Having a Kingdom Attitude 19

One of the most common statements heard in society is the following phrase, "Jesus say not to judge me!" Well, it is true that Jesus tells His disciples not to judge, it is clear that most quote this verse (Matthew 7:1, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged") wrongly. It is used to justify their sinful living rather than giving corrective exhortation. In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus will uses the word "judge" to confront the idea of "judging the motives of other people" - an impossibility for man to do. The judging spoken of deals with a critical view of others while holding to an arrogant view of one's way of life. Jesus shows us that when we see people through our standards and our righteousness, we will be guilty of false judgment. Yet read carefully, Christ is not forbidding his disciples to distinguish between good and evil, truth and error (note 7:6). In this passage, Christ is mainly dealing with the motives behind the actions of the person judging. To judge without mercy, forgiveness, and love is to be a hypocrite.

In this passage Jesus makes two main points. First, judgment begins with a self-evaluation of personal motives (7:1-5). Before we point a finger to the other person to look inward before pointing outward. When we practice self-judgment, it will do three things: It will prepare us for our future judgment (2), it will prepare us for our present judgment (how we live today), and it prepares us to serve others. When we see ourselves as sinners, forgiven and saved by God's grace, then we can better help with humility those who have fallen as well. Second, judgment ends with self-discernment for the Gospel (7:6). In this verse it is clear that Christ's disciples are to make a judgmental choice with the Scriptures: Don't waste the gospel riches on antagonist and on abominations. Jesus warns His followers to be discerning on how they give out God's precious Word; none of us deserve God's Word, and yet there are some that through the constant rejection of God's Word forfeit the right to hear any longer (2 Peter 2:1-3; 12,22). All judgment on our part must begin by a humble examination of ourselves before God. When we take care of self we can be better suited, with the right attitude, to help those around us who are off track doctrinally, ethically, and morally. If we remember this command, then we will experience less stress in our dealings with our fellow man. Until next time, keep walking close with Christ.