The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 7 Part 1 "Judge Not" Does Not Mean To Look The Other Way

Matthew's gospel presents Jesus Christ as King and Messiah. 

In what is known as the Sermon on the Mount, we are hearing our King speak about what His kingdom will be like and instruction on how His disciples are to live.

In Matthew 5, Jesus taught about what are called "The Beatitudes" which say the poor in spirit will inherit the kingdom of heaven and those who mourn shall be comforted.

Those who are meek shall inherit the earth and those who crave for God's righteousness shall see the world filled with it.

Christ's disciples shall be merciful, pure in heart and known as peacemakers.

All of these beautiful spiritual blessings require a new heart and a new spirit as God promised to give to those who repent and believe.

With a new heart and new spirit comes a new way of living, which Christ the King taught to His disciples, so we learned about living as salt that retards decay and light that exposes evil.

Jesus taught about the root causes of anger, lust, adultery, divorce, lying and retaliating against those who wrong us.

Christ's kingdom rule will be based upon the principle of loving our enemies because our Father loved us while we were still sinners.

In Chapter 6, Jesus exposed hypocrisy as He taught us about the right way to give our tithes and offerings, to praying or fasting.

Jesus taught us about laying up treasure in heaven instead of pursuing earthly pleasures and fleshly lusts.

Jesus taught us not to be overcome with anxiety or obsession about our daily needs because our Father promises to supply them.

Thus, the overriding kingdom principle is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness in all that we do, and trust our Father to meet our needs.

Does "Judge not" mean that we are not to confront a brother or sister who has sinned?

Matthew 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged. 

We will only get to this verse today because many times the truth of what Jesus meant is distorted so that sinners can keep sinning without restraint. 

This text is almost always used if a pastor or deacon confronts a professing Christian about their sinful ways.

Someone living in sin uses this verse to make sure that no one confronts them about their sin, yet this is not what Jesus meant.

We must remember that Christians have a perfect moral standard from God that is the measuring rod for determining what is sinful and dishonoring to God.

God's moral law is an absolute standard that all people will be judged by and if you die in your sins, your judgment will be eternal condemnation.

If you repent of sin and call upon Jesus Christ, He will save you and you will receive eternal life. 

The believer's sins were judged at the cross of Christ and we receive full pardon and forgiveness when we put our faith in Jesus' saving work.

Therefore, the moral law of God remains in effect and it is right to confront and condemn that which is clearly sinful.

Confronting sin and depravity is part of being salt and light in a world drowning in depraved acts.

Censorious judgment of others is what Jesus is condemning.

Luke 18:9-14  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10)  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

The word translated "judge" specifically refers to making harsh, censorious condemnation of other's faults while glossing over your own failures.

We must take note of Jesus' parable spoken to the self righteous Pharisees who looked down on anyone whom they viewed as inferior to themselves.

This is the type of judgment that Jesus condemned.

In Jesus' parable are two Jews, one a Pharisee and the other a despised publican or tax collector.

A haughty, self righteous attitude of the Pharisee is exposed by the words of his prayer.

He thanked God that he was not like evil men such as murderers or adulterers. 

It is clear that he observed the publican going to prayer with him and he imputed an evil character to the tax collector.

The Pharisee compared his "righteousness" with the evil of the publicans, murderers and adulterers.

This Pharisee then bragged about how religious he was in fasting and tithing.

Thus, he pronounced condemnation and imputed an evil character to the publican who came to pray.

The publican was well aware of his need for mercy from God. 

He was too ashamed to look to heaven but he cried out to the Lord for mercy (See Exodus 34:6-8;  Psalm 103).

The testimony of scripture is clear: God is a merciful God who is faithful to forgive and cleanse sinners who repent.

Jesus made it clear that the publican was forgiven and justified by God but the Pharisee remained unforgiven for trusting in his own works to save him.

Jesus is taking aim at those who elevate themselves by harshly condemning sinners without mercy, because they viewed themselves as righteous with God.

The Pharisees were especially guilty of making rash judgment, interpreting men's words and deeds in the worst sense, and severely censuring them. 

Often, they passed sentence on them and being irredeemable sinners regarding their eternal state and condition.

It is clear that Jesus' exhortations are pointed against rash, harsh, censorious judgments, like thinking someone had a evil intent when no evil was intended and speaking of it accordingly.

Matthew 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged. 

F. B. Meyer (1847-1929) has an excellent comment regarding this particular verse.

He served the Lord well during a long, fruitful preaching and teaching ministry, as well as loving and serving people in the communities where he pastored.

"There is abundant need for a right and sound judgment, illumined by the Spirit of truth; but there is a world of difference between it and the censorious and critical opinions which we are apt to form and utter about others." 

Human nature is fond of climbing up into the judgment seat and proclaiming its decisions, without hearing both sides or calling witnesses." 

"Beware of basing your judgment on idle stories and gossip. In any case, do not utter it, if it be adverse, unless you have first prayed about it and sought to turn the sinner from the error of his ways."

Those who are severely critical of others are guilty of violating God's law.

James 4:11-12  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12)  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 

The apostle and brother of our Lord also condemned those who had a severely critical spirit against others.

We are commanded not to speak evil of another, and if this was a universally applied rule, almost all news and social media would go silent.

James makes it clear that those who judged others wrongly were violating the law of God.

God's law is His perfect moral standard and severely critical judging of others is condemned.

Leviticus 19:16-17  Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD. 17)  Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. 

The law of God is clear. He forbid Israelites from spreading rumors or falsehood about other people.

God also forbid standing against the blood of your neighbor, which the Pharisee did when he justified himself and condemned the publican.

Notice the next verse which states that "thou shalt not hate thy brother in your heart."

This is what Jesus means when He said "judge not, that ye be not judged."

Instead of judging others we must consistently examine our own hearts before the LORD.

Psalm 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24)  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

King David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel wrote a beautiful hymn of praise to Jehovah for His abundant mercy and cleansing power.

At the close of this Psalm, David asked Jehovah to search out his heart to make sure that his thoughts and motives were pure.

David did not want any wicked way exerting influence of his thoughts, words and actions.

The idea of being searched is that God will expose any wicked way so that David can confess it to the Lord.

This is what our Lord wants us to do as well, to let Him expose any evil in our heart that we might confess and forsake it and that He might cleanse us.

At every major tragedy most news media rush to judgment based upon incomplete information.

In the process, sometimes innocent people are slandered or villainized by the media because they passed judgment without all the facts.

This is very much like the kind of judgment Jesus condemns.

As individuals we can be guilty of this, and even it we never utter it out loud, God knows our thoughts and will hold us accountable it we condemn others while not addressing our own sins.

Jesus gave us powerful truth that we need to live by because it has become normal to critique, criticize and judge others we deem ripe for judgment.

Christians, remember, the sinners around us are lost souls that Christ died for.

We may hate their depraved actions, but we must be ready to share the gospel with them if God gives us an opportunity. 

We must pray that they will come to repentance and faith in Christ before they die and suffer eternal condemnation.

Remember, before we were born again, we too were the enemies of God, yet He extended grace and mercy and salvation to us.

Bob