Applies to personal, group, or church Bible study …
A. We approach God’s Word in humility
we want to be informed and conformed
until the day of Jesus . . .
say this: “I’m not always right – perfect – sinless”
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble . . .
B. We read “from” the text and not “into the text”
eisegesis – read into text
imposing our own personal bias
already have a conclusion
exegesis – read from the text
“Judge not, that you be not judged” may be the most-often-misquoted text from the Bible.
People frequently apply it as if it were a flat command against all moral judgment.
“ah!! stop!! you can’t judge me”
In fact, people use it to judge what they consider a judgmental attitude on the part of another.
“you’re judging me!!”
(what??) didn’t YOU just judge me ??
they use it like a “get out of jail card”
C. We work to understand the context
surrounding verses – what part of the verse
culture
Let’s read this in context . . .
Matthew 7:1-5 (NLT) 1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
what is the context?
don’t judge – with it comes consequences
here Jesus is saying we deal with our own sin first!!
humbly . . .
Are all forms of judgment wrong?
Or . . . a particular kind of judgment ??
Sermon on the Mount
turns to Pharisees . . .
Jesus is saying “don’t be like the Pharisees”
more context . . .
Matthew 7:15-20 (NLT) 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
If we cannot judge
how then, can we identify false prophets??
we must make value judgments . . .
not our job to ascertain intents . . .
but we can look at their fruit
Are all judgments wrong? no . . .
discernment . . .
we’re not ignorant – or blind
Philippians 1:9-10 (NLT) 9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.
D. We let scripture interpret scripture
the best commentary on scripture is scripture
Jesus, gave these words as a opposite (double negative) application of the Golden Rule. That is,
“we should not treat others
as we do not want to be treated”
we should not judge
as we do not want to be judged . . .
E. We apply scripture to our lives
we come to His Word knowing it is alive and active
we change – not the Word
two people read same thing – different applications
“I WANT GOD’S WORD – MADE CLEAR BY THE HOLY SPIRIT - TO CHANGE ME”
No – I don’t want to be judgmental . . .
Just what IS this scripture saying . . .?