Speaking Up, Or Remaining Silent

Love and Judge Not! Matthew 7:1—6 Self examination is not as simple as it might appear. This is what Charles Spurgeon has to say “No Christian who has ever really practiced it has found it easy. If there is any exercise of the soul as unsatisfactory, and almost impossible, it is self examination? Why is it so hard —“the heart is so exceedingly complicated and intricate” — thought so very near to the eye which has to investigate it, and both it and the eye are so restless and so shifting, that its deep anatomy baffles our research— Charles Spurgeon Charles Spurgeon has a point here (a) First, we hardly ever properly plumb the depths of our heart (b)second, we find it terribly hard to examine own hearts, for we find the heart often a complicated and intricate mess, (c) but third, we also have the tendency to be shifting our eye from ourselves elsewhere, to someone else then only to be stumbled by what we see. . . This my dear brothers and sisters is what Jesus spoke about in Matthew 7 when he said: 1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? . . .4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Page 1 of 13 Here are four truths here: Sad, but nevertheless true I. v. 1-3: Judgmental people confidently examine the thoughts, motives, and intents of someone else’s heart while they are poor in judging their own hearts. . . II. v. 4.Judgmental people will often offer themselves as experts that identify and excise sin in sinners . . . III. v. 4 Judgmental people will minimize their own faults, but exaggerate the fault in others. IV. v. 5 Judgmental people use the precious things of God in a judgmental ways The very fact that Jesus says: v. 1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judge” should make us cautious to examine anyone other than ourselves. What also must catch out attention is that in our passages Jesus calls this type of person a “Hypocrite” v. 5 . . . which clearly shows something is very wrong here. . . Now this does not mean we should not judge someone’s behavior as being Christ honoring or Christ dishonoring! However, we are to be cautious for it is easy to fall in the trap of unrighteous judging. To judge in this manner Matthew 7, makes one a hypocrite who judges the people of God, in a judgmental way . . . judging in a judgmental way is tell tale sign of hypocrisy of the heart ! Page 2 of 13 CPS So there are four habits we will learn about the Judging of the Hypocrite, and how we are to guard our heart from such hypocrisy is by Love: Outline: 1. The Hypocrite examines others, never himself 2. The Hypocrite examines others, only to exaggerate what they see 3. The Hypocrite examines others, only to offer themselves as the expert 4. The Hypocrite examines others, to use the Bible as a weapon First, habit of the Hypocrite: 1. The Hypocrite Examines Others, But not Himself The Hypocrite judges others by using God’s standards, yet in a way to vindicate themselves. Quick to condemn others, while justifying themselves. . . so the hypocrites do: v. 3“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? . . . We are to be examining our brothers and sisters in Christ, be we are often bothered by the speck-like faults, and flaws while we are ourselves blunted to the putrid sins in our own lives. How is it that we so clearly can perceive what is wrong in someone else, yet be totally oblivious to what is wrong with ourselves? . . . v.3 says. . . “but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? . . . Page 3 of 13 If we are in a place that we are more bothered about the issues in someone else’s life, yet be at peace with the sins in our own life we are walking on the edge of a razor. . . Self-righteous judging is a tell-tale sign of a lack of self-examination. But, we are to practice self-examination as Galatians 6:4 “Each one should examine his own work” we will increasingly become bothered with the faults we see in other people. . . The second observation about the hypocrite is about a perception problem 2. The Hypocrite examines others, only to exaggerate what they see in others, while minimize their own sins. How often what is greatly exaggerated in others, are greatly overlooked in self! It is like we have the perspective of those carnival mirrors. .. where certain things are shrunk while other things are distorted. . . How often my friends are we greatly offended at the very same actions we do ourselves? How prone are we to jump on others, only to find what we are doing is ten times more heinousness? We are good to take a log in our own eye and turn it into a splinter! The self-righteous will take the mountain of sin, and quickly turn it into molehill of sin! Page 4 of 13 Unless we confront ourselves first, we are in no position to confront others. . . or else we will be casting the first stone! If we see ourselves without guilt we are in no position to correct or confront others. . . The caution here is not to “not judge” but the problem here is about the hypocrite who is bothered by a splinter in the eye, yet will refuse to notice the log in his own eye, and even so the log present the hypocrite will feel at ease helping his neighbor with a speck of dust, despite the plan in his own eye. The issue here is not about the fact that we have to be sinless before we confront others about their sin. . .this is surely not what Jesus is saying — it is about he way we go about dealing with someone else’s sin. If we can notice the speck in someone’s eye, but not the log in our own we are not judging righteously but corruptly! Job was an introspective man so busy with self-examination, that he was not bothered by the sins in his own friends: He says of himself in Job 13 — ”How many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my rebellion and my sin” (Job 13:23) Hypocrites will not see their own sin yet be self-appointed judges. But Jesus in this passage warns against corrupt judging: It is the judgment that will size personal logs down to speck sized splinters Page 5 of 13 My dear brothers and Sisters how can the little speck in someone’s eye be so bothersome? Regular self examination will certainly help to find the faults of others not so irksome! However, we must ask where does mercy, grace, and love come into the picture? While hypocrites are slow to give grace, mercy and love they’re all to quick to give justice! It is about the condition of the heart, when it comes about judging someone’s actions and behaviors: • When Jesus asks “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye? The question formulated in such as way to make us wonder why don’t we look at the log in our own eye! • Why can’t I notice the log in my own eye? The answer is simple — if we are constantly, searching, prying, and probing others, where is their time to scrutinize our own . . . while we have the tendency to put others under the microscope we use an inside-out binoculars in our own life! Illustration: When we place something under a microscope it certainly looks bigger than what it really is: I am sure you have seen these pictures of dust mites, and fleas that are placed under a microscope. . .suddenly these minute creatures turn into something from The Alien or Jurassic Park. . .but in the end what we do is take a pair of binoculars to our own lives, and then flip them around so that everything looks distant, minute and small — The third, observation is about the hypocrites ways of offering help out of pride and self-confidence. . . 3. The Hypocrite examines others, only to offer themselves as the expert Page 6 of 13 While Jesus says Hypocrite why “do you not notice the log that is in your own eye? “ Yet, they have the arrogance and pride to say “Let me help you”! V. 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? The hypocrite does not bother about examining his own heart, yet is ready to help those who he perceives to have many “issues” and “transgressions” Here is the offer: v. 4 ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye” Third, observation about the hypocrite seems is to have this natural ability point out sin, and be so gifted to help deal with the things in an expedient way, yet unwilling to deal with his own splinters that now have become the size of a giant sequoia! Illustration: In raising kids one learns a lot about hypocrisy for they a so good a noticing the perceived log in their own siblings eyes. . . we once sat in a sermon of a student pastor , preaching to a group of college students the pastor said we should not use the awesome in a mundane, haphazard way because God is awesome, and that only God is worthy of awe, therefore this word should be reserved for God. . . not for speaking to your roommate like in “oh, dude you are awesome” One day, one of the students comes into my office greatly considered about her teachers who is in sin . . . what is your teacher’s issue, I ask? Page 7 of 13 My teacher used the “A-Word” — wow the “a-word” that is pretty strong vernacular for a kindergarten class. . .specially because I know the teacher to be a Christian. So here I go investigate the matter, and it turns out the “a-word” was the word “awesome”! The teacher looked at a stick-figure sketch and said to the child — “this is an awesome drawing” Ready to find help-out teacher, the child did not understand that that tattling on the teacher was a log that blinded her perspective! Hypocrites tend to offer themselves as surgeons willing to help excise specks. . . for those specks become so bothersome to them. . . something that needs to be dealt right now! The hypocrite is an impatient, and blind speck-remover! But Jesus says — v. 5 ”You hypocrite, first take the log” Once again the call is not to irradiate sin in one’s own life first, before we can be confident to confront others. . . not the case here: it is about acknowledging one’s own need for gospel, grace, mercy and love! The willing speck-remover must first understand their won inability, inadequacy, and insufficiency without the Gospel of Jesus Christ — v. 5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye” means they must come to grips with the gospel in their own lives first! Coming to grips with the need for grace, and understanding that we are sinners, saved by grace is to “first take the log out of your own eye” Page 8 of 13 Once the gospel is preached to ourselves then will we see “clearly to take the speck out of our brother’s eye.” As brothers and sisters united in Christ we are called to do these speck removals, but it will only be effective, loving, and helpful if it comes through a person who practices regular self-examination, understanding the need for gospel, and grace, and practices forgiveness, and repentance. If someone thinks of himself to be “holier, than thou” then in fact, they will be a “bull in a china shop” they will come to the operating room with not with the tools of the surgeon, but come to the operating room with the tools of a lumberjack. Turn to: Galatians 6:1. . . 1Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself. . . [here again is the call to sober self-examination], so that you too will not be tempted [tempted to think that you are someone special, when you are not]. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.[what is the law of Christ = love] 3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing [once again this conceited attitude of the hypocrite who things himself to be the expert at addressing sin]. . .[it is often that we have these people around us who believe their sole purpose on earth is to correct, rebuke and set straight everyone’s doctrine and lives! . ..that person may] he deceives himself. 4But each one must examine his own work [here again self examination, cultures humility and gentleness] , and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. Matthew Henry reminds us — “The better we know our own hearts and ways, the less shall we despise others, and the more be disposed to help them under infirmities and afflictions.” In helping someone in their “infirmities” of sin, and “afflictions” of transgression we must be eager not only to perform the surgery but we must be willing to be there for post-operative recovery, rehab, and restoration of health. . .Galatians 6:2 says “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” Page 9 of 13 The hypocrite knows the Law, and knows how to judge, but is never their to bind, and salt the wounds inflicted by a “so-called” friend. In removing the log of our own eye through the grace of God we are no longer under the law but under the law of Christ. . . the law of Christ as Galatians 6:2 points out speaks of loving support! What is the Law of Christ is as Galatians 6:2 points is — to “love” one another and in so doing fulfill the law of Christ (James 2:8) . . . if we love we will be less prone to be judges of the law, but we will be doers of the law of Christ! The Bible says that love covers a multitude of sins. . . I believe it does not speak about ignoring sin, or white washing sin but it is all too clear that we can alleviate the irksomeness of a person’s sin with loving them. If we truly love our brothers and sisters in Christ those little “specks” of sin will not be so irksome, and bothersome to us. I am not saying we must become tolerant, and tame with sins! But as 1 Peter 4:8 says — “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” To judge in the right way is to judge the sin, but in way that we know ourselves for who we really are: “sinners saved by the grace of God” To judge in a right way is to judge in a way knowing that our hearts are desperately wicked and deceitful above all things. . . and we too need mercy and grace To judge in a right way is to cover the person with love or else our eye surgery will be done out of irritation and aggregation which will be harmful and hurtful to them. . . Page 10 of 13 Transition: As I think of what Jesus is warning about here in Matthew 7:2 is this type of “loveless judging” — “ For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” You see dear brothers and sisters, our self-examination begins with “log-spotting” and the greatest log in our own eye is that we are often “loveless” We are quick to be bothered and irritated about how someone is not seeing their faults and sins, yet we are so oblivious to the absence of love in our own hearts. is that we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves — Turn to James 2 Let’s look at chapter two verse 8 8If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. If we consider that we are scrutinized by God as to whether we are fulfilling this royal law according to James 2:8 This royal law is the law of liberty which is: "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," If we a loving, and covering everything with love “we are doing well” Page 11 of 13 12So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. Yet, if we don’t love we will have this unloving log which is often a “petrified log” that has long been calcified into the eye of the soul. . . If there is no love, our judgment will be merciless but we must know that “judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy” As we close out this study about judging, we must remember this passage is speaking about the attitudes, motivations and disposition when dealing with the sins, and offenses of another Christian, it is not a prohibition. The issue up to here is not about “to judge or not to judge” but the “way” in which we judge. . .now going from here Let me consolidate these thoughts: 1. Hypocrites, they are prideful, arrogant, and judgmental, quick to spot violations of the law, while they themselves are failing to note they are transgressors of the greatest of all God’s law “to love thy brother” 2. Christians, are to judge their Brothers, and Sisters, but our response to someone’s sin is not be like the hypocrites, who are all to quick to cast the first stone! A. Instead we are to examine ourselves and measure ourselves by God’s word. B. Then we are to cover all with love, and show mercy for we’ve been given much love, and much mercy. Page 12 of 13 C. We must remind ourselves as to those who we often tend to judge there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). D. Our response is what the Lord told the people of Israel in Micah 6:8: “O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” —AMEN Page 13 of 13