Month: March 2020

Did you know that Matthew 7:1 is quickly replacing John 3:16 as the most memorized and quoted verse in the Bible? It is true! For instance, I am going to make a few statements. Let’s see if you agree with me.

1. Homosexuality is a sin. Homosexuals need to repent of this sin in order to be right with God.
2. All pre-marital sex is wrong. Two people living together out of wedlock are living in adultery.
3. Abortion is murder. It is the killing of a human being and those doctors who perform abortions, except for rare exceptions, are guilty of taking innocent human life.

Now when those statements are made the world immediately trots out their favorite verse in the Bible: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Then they will say something like this, “Well, who died and made you judge?”

That brings up this question: is it ever right to pass judgment on the actions of others? Be careful how you answer that question! You might think that Jesus would have said “No! It is never right to judge another.” Instead, Jesus said, “It depends! There are times when you can judge and times when you cannot judge.”

The five verses that we have read today have something very important to say about this matter of judging one another. Whether we admit it or not, we all engage in judging from time to time. Some people have even made it their lifestyle to judge others by their standards. Let’s look at what Jesus has to say about this vital matter. I want to teach on the thought Who Died And Made You My Judge? There are three issues I want to point out from this text.

Matthew 7:1-2           THERE IS A CAUTION TO BE HEEDED

The word “judge” means “to pronounce judgment; to an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism.”  It refers to “act the part of a judge; or to pass judgment on the words and deeds of another.”

Jesus says “judge not”. Does this mean that all judgment is wrong? No! There are some occasions mentioned in the Bible where Christians are called on the exercise judgment over others. (Matthew 7:1)  

1. Here, Paul judges a man guilty of fornication with his father’s wife. He condemns the man and his actions and calls on the church to do the same. (1 Cor. 5:3-5; 12-23)  
2. We are told to judge some people as dogs and swine and as being unworthy of the precious treasures of the Word of God.  (Matt. 7:6)  
3. Believers are commanded to judge religions and statements of preachers and teachers to see is they line up with the Word of God and the teachings of the Gospel. (1 John 4:1-6)
4. We are obligated to examine the fruit of those around us and base our fellowship with that person based on what we see in their life. (Matt. 7:15-20)  
5. There are times when the church must exercise discipline against a wayward member. This will require judging their fruits according to the Word of God. (Matt. 18:15-18)        

So, what is Jesus talking about here? The word “judge” means “to criticize, condemn, judge, censor.” It is an old fault-finding attitude; it is being picky; it is the habit of carping criticism; it is a mean, critical spirit that sees only the bad in others.

Jesus is talking about looking at people and attempting to judge their motives and their real spiritual condition based on what we see in their lives. The idea here is that the judge presumes to know the condition of another person’s heart. He sets himself up as judge and jury and proclaims the guilt and innocence of all those around him. This is the attitude that Jesus condemns!

Matthew 7:2 The person who sets himself up as the judge of others, will himself face judgment someday! The critic forgets that he will also face God in judgment, Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10. On that day, God will use the same yardstick to judge the critic that he used to judge others! That is a scary thought! Consider these verses the next time you think about sitting in judgment of another person: James 3:1-2; James 2:13; Luke 6:37-38. In other words, when you judge another person, you will eventually reap what you sow, Gal. 6:7. By the way, for every person you watch and criticize, there is someone else watching you and criticizing your life!

There is a vacancy on the Supreme Court. I would not want that job! Every decision you hand down is scrutinized and criticized by the media, the public and by Congress. You are constantly being judged for your judgments.

Here is the bottom line: We have no right to judge and criticize the lives of those around us. There are a few good reasons why I say this.
Don’t criticize because you don’t know all the facts
Don’t criticize because we all fail God and sin, 1 John 1:8-10.
Don’t criticize because you do not know the content of the other person’s heart.
Don’t criticize because, when you do, you are attempting to assume the authority of God, Rom. 14:4; James 4:11-12.
Don’t criticize because one day you will face God in judgment yourself, Rom. 14:12.

Matthew 7: 3-4          THERE IS A CHALLENGE TO BE HEARD  

Here, Jesus speaks to the real issue. When we judge another, we always do so from a warped perspective. He uses the humorous image of a man with a log sticking out of his eye trying to help remove the little splinter from another person’s eye. The word “mote” refers to “a dry twig or a piece of chaff.” We might call it “a splinter”.  The word “beam” refers to “a load bearing beam in a house.” Literally, it refers to “a log”. Imagine how impossible that would be!

When I look at your life and see your faults, I am, in fact, blind to the problems that dwell within my own heart. For instance, if my heart was as pure and as holy as I would like to believe it is; I would not be focused on criticizing and condemning you for your failures. I would instead love you, pray for you and try to help you. I would not be in the business of tearing you down, but I would be seeking how I might build you up and restore you!

The problem with judging others is that we are often guilty of the same or worse sins ourselves, Rom. 2:1. None of us is anything to brag about! While we look at the way some people dress, act, and at the outward signs of sin in their lives; we are often blind to the prejudices, hypocritical spirit and other sins that lurk within our own heart! What makes me think that I am in any position to straighten you out when I am in such a mess myself? Here is the hard part. Here is the truth that is so hard to swallow. Jesus is saying that the sin of the critic is greater than the sin of the person being judged! When we talk about the flaw that is visible in someone’s life, we reveal a canyon in our own life. We are revealing a heart that lacks genuine love for our neighbor, Matt. 22:39. That ought to make us stop and think before we tear another person down, just because they don’t live up to our standards!
 
Mattes 7:5            THERE IS A COUNCIL TO BE HONORED

Jesus uses some pretty strong language here. He calls those people who judge and criticize others, hypocrites! He says that when we do this, we are merely acting like we are holier than we really are. Then, He offers some valuable counsel to those of us who fall into this trap from time to time.

Jesus tells the would-be judge to first clean up his own life, then he will be in a better position to help his brother. When our own heart is clean, we are told that we will be able to “see clearly.” I get the impression that we will be able to see more than the “mote” in our brother’s eye. I think we will see a few things far more clearly.

1.  We will see our own hearts more clearly. We will understand that we are just sinners ourselves who are prone to fail.
2.  We will see God and the fact that we will stand in judgment before Him someday more clearly.
3.  We will see our brother more clearly. We will see his need for love, compassion and help more clearly.

When our own heart has been fixed; when our own vision has been cleared up, we will able to reach out to a fallen brother, or a lost sinner in the right spirit. We will not approach them with a spirit of judgment, reproach, and condemnation; but we will be able to come to them with a spirit of compassion and restoration. That is the way it should be done, Gal. 6:1-2. There ought to be a desire to help a wayward brother and to win a lost sinner. Neither is possible as long as we have a judgmental, critical attitude. When we walk in love one with another, we will be in the business of building up and not tearing down!

It is not wrong to confront a person with his sin. It is wrong if you don’t. Listen to these verses: Leviticus 19:17, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him.” Proverbs 27:5, “Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Matthew 18:15, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.”

Luke 17:3, “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. If you love your brother, you will confront him when he is wrong. If you hate him you will not.”
Refusing to confront a person about his sin is just as wrong as a doctor refusing to confront a patient about his sickness. If you want to understand what Jesus said in Matthew 7:1, you must put right beside it what he said in John 7:24, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” Now that says it all. You cannot judge a tree by its leaves. But you can judge a tree by its fruit. You cannot judge a book by its cover. But you can judge a book by its contents. The key is not to judge by appearance.      

There are several reasons why people tend to judge and criticize others.

1. Criticism boosts our own self-image. Pointing out someone else’s failure and tearing him down makes us seem a little bit better, at least in our own eyes. It adds to our own pride, ego, and self-image.
2. Criticism is often enjoyed. There is a tendency in human nature to take pleasure in hearing and sharing bad news and reveling in the shortcomings of others.
3. Criticism makes us feel that our own lives are better than the person who failed. In other words, criticism builds us up in our pride.
4. Criticism helps us justify the decisions we have made and the things we have done throughout our lives. We rationalize our decisions and acts by pointing out the failure of others.
5. Criticism points out to our friends how strong we are. Criticism gives good feelings because our rigid beliefs and strong lives are proven again by our brother’s failure.
6. Criticism is an outlet for hurt and revenge. We feel he deserves it. Subconsciously, if not consciously, we think, “He hurt me so he deserves to hurt, too.” So we criticize the person who failed.

Here is the invitation. Have you been guilty of passing judgment on other people because they do not live as you do? Has the Lord spoken to your heart about this matter? If He has then you need to come to make it right and get the log out of your eye.

Have you been unjustly judged by others? Have you forgiven the ones who did that to you? You need to! This altar is open to you. Have you ever been saved? If you have, then live like it. If not, then come to Jesus and look to Him for the needs of your heart and soul!

Here Is My Worship (Live) (2014) Jaye Thomas

Agnus Dei / Exalt the Lord

Alleluia
Alleluia
For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia
Alleluia
For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia
Holy
Holy are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

You are holy
Holy are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

Amen

Alleluia
Alleluia
For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia
Alleluia
For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia
Holy
Holy are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

You are holy
Holy are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

You are holy
Holy are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

For the Lord our God
He is holy

For the Lord our God
He is holy

For the Lord our God
He is holy

For the Lord our God
He is holy

He is holy
He is holy
He is holy
The Lord our God He reigns

He is holy
He is holy
He is holy
The Lord our God He reigns

You are holy
You are holy
You are holy
The Lord our God He reigns

You are holy
You are holy
You are holy
The Lord our God He reigns

You are holy
Holy are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

You are holy
Holy are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

Amen

Amen; Amen; Amen; Amen;
Amen; Amen; Amen; Amen

 

These days, it’s common for believers to view Jesus as a friend. It is true that when we have a relationship with Jesus, He is accessible and calls us “friend.” But too often we forget that He is also holy. What does “holy” mean? “Set apart, distinct, different, and separate.” The word literally means “a cut above.”  So when we talk about God, the word holy implies that He is other. There isn’t even a category in our human terms for Him.

The first time we see this concept of holiness is in the Old Testament, right after God parts the Red Sea. There’s a song that Moses sings: “Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like You – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11) The answer is “No one.” Only He is majestic in “holiness.”

First and foremost, the doctrine of the holiness of God sits at the center of the grand narrative of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without the holiness of God, there would be no moral law to which every human being is responsible. Without the holiness of God, there would be no divine anger with sin. Without the holiness of God, there would be no perfect Son sent as an acceptable sacrifice for sin. Without the holiness of God, there would have been no vindication of the Resurrection. Without the holiness of God, there would be no final defeat of Satan. Without the holiness of God, there would be no hope of a new heaven and earth where holiness will reign over us and in us forever.

Yes, it really is true that the biblical story would not be the biblical story if it were not written and controlled at every point by One who is holy all the time and in every way. But let me make this even more practical. God’s holiness impacts you in three life-shaping ways:

Holiness Provides Comfort – In a world that seems so out of control, that seems so evil, where wrong seems to be rewarded and right often seems to be punished, it’s vital to remember the holiness of God. Every situation, location or relationship that you have been in, are now in and will be in is under the careful sovereignty of the One who is completely holy. At street level, it often won’t seem this way, but your Lord is ruling. What He does is always right. What He says is always true. What He promises He will always deliver.

You have to preach this message to yourself over and over again: evil is not in control. Injustice does not rule. Corruption is not a king. Satan will not have victory. God is, and will always be, worthy of your trust for this one reason: He is holy. With holy power, He will defeat every evil thing that has made our lives sad and difficult and deliver us forever to a world free of all that is wrong.

Holiness Induces Rebuke – To discover another impact that the holiness of God has in real life, we need to return to Isaiah 6. Look at the prophet’s response to his startling vision in verse 5: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Isaiah doesn’t have a “wow” response to God’s holiness. Yes, he is blown away, but blown away in brokenness because he recognizes how morally separated he is from the Lord. It’s only in the face of the holiness of God that you and I, like Isaiah, will ever be broken by the disaster of the sin that lives within us.

You see, we have a problem: sin doesn’t always appear sinful to us; often, it’s attractive and magnetic. It’s only in the face of the holiness of God that you fully realize that sin is more than a list of bad behaviors and more than breaking a set of abstract rules. Rather, sin is a disastrous condition of the heart that causes us to willingly and repeatedly rebel against the authority of God and do what we were never intended to do. It’s the holiness of God that tells us that since we cannot escape ourselves, we all need a Savior who can do what we can’t – rescue us from us. You simply cannot consider the holiness of God without also mourning your sin and crying out for the grace of Jesus.

Holiness Defines Calling – Because holiness is the essence of God’s character, it becomes our calling as his children by inheritance. Peter says: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'” (1 Peter 1:14-16,) Here’s the best way to understand it: you are holy, and you have been called to be holy. If you are God’s child, you stand before him as righteous because the perfect righteousness of Jesus has been given over to your personal account. But there’s a second aspect of this – you are holy because you have been bought with the blood of Jesus and you are not your own (see 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.)

To say you are holy means that you have been set apart by God’s grace for God’s purpose. Your allegiance is no longer to the kingdom of your success and happiness, but to the progress of His kingdom of glory and grace. And where do you do this? You do this wherever you are, whoever you’re with, and in whatever you’re doing. There’s a third and final aspect: you have been called to holy living. This means that between the “already” of your conversion and the “not yet” of your home-going, obedience matters. Every thought, every desire, every word, every choice and every action must be done in a spirit of humble surrender to the commands of God.

As you consider the impossibility of this call, take time to remember that God never calls you to a task without enabling you to do it. God calls us to be holy, then sends His Holy Spirit to live inside of us so that we would have the wisdom and strength that we need to surrender to His holy call in all that we do.