Daily Devotional For Thursday, November 7, 2024

Good morning Southside. Today is what some call “Trying Thursday,” because you are almost to the weekend. We are making our way through the greatest sermon ever – Jesus’ Sermon On The Mount. You can read this in its entirety in Matthew chapters 5, 6, & 7. Currently, we are in Matthew 7:1-6:

“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. (6) “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces” (NASB).

So, let’s pick up where we left off yesterday. We are looking at who we are to deal with each other when we sin. The easiest and most demonic reaction is to judge and condemn others, while thinking our sins are not as bad to the Lord. God gives us some pretty tough commands in the New Testament about this. Look at the following verses:

• Romans 16:17-18, “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. (18) For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting” (NASB). You have to make a judgment call to decide if someone is doing this? Did you internalize this? “Keep your eye on those who cause trouble in the church, who teach or espouse beliefs contrary to Scripture.”
• 1 Corinthians 5:11, “But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one” (NASB). Did you notice we are forbidden to even associate with any so called believer who is an immoral person, or worships anything other than Jesus Christ, a trouble maker, a drunkard or a swindler. What does this require? – a judgmental call. 
• Galatians 1:8, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel ]contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (NASB). In order to do this, you have to make a judgment call if the doctrine being taught is biblical or not. 
• 2 John 10-11, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; (11) for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds” (NASB). What does this require? – a judgment call. 
• Leviticus 19:17, “You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him” (NASB). Meaning, not to confront and rebuke sin is not love, but hatred. If you learned a good friend had a deadly disease but did not know it, would you warn him or her? 
• Matthew 18:15, “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother” (NASB). A person who does not warm his or her friend about their sin cannot claim that person as their friend.
• Hebrews 5:14, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (NASB). We are to train our senses to judge and discern good from evil.

In each of these verses as well as Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus is condemning the unmerciful, egotistical judgmentalism, condemning, loathing, and self-righteous attitude that did not point people to holiness and godliness. It was the attitude that condemned people to a life of being looked down upon and eternal condemnation. It is the attitude that we know people’s hearts and motives more than God does. Do you see and feel the hypocrisy?

The Greek New Testament word Jesus uses for “judge” is [κρίνω, krino]. This word has multiple meanings in the Bible based on context. But overall it means “to separate, select, choose and determine. In our case in Matthew 7, Jesus is referring to motives that no person can really know but God. Even if we know the person, no one can judge motives but God. Why? People often mask their motives to be one thing when in reality it is the opposite or something different. We give the impression that we have good intentions when we do not. 

The Apostle Paul condemns this in Romans 14:13, “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way” (NASB). In Proverbs 18:13, God says this to us: “He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him” (NASB). Good is so good to give us wonderful examples in Scripture the intentionality we should have when assessing a person’s words and behavior.

Jesus condemns our inclination to judge others without knowing all the facts. All of us can be heartless, self-righteous, condemning, prideful, unmerciful, and prejudiced in our opinions and assessments of others. New Testament scholar Douglas Sean O’Donnell writes this:

“Many famous phrases that we in the Western world use in our common vocabulary come from the Sermon on the Mount. Some examples include going the extra mile, paying the last penny, don’t toot your own horn, a city on a hill, the light of the world, the salt of the earth, the narrow gate. However, no phrase from the Sermon (and perhaps from the whole Bible) is more popular today than that found in 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (KJV). (People even say it in the King James Version, Source: Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Preach The Word Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” p.183).

Look at 1 Samuel 16:7, “. . .  for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (NASB). Pastor and author Chuck Swindoll writes this:

“The first principle Jesus expounded relates to judging others: Exhortation must come from a position of love and humility rather than hypocritical pride. Far too many Christians, however, like to play a game I’ll call “Let’s Label,” also known as “The Judging Game.” The gameplay is pretty simple: Someone finds something they don’t like or agree with about a person, usually by quickly and superficially surveying the person’s external qualities. Then they jump to negative, critical opinions about that person. These self-proclaimed judges never take the time to dig deeply, get the facts straight, and draw fair conclusions about a person. Instead, they slap the person with a label and then interpret all that person’s words and actions through that grid. Finally—and this is key—they share their inaccurate observations and conclusions openly and freely with others” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament, “Matthew 1-15,” Vol. AA, p. 125).

New Testament scholar Bruce B. Barton writest this:

“But followers of Christ should not be critical or condemning in their attitudes toward others. A judgmental, critical spirit differs radically from love. Believers’ special position with Christ does not give them license to take God’s place as judge. Those who judge in that manner will find themselves judged likewise by God” (Source: Bruce B. Barton, The Life Application Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” p. 129).

Questions To Consider

1. You were given many Bible verses that warn us against judging others. Which of these connect to you the most and why? What specifically is God saying to you from them?
2. Why do some Christians like to take God’s place as judge? Do you ever do this? If so, why? If you do this, why do you think you are a better judge than God?
3. Based on question #2, the truth is, none of us have the capacity that God has to read and know people’s hearts and motives. We judge people by the externalities of what we see. This is dangerous, arrogant, prideful and self-righteous. It loathes the person we do this to, not loves them. Why?
4. Have you ever played “The Label Game?” If so, why? If not, why?
5. Do you ever after labeling a person, then share your inaccurate observations and conclusions with others? Why? What would Jesus want you to do instead?

Scripture To Meditate On: Romans 14:10-13, “But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. (11) For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.” (12) So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. (13) Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way” (NASB).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, help me to see and love people as You do. Please forgive me when I act proudly that I am a better judge than You. You are God and I am not. Insecurity is why I judge people. I want to appear better, more spiritually mature and more godlier than them. The truth is, I am a sinner who is refusing to acknowledge this.  Help me to do this for Your glory. I love You Jesus! In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside!--Pastor Kelly