IS IT RIGHT TO JUDGE

Matthew 7:1-5

  1. Intro.
    1. the question "Is it right to judge?" is one that puzzles many sincere Christians
      1. a careful study of the Bible makes it clear that it is not only right but a duty to judge
      2. many do not know that the Scripture commands us to judge
    2. a look at some of the things Jesus said
      1. , "Judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24)
      2. "Thou hast rightly judged" (Luke 7:43)
      3. "Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" (Luke 12:57)
    3. things Paul said about judging
      1. "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say" (I Cor. 10:15)
      2. "He that is spiritual judgeth all things" (I Cor. 2:15)
    4. warnings about false teachers and false teachings
      1. "Beware of false prophets" (Matt. 7:15) is the warning of our Lord
      2. how can we "beware," and how can we know they are "false prophets," if we did not judge
      3. what is the God-given standard by which we are to judge - "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20)
      4. we must judge by God’s Word, not by what appeals to human reasoning
      5. many things seem good to human judgment which are false to the Word of God
      6. Paul admonished to believers – Romans 16:17-18
        1. this command could not be obeyed if it were not right to judge
        2. God wants us to know His Word and then test all teachers and teachings by it
        3. we are to "mark them" and "avoid them"
    5. it would be impossible to obey many of the commands in God’s Word, if it were right to judge
      1. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (II Cor. 6:17)
      2. "From such turn away" (II Tim. 3:5)
      3. "Withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly" (II Thess. 3:6)
      4. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11)
      5. "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Rom. 12:9)
      6. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (I Thess. 5:21)
    6. the Bible commands us to judge between those who do and those who do not bring the true doctrine of Christ – I John 4:1, II John 7,10-11
      1. whenever a child of God contributes to a denominational budget that supports liberal, ecumenical, compromising missionaries or teachers, he is guilty before God
      2. he becomes a "partaker" with them of their "evil deeds" of spreading soul-damning poison
  2. one of the best-known and most misunderstood and misapplied Scriptures is "Judge not" (Matt. 7:1)
    1. notice that it is addressed to a hypocrite, not to those who sincerely want to discern whether a teacher or teaching is true or false
      1. instead of being a prohibition against honest judgment, it is a solemn warning against hypocritical judgment
      2. the last statement of this text commands sincere judgment: "Then shalt thou see clearly to cast out …"
      3. if we take a verse or a part of a verse out of its setting, we can make the Word of God appear to teach the very opposite of what it really teaches
      4. those who do this cannot escape the judgment of God for twisting His Word (II Pet. 3:16)
    2. the reason the true church of Christ is paralyzed by satanic influence, is that Christians have not obeyed the commands of God’s Word to judge and put away the false teachers and false teaching
      1. physical health is maintained by separation from disease germs
      2. spiritual health is maintained by a separation from the germs of false doctrine
      3. the greatest peril of our day is not too much judging, but too little judging of spiritual falsehood
      4. God wants His children to be like the noble Bereans - Acts 17:11
    3. when we obey God’s Word, we can trust Him to take care of all the consequences of our obedience
  3. other matters to be judged
    1. the immoral conduct of professed believers in Christ is to be judged – I Cor. 5:13
    2. disputes between Christians should be judged by a tribunal of fellow Christians instead of going before unbelievers in the civil courts – I Cor. 6:1-4
      1. some startling truths are here revealed: "the saints shall judge the world"; "we shall judge angels"
      2. are we letting God prepare us for this high place
    3. we ought to judge ourselves - II Cor. 13:5, I Cor. 11:31-32
      1. what a change there would be if we would judge our own faults as harshly as we do the faults of others
      2. Christians could save themselves much chastening, if they would judge and confess their disobedience to God
  4. the limitations of human judgment
    1. concerning matters of which the Bible does not directly speak – Romans 14:1-3
    2. concerning the motives of others - I Corinthians 4:3–5
    3. concerning whether people are actually saved - II Tim. 2:19
  5. two elements of judgment
    1. the words "judge" or "judgment" means "to distinguish, to decide, to determine, to conclude, to try, to think and to call in question
      1. this is what God wants His children to do as to whether teachings are true or false to His Word
      2. the Bible says we are to approve things that are right – Phil. 1:9-10
        1. a wrong idea about love, and lack of knowledge and judgment, causes God’s people to often approve things that are anything but excellent in God’s sight
        2. a sign of a mature Christian is his ability to discern between good and evil – Heb:5:11-14
    2. the word "judge" or "judgment" also means to condemn, to sentence and to punish
      1. be careful not to play God – "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" - Roman 12:19
      2. we are to reprove and rebuke – II Tim 4:2
      3. we are to mark and avoid – Romans 16:17
      4. we are to withdraw ourselves from the disorderly – II Thes 3:6
  6. when judging guard against a wrong attitude
    1. Christians should guard against the tendency of the flesh to assume a critical attitude toward those who do not share our opinions in matters that have nothing to do with Bible doctrine and moral conduct
    2. rather than "pick to pieces" our brethren, it is our duty to do everything we can to encourage their spiritual edification
    3. we ought to love and pray for one another and consider ourselves lest we be tempted - Gal. 6:1
  7. conclusion
    1. let those of us who are saved never forget that "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ"
    2. it will be well with those who are studying God’s Word, walking in the light of it, and living for Christ
    3. it will go ill with those who have accepted Christ but who are living for the things of this world
    4. if you are a mere professor of Christ, or profess nothing, may I remind you "that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel"
      1. do not delay another moment to ask Christ to forgive your sins
      2. surrender your heart and will to the loving Savior who died for you and rose again
      3. make Him the Lord of your life
      4. happy and blessed will you be, now and forever