Sunday, October 4 · Citylife Presbyterian Church
Judge Not
Jesus turns our attention from the speck in someone else's eye to the log in our own, and the grace that changes our posture, our perception, and how close we are willing to get to the people we are in conflict with.
The passages
“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye. “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Matthew 7:1–6
But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans 14:10
He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others: “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9–14
Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
John 7:24
“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
Matthew 18:15
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1
For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
John 3:17
Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalms 139:23–24
Go deeper
Why do I see everything wrong with them and nothing wrong with me?
Jesus says the log is in our own eye, and the reason we cannot see it is that sin makes us blind to itself. David could ask God to search him only because he trusted the one doing the searching. Without that, we either defend ourselves or fall apart.
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:3–5
Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalms 139:23–24
The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it? “I, Yahweh, search the mind. I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
Jeremiah 17:9–10
The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:11–14
Is it wrong to call out real sin, or is that the judgment Jesus forbids?
Jesus is not telling us to stop discerning. The same Sermon on the Mount says to remove the speck, and he tells us to know people by their fruit. What he forbids is the verdict, the final word on a person that only God has standing to give. Naming harm is not the same as condemning.
Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
John 7:24
“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
Matthew 18:15–17
“‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
Leviticus 19:17
“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:1–2
What does it mean that the measure I use will be used on me?
Jesus says the scale we weigh other people on is the scale we stand on ourselves. That is meant to stop us, not to frighten us, because the gospel says the only righteous judge was weighed in our place. Paul can say there is now no condemnation for those in Christ.
For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:2
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1
For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
John 3:17
So speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom. For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:12–13
Why is it easier to judge someone from a distance than to get close to them?
A log in your eye does more than blur your sight. It keeps you at arm's length, so you can hold an opinion about someone without ever listening to them. Jesus says removing a speck takes being face to face. Grace moves us toward the person we had already decided about.
You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:5
Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1–2
Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye.
Luke 6:41–42
…with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:2–3
Am I allowed to step back from someone, or is distance always wrong?
Jesus himself says there are times to shake the dust off and move on, and the sermon says wisdom can require space for a season. The real question is what is creating the distance. Saul could not stand to be near David once he heard the song, and that distance came from envy, not love.
“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Matthew 7:6
The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?” Saul watched David from that day and forward.
1 Samuel 18:7–9
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23
If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
Romans 12:18