Sermon Title: The Good Life Derailed: Judging others Text: Matthew 7:1-6 There are a few bible verses that have managed to take on a life of their own--outside the Bible and outside their context. The famous words of 1 John, maybe fit this category, God is love. Our culture takes that idea and maybe twists it around to Love is God. Jeremiah s words in chapter 29, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. That was a passage about bearing through the suffering of the exile, but we take it now sometimes to promise a prosperity gospel kind of message. When it comes to money, most people think the bible says, Money is the root of all evil when Timothy actually wrote: The love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. All kinds of people quote Ben Franklin thinking its scripture, God helps those who help themselves. That s a very American sentiment but its frankly the opposite of what the Bible tells us in the gospels. We aren t saved by our bootstrap efforts but by the saving act of God. But maybe a verse that tops the list as used, abused, taken out of context and misunderstood is what we come to today in the our study of the Sermon on the Mount: Judge not, lest ye be judged. I don t know if there s a category for this, but I bet this is the verse most likely to appear on a daytime tv talk show. Taken out of its place it seems to fit perfectly in our culture of tolerance and anything goes as long as you re true to yourself and not interfering with others. So in our culture if someone expresses some disapproval or moral reservations about an act or action we hear, Judge not... Anything goes and everything s fine. A few years back, Notre Dame sociologist and author Christian Smith led a research team that conducted in-depth interviews with 230 young adults from across America. They were trying to explore the moral lives of young adults. And what they found with many is that they hardly had the vocabulary to talk about moral judgements. They were asked about a moral dilemma that they had faced in life--and two thirds couldn t think of one or described something that wasn t a moral issue at all. Here s one report of their work: Aside from extreme cases [like rape and murder], moral thinking didn t enter the picture, even when considering things like drunken driving, cheating in school or cheating on a partner. I don t really deal with right and wrong that often, is how one interviewee put it. The default position, which most of them came back to again and again, is that moral choices are just a matter of individual taste. It s personal, the respondents typically said. It s up to the individual. Who am I to say? Rejecting blind deference to authority, many of the young people have gone off to the other extreme: I would do what I thought made me happy or how I felt. I have no other way of knowing what to do but how I internally feel. 1 1 David Brooks, If it feels right NYTIMES, 9/12/11
So with this kind of mindset, if someone tries to make a moral judgement, you re liable to hear this verse: Judge not... --as if Jesus and scripture somehow promote an anything goes ethic. Well Jesus words judge not aren t floating free in orbit from scripture--but they come in the course of a long and sustained message about living the good life--and that s the title of our series as we explore the Sermon on the Mount. Our culture s idea that anything goes, and that if it feels right for you, it must be right--isn t the path toward what God wants for us. In fact that s a path to a deeply broken life, and we can see examples of this all around us. Jesus lays out a very different way in the sermon. So we ve seen in the beatitudes, at the beginning of the sermon, how Jesus throws the doors open--that access to His life and His way is not restricted to the secure and powerful, but its open to all. Blessed are the poor in spirit. The ones who mourn. Jesus way is a life that is to have an influence around us--we don t hide it, but we are to be salt and light in the world. Through the rest of chapter 5, Jesus looks at our righteousness. And Jesus had that very hard word that our righteousness is to exceed the scribes and Pharisees. And he s not saying that we have to be more pigheaded and mean and legalistic than they are, but that we are to have a righteousness from the heart. So instead of worrying about the external things...we are to go to our hearts and root out anger and contempt, and lust, falsehoods, the desire for vengeance, and hatred for enemies. So we remove those things from our lives and the result is this new kind of righteousness that s sincere and true and lived out in life. This is a far cry from our culture s idea that bland tolerance is the highest goal! Jesus is pointing to a life that through hard work and through staying close to Him, changes in its core--its very nature. Jesus wants us to have core strength--and that has nothing to do with our abs. Then in chapter 6 Jesus described some things that can derail this life. One is being concerned with our reputation and our standing in the eyes of others. Our righteousness and worship and piety needs to be aimed at God alone. Then last week we explored the way wealth and materialism can pull us off track. We can t serve two masters Jesus says. Well today we ll look at a a third thing that Jesus says can pull us off track. And its a judgmental and condemning spirit toward those around us. And we ll need to think carefully about what Jesus says here because we can make two errors with this. Let s look at the passage:
Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 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? 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? 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. 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. -Matthew 7:1 6 Judge not lest ye be judged. One error is to take the daytime tv approach to this verse--to claim it protects any and all behavior--anything goes! Tolerance is the only virtue. But the other is to ignore this text and to judge away. And throw stones in any and all directions. Now I think both of these are wrong. Through this sermon Jesus is laying out a vigorous ethic for us--a right path for living. And he s opened this up to all. So imagine that you were in that crowd or one Jesus early disciples. And no one had ever taken you seriously--certainly no one had claimed that you had access to a blessed life before. And Jesus tells you to live this before others--salt and light. Wouldn t there be the temptation to start to feel a little better than everyone else? The line is fine indeed between living this out; sharing this good news with others, and condemning those who aren t following this way. And its a fine line for us, too. Let s think about some scenarios: - let s say a former popular child star does a strip-tease with provocative dancing on national tv. Do we judge...condemn that action? - or how about a family member; maybe a child; is straying from church and from faith and taking a path that you know is destructive - what about when a church member is acting unethically in business--over-billing; and pretty much everyone knows it. - What about when someone in your Sunday School class is forming an inappropriate relationship that could tear multiple families apart. - or what about the drunk driver, who gets behind the wheel again and again--playing Russian roulette with his life and the lives of others. Do we judge that? What is judging? When is it appropriate to judge? Whom do we judge? A few other passages can help us understand what Jesus is talking about a little better. Paul gives a really clear rule of thumb over in 1 Corinthians 5. He was getting on the Christians in Corinth for letting a really serious case of immorality going on in the
church. This was bad--it was bringing embarrassment on the church--it was worse than what the pagans were doing. I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 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. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. -1 Corinthians 5:9 13 Paul s rule: we exercise judgment within the church but have no business judging those outside the church. Now this kind of takes all the fun out of it. Because there are an awful lot of preachers and Christians who love judging or condemning the world. It makes you look tough on sin. It sounds prophetic. And it doesn t step on any toes in the congregation. But Paul says its stepping into God s role! That s a serious error! James says much the same thing. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? -James 4:12 Now I don t think Jesus or Paul says we need to stand up and applaud what is pagan and corrupt, and depraved in our culture. And I don t think that they re saying that we should hide our beliefs when they are different from our culture. We are to be salt and light. But our main stance toward our neighbors--those outside the church--shouldn t be the angry face of judgment and condemnation. We need to be living Jesus way-- showing his beautiful kingdom of sacrificial love--not lobbing stones of judgement at the world. But Paul does suggest that there are times when we exercise judgement or discipline within the church. As Christians, when someone s life is bringing shame on the name of Christ--then absolutely, we need to do something. Jesus says much the same thing later in Matthew. In Matthew 18 he gives guidance on when your brother falls into sin. You go and talk with them in private. If that doesn t work, take one other person with you. Its this process. So we know from the Bible that we are to show some discernment when it comes to behavior and right and wrong. When the dentist looks at your teeth and has those wicked looking pokey tools and says, This part looks good, but there s a problem with the molar in the back and you need to really focus there when you brush your teeth.
That s a judgment. Its making a distinction. Its recognizing something that s there. Its not condemning though. But I think what Jesus is talking about when he says, Judge not, is the spirit of condemnation and even manipulation that we sometimes have in our relationships. In looking at what this word meant in the Roman world, here s what the Greek dictionary says: krino: to pass judgment upon (and thereby seek to influence) the lives and actions of other people; criticize, find fault with, condemn 2 Sometimes we try to control others with a critical judging spirit. Well Jesus points out a few elements with this this. First, he connects the way we judge with how we are judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Its taking the same scale that we re using to evaluate and criticize others and turning around and putting us on it. This happens interpersonally. Think about your relationships and when you criticize your spouse or child for their behavior. Maybe smallish things Why do you always leave your clothes on the floor? To bigger things, You are drinking too much. Isn t one of the first responses when you re critical that they throw something back at you along the same lines. Well you don t pick up your stuff, you dump it on the table every day. Or, you drink too much coffee, I m control what does it matter. Just in practical terms, a judging, condemning spirit, often brings judging and condemning back at us. So that can be part of us being but on the same scale we re using. If we incredibly demanding on others...we ll find that thrown back at us.. But Jesus may be suggesting something greater here. The Bible connects our relationships with others and our relationship with God. Those do not operate independently of one another. Some parts of our life are totally independent. For example, a person can be a kind and generous person and they can have little or no sense of direction--they get lost a lot. They can t find their way from point A to point B. But even though they struggle with that--they can still be kind and generous, those things aren t connected. On the other hand, at least for me, I ve noticed that the way I interact with my dog is connected with the way I interact with my family. We have this 8 month old dog. And he s the highest energy breed of dog in the world I think. And he can be incredibly in your face and demanding and annoying. And I have a hard time separating when the 2 kri nw, BDAG, 567.
dog has frustrated me its hard to turn that off in relating to the people around me. Those things are connected--its called blood pressure. Its hard to turn from anger at the dog to gentle with your family. The Bible says that our relationship with God and with others are connected. 1 John tells us, If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. What are the two greatest commands, asked the lawyer to Jesus, Love God and love your neighbor And then there are the really scary verses like Matthew 6:14-15 in the sermon on the mount: For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. -Matthew 6:14 15 Now I don t think Jesus is saying that if we re tolerant of everything, God won t judge us of anything. But I think he is saying there s a connection here with how condemning and judgmental we are--and what we will face. A few years ago a Cleveland landlord, Nicholas Dionisopoulos, was convicted for multiple building code violations at his run-down 41 properties. And as part of his sentencing, he was fined $100,000 and sentenced to house arrest--in one of own, rundown properties. Under the terms of the sentence, he was only allowed to leave to fix one of his other properties, to attend church, or for special family events. 3 An unusual sentence for sure, but he had to live with what he had offered to others. That s kind of the implication of this verse. So this connection between the attitude we show and the treatment we receive is a big part of why we should not judge. Now a second reason is in Jesus famous statement in verse 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? -Matthew 7:3 Jesus was funny. I don t know if we always think about him like that. But Jesus was brilliant and funny, and I have no doubt that laughter rolled through the crowd with this picture. Its like a good op-ed cartoon that points out something true, makes you laugh, and makes you think. I did come across this cartoon based on Jesus words... Jesus points out how often we are blind to our own faults. Sometimes the people who are most critical about others are most generous or oblivious to their own shortcomings 3 http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/12/judge_piankas_sentence_for_lan.html
or character flaws. And sometimes its the things we re most irritated with in others--that, well we really struggle with ourselves. So what does it mean that I m really bothered by arrogant know-it-alls... It may be that I have some of those tendencies. Or maybe it really bothers you when someone talks about their children all the time...and well, maybe it bothers you because you can t get a word in edgewise about your children. So I think that s part of what this log and speck idea conveys. Remember that Jesus was a carpenter s son. And so surely he knew that awful feeling of sawdust in the eye. And it feels like a boulder. And sometimes you need help with that. And sometimes we need help with a character issue in our lives--when we re living with anger, or being mean-spirited or unfair. Sometimes we re headed down a destructive road...pushing the lines of what s appropriate. And we need help. But we don t need to be condemned we need help. And I think Jesus puts some boundaries on who should be offering such help. In verse 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. -Matthew 7:5 So in order to be people helping others with such problems in life, we need to be people who have examined our own lives. People who have gone through the new righteousness process of chapter 5--and rooted out anger and contempt and lust and these others things. There is a spiritual maturity and compassion that comes from self-examination and realizing what s inside our hearts and the failings we ve had or come close to--that allows us to better help others. OK, now I can help you in a way that s not condemning. Now verse 6 is a really confusing verse. 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. -Matthew 7:6 Dogs and swine were some of the lowest life forms in the eyes of the Jew. And some people have read this verse and decided its about the gospel and people that aren t worthy of the gospel. But that s the exact opposite of Jesus teaching--and the beatitudes, and his example in life. No one s too low--no one s too far--for the word of hope. Now I bet the people around Jesus knew what he was talking about--this was imagery they understood. But its difficult for us. But given that it comes in these verses where Jesus is talking about condemning and Judging, I think Jesus may be talking about our
well-meaning advice that doesn t fit what people need--it doesn t help their situation. Giving pearls to a pig makes no sense, because a pig needs food and something to wallow in. If I gave a Bible to my goofy dog, Scout, I could predict what s going to happen. He needs something to chew on. And if you re the kind of person giving constant advice to your family and friends on the better way for them to live life...maybe you need to see if that s what they really need. And sometimes such constant opinions and advice can cause people to really turn on you. We ll look at the next verses relating to prayer next week. But I think they can apply to our relationships as well. In contrast to condemning, judging, constant advice giving. Jesus gives some simple words in the next verses. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. -Matthew 7:7 8 We normally think about this with our relationship with God, but what about our relationships with one another. How often do we stew over something that s bothering us...do we gossip and talk behind someone s back; or undermine them in one way or another in a manipulating way--instead of just going to them to ask...to knock on their door and talk to them. To seek a solution with them in a straightforward way. How often in a family does your mom or grandad or child bring up the same issue again and again and again. And your blood pressure rises, and you stew, and change the subject and use diversionary tactics and talk to everyone else about it but them.. Couldn t a better path for us be to ask, You know, that bothers me, could you phrase things in another way...or not ask me about that right now, I m not ready to talk about it. Jesus may be showing us here a way to deal interpersonally in a way that is direct and non-judgmental and non-condemning. And often when we ask someone--even big things; they ll respond in a positive way. We can do better than live with disapproving condemnation in our relationships. And Jesus shows us a better way in the good life.