SEMESTER 6
283 – Judge Not That Ye Be Not Judge
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: SOTERIOLOGY VI LESSON # 83
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
JUDGE NOT THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED
Read: Mat. 7:1-5
INTRODUCTION:
1. This is a badly misunderstood passage, and one often used in trying to silence all rebuke.
2. The idea often set forth is: “If you criticize me, God will judge you,” and vise-versa.
III: According to some, this is what Herod should have told John the Baptist.
3. The question is not do we agree with, or like this philosophy, but what saith Scripture?
i. Does Scripture forbid us to speak against the action of others?
ii. If not, what does this passage teach?
4. Let us try to interpret and expound this text in light of all the Scripture.
I. NOT A COMMAND AGAINST JUDGING OR DENOUNCING EVIL
1. We are, in fact, taught that proper judgment is demanded. Notice: I Cor. 5:12, I Cor. 6:2, 4, 5, I Cor. 14:29, Joh. 7:24
2. Paul taught that he had judged even in a particular case. (I Cor. 5:3)
3. Our Lord taught us to judge or identify “by their fruit.” (Mat. 7:15-16)
4. Hundreds of scriptural responsibilities demand judgment.
i. Mark certain ones. (Rom. 16:17 and Phil. 3:17)
ii. Commended for trying false apostles. (Rev. 2:2)
5. Judgment is also used in a very positive sense in which we speak or act for someone.
II. THE CONDEMNATION WAS OF PHARISAIC JUDGMENT
1. Remember the context of the passage is hearts hungering for righteousness as opposed to haughty minds claiming it.
III: By Matthew 6:5: Thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are.
2. They were not to judge by outward appearance, but to judge righteous judgment. (Joh. 7:24)
III: Not by their dress or their display, but by their fruit. (Mat. 7:15-20)
3. The judgment that Christ is forbidding here is precisely that of Luke 18:1-10.
III. OUR JUDGMENT IS TO BE FAIR AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. Six Greek words are translated into the verb form judge, and one the noun form.
III: How we use the word wisely in the English language.
2. The word used here (kri’no) is rendered judge, determine, condemn, go to law, call in question, esteem and 8 miscellaneous uses.
3. The sense here is to quickly judge and condemn to low esteem (Thou Fool).
4. But fair and righteous judgment must take into account all we know and all we do not know.
IV. LET US JUDGE SELF & REPENT BEFORE JUDGINGOTHERS
1. Matthew 7:3-5 illustrates the error that our Lord is warning against.
2. It is finding fault in others while missing our own which is as great or greater.
3. The title given this kind of judge is Hypocrite. (verse 5)
V. HARSHNESS BEGETS HARSHNESS, MERCY BEGETS MERCY (VERSE 2)
1. Mercy is a communicable attribute of God, and should abide in us. Do you judge mercifully?