Why You Gotta Judge?

So often we tend to judge others based on our worldview, on our superior point of view, experiences, and morals - it becomes polarizing. Here's what we all have in common: we think we are right! When we are judged, we want to explain, defend, validate, and attack. We quickly can become Bible scholars… Jesus said you shouldn't judge, right?! Jesus has something to say about judging, but it might not be exactly what you think.

Message Notes 27/10/2024 - Gareth Nicholson

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1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others,

you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 

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? 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?

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. 6 “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

Why Jesus tells us not to judge with a posture of condemnation, control, discrimination, or superiority:

• We're not good judges

• We judge ourselves by our intentions while we judge others by their actions

• We can't see the heart!

Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV)

1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

What Jesus says about being judgy!

Do	Don't
👍🏻 Show support, be present and involved	👎🏻 Be a bystander, ignore injustice or place a guilty verdict on someone
👍🏻 Seek justice and support the legal system	👎🏻 Abdicate responsibility for preventing harm
👍🏻 Honour a moral code	👎🏻 Condemn to control or to discriminate
👍🏻 Maximise the time between a trigger and a reaction (Key of spiritual formation)	👎🏻Be hypercritical - you will be treated with the same measure
👍🏻 Display a spirit of grace	👎🏻 Place yourself on a pedestal & find fault
👍🏻 Leave the rest up to God	👎🏻 Play God

1/ The Grace Question: What would love do? | Matthew 7:3-5 | Matthew 25:31-33

• Don't ignore the speck in someone's eye but first remove the log in yours

• 20/20 vision doesn't come from having a log in your own eye

• A relational component is needed to remove a speck - you can't do this for a stranger

2/ The Humility Question: What can others see? | Matthew 7:6

• Own your blind spots: be vulnerable - ask others for authentic feedback about your blind spots and work on rectifying those!

• Be strategic and wise how you share the Kingdom message (precious pearls) with those who don't know Jesus or who aren't fully ready to receive it

• Practice a spirit of gentleness

  
  

3/ The Wisdom Question: What/who is God calling me to? | Romans 8:1-4

• God gives us the agency of free choice

• Substitutionary atonement: Jesus' death settled our debt of sin allowing God to forgive sin and make us righteous through our faith in Jesus

• Following Jesus is not about what you do, but what Jesus did for YOU!

Self-judgement sabotages your life. So, live free,

knowing that the judgment and punishment was put

on Jesus and that there is no condemnation

for those who are in Jesus. (Rom 8:1)