SERMON NOTES
May 29, 2016
Dr. Keith Moore
“What does Jesus mean by: ‘Judge not, that you be not judged?’”
Matthew 7:1-6
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be
judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck
of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can
you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank
in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not
throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear
you to pieces.” Matthew 7:1-6
What Jesus is not saying:
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He is not saying ‘give up your ability to discern between right and wrong.’
He is not saying ‘civility means to never criticize what goes on around us.’
He is not saying ‘to turn a blind eye to people’s faults, pretending not to notice them.’
Scripture teaches us to humbly and lovingly help fellow believers see counterproductive areas of
their lives. Galatians 6:1
Four principles to remember when you think a fellow Christian needs correction:
1. Don’t play God in your judgments of others. (7:1-2)
The word ‘judge’ in vs. 1 is from the Greek word ‘Krino.’ Louw Nida Greek Lexicon defines
Krino as ‘to judge a person to be guilty and liable to punishment - to judge as guilty, to
condemn.’
R.T. Kendall says you should put these questions to yourself before uttering a comment. The
questions are based on the acrostic N-E-E-D.
Necessary? Is it really necessary to say this?
Encourage? Will it uplift their heart?
Energize? Will it empower their spirit?
Dignify? Will it increase their self-esteem?
Why is it idiotic to try to play God?
A. Because we are not good at it!
B. God has established a law that on our day of evaluation, He will measure us by the same
strictness and standard we measured others.
2. Don’t be hypocritical in your judgments of others (7:3-4)
Matthew 13:55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his
brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?”
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?”
Jesus is bothered by judgmental looks - “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your
brother’s eye”
Matthew 7:3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no
attention to the plank in your own eye?”
And He’s bothered by judgmental lips - “How can you say to your brother?”
Matthew 7:4 “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when
all the time there is a plank in your own eye?”
Help for the temptation to be hypocritical:
A. A golden rule of relationships is this: Work on yourself first!
Jesus says, “first take the plank out of your own eye,”
Matthew 7:5 “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him
gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”
Galatians 6:4 “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without
comparing himself to somebody else.”
“Each one should test his own actions”
B. Try to remember, it’s very possible you’re not seeing the situation clearly.
Jesus says, “first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly”
Matthew 7:5 “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Our sins cause us to misjudge others!
Our fault-finding is worse than their fault. The moment someone does something you don’t like,
ask yourself; is the problem with me?
‘When you judge others, you do not define them, you define yourself.” Earl Nightingale
C. Ask yourself, ‘why am I being so harsh to them when God has been so gracious to me?’
3. Don’t be silent when you should lovingly approach (7:5)
“and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”
“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove
the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5
4. Show discernment and don’t waste your time when unbelievers continually and
vehemently reject the Gospel.
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample
them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6