major sinful infestations of our own before attempting any self-righteous attempt at cleaning up our brother’s life. Any time we judge others, we are forgetting our own sinful status before God.
Jesus then went on to talk about giving dogs what is sacred and throwing pearls to pigs. In those days, dogs lived in the streets rather than being cared for in people’s homes. They were scavengers. They scrounged for what they could get. Jesus was speaking here about telling the Gospel good news to those who would not have appreciation for it. We have all had the experience of speaking with people who denigrate God’s Word. Jesus was saying to not bring His message to these folks’ attention so it could be smeared and mocked. Pigs lived in the same way rummaging for scraps and Jesus was saying that the Gospel should not be defiled by those who are unreceptive to its important message; when their true nature is demonstrated by their reception of that message. Do not willingly give them the opportunity to debase God’s Word.
- What was Jesus’ advice to the disciples when folks would not receive them and the message (Matt 10:14)?
- What was Jesus’ response to Herod when he plied Him with questions (Luke 23:9)?
- What was Jesus’ response when the chief priests and elders questioned the source of His authority (Matt 21:23-27)?
- What was Paul and Barnabas’ reaction when the Jewish leaders stirred up the high standing men and women of the city against them (Acts 13:44-51)?
We also see Jesus teaching this same lesson in Luke 6:37-45. Read this text now. Here, Jesus spoke even more lengthily on how we will be judged and measured in the same way that we judge and measure others. The same goes here for forgiveness and giving. We all have the same sinful standing before God (Mark 4:24).
Jesus then began to speak about the blind leading the blind. Both will end up falling into the pit. And then He went into the same teaching about the speck in the brother’s eye and the plank in your own. We must all be constantly conscious of our own sinful standing before the Creator.
Jesus explained to the crowd that day that no good tree bears bad fruit; neither does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree will be recognized by the type of fruit it bears. As Christians, it is important that we remain cognizant of the type of fruit we are bearing as it will serve as our witness to others. Keep in mind, always, that others can see what is in your heart, by what fruit is produced in your life, by the things you say and the things you do.
An important passage related to these teachings can be found in Rom 14:10-13. In this passage, we learn that we will all stand one day before God’s judgement seat. On that day, we will all give an account of ourselves to the Lord. In the meantime, we must not judge our brother or put a stumbling block in his way.
In 1 Cor 4:1-5, the Apostle Paul spoke about not being worried about being judged by others. He knows that at some point he will be judged by God Himself. At that time, we will receive the appropriate praise from God who will bring to light all things. Judging others and speaking evil of our brothers is making ourselves a judge of The Law and this role belongs only to God (James 4:11-12).
Previously, in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 6:14-15), we were taught by our Lord that if we forgive others, our Father in Heaven will forgive us, but if we do not forgive others, our Father will not forgive us. This was how Jesus taught us to deal with our enemies and their offences against us. Here in today's passage, Jesus was teaching us how to deal with our brothers and their personal sins. The same principle applies.
This lesson can be summed up in the teaching of Matthew 12:34-37. The mouth speaks out of what is abundant in the heart. Whether your heart is full of loving kindness for your brother or full of contempt, that is what is what will spill forth. On the day of judgement, everyone will give an account of idle words spoken. Do not let harsh words of judgement for your brother consume you.
Responding to God: Praise God for His mercy and His forgiveness of sins. Confess your sins before Him and seek help with idle words and harsh judgements of others. Ask His help to be understanding of the shortcomings of others. Seek His guidance in all words spoken before others.
Add comment
Comments