Matthew 7 – Judging Others

¹“Judge not, that you be not judged. ²For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ³Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴Or 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? ⁵You 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.

⁶“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

The first principle of judgment is that we begin with ourselves.

• Judgment = discernment, evaluate.
  

Jesus did not forbid us to judge others, for careful discrimination is essential in the Christian life. Christian love is not blind (Phil. 1:9-10).

Philippians 1:9-10 (ESV) ⁹And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

We must not pass judgment on others’ motives. We should examine their actions and attitudes, but we cannot judge their motives—for only God can see their hearts. It is possible for a person to do a good work with a bad motive. It is also possible to fail in a task and yet be very sincerely motivated. When we stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat, He will examine the secrets of the heart and reward us accordingly (Rom. 2:16; Col. 3:22-25).

James 1:19-20 (ESV) ¹⁹Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.

Ask, and It Will Be Given

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ⁹Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? ¹¹If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

James 1:5-8 (ESV) ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

⁷For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Sermon Summary

Main Theme: The sermon focuses on Jesus’s teachings about judging others, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, forgiveness, and understanding God’s role in judgment.

Key Points:

1. Avoid Hypocrisy: Jesus warns against judging others while ignoring our own flaws. We should focus on addressing our own issues before criticizing others (Matthew 7:1-5).
2. Focus on Self-Improvement: The sermon highlights the need to prioritize self-evaluation and personal growth. Dealing with our own “logs” allows us to see clearly and offer genuine help to others.
3. Recognize Limitations: We cannot fully understand others’ motives, making judgment inaccurate and unfair. Only God can truly judge the heart.
4. Prioritize Love and Forgiveness: Love should guide our interactions, leading us to forgive and avoid holding grudges (1 Corinthians 13:5). Forgiveness is essential for both receiving and giving God’s forgiveness.
5. Horizontal Relationships Matter: Our relationships with others are crucial to our relationship with God. Reconciliation and forgiveness in our earthly relationships are prerequisites for true worship (Matthew 5:23-24).
6. Prayer and God’s Will: Prayer is not about informing God but aligning ourselves with His will. Persistent, faith-filled prayer, focused on God’s purposes, is effective (Matthew 7:7-11; 1 John 5:14-15).
7. Right Motives in Prayer: Avoid praying to impress others, using meaningless repetition, or asking for selfish desires (Matthew 6). Pray with sincerity, faith, and a desire to glorify God (James 4).

Conclusion:

The sermon concludes by urging listeners to adopt a posture of humility, self-awareness, and forgiveness in their interactions with others. It emphasizes the importance of aligning our desires with God’s will through persistent, faith-filled prayer. By focusing on self-improvement and extending grace to others, we can live in accordance with Christ’s teachings and experience the fullness of God’s blessings.

Scripture References:

• Matthew 5:23-24
• Matthew 6
• Matthew 7:1-5, 7-11
• Mark 7:1-5
• James 1
• James 4
• Romans 2
• 1 Corinthians 13:5
• Philippians 1:9
• Ephesians 4:26
• 1 John 5:14-15