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Gospel Meeting October 2008

The 3rd Annual Preachers Files Lectureship

Youth Gathering Oct 25th

Judging

Lesson prepared by Richard Chambers

For the lesson this morning, if you’d open up to Romans 14, Romans Chapter 14.  I just want to stay there very briefly for the lesson.  Last Sunday evening, in case you were not here with us, we looked at Romans Chapter 14 in particular and focused on this particular chapter.  And it is very important to realize that this is a much abused and misunderstood chapter.  We must understand, when we study Chapter 14, that Paul is dealing with items, matters of indifference.  And in these particular areas he says, yes, there are differences in opinions, there are differences in preferences.  And in matters of indifference, that is just fine, and we should allow some liberty for others’ opinions and preferences.  And in this particular case, that we are to have unity among diversity in these matters of indifference.

However, again, it is very important to realize, in Romans Chapter 14, that Paul is not dealing with the subject matter of items or matters of faith, matters of doctrine.  But we noticed in Romans Chapter 14 and as we read through — and notice in verse 4, this verse begins with a question — “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant?”

If we go on down to verse 10, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”  If we drop down to verse 13, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”  And we addressed this particular aspect of the chapter briefly in the lesson last week.

The point that Paul is making here is, in these matters of indifference, areas in which there is a liberty for differences of opinion and preference, that we should not make issues of those items.  We should not judge one another and try to say that our opinion or our preference is better than another opinion or preference, but we should work for peace and the edification of one another and not make issues out of these matters of indifference. But with these particular verses, addressing the topic of judging, I thought it might be good timing to do a lesson on judging. 

Now, I’m not going to focus on judging in the areas of matters of indifference.  For the purpose of the lesson this morning, I’m going to be talking about judging in general.  It is a much-debated issue, has a variety of opinions.  It always has, and I imagine that it probably always will.  But I do think that judging is certainly a topic that there has been a lot of misunderstanding in regards to.  And so this morning, if we will look at these scriptures — and by all means, as always, we will not cover all the passages that cover this topic.  But we will cover some of the passages in which we can get a proper understanding.  And that is the goal this morning, and I think we can do that, to have a proper understanding of judging one another from the lesson this morning.

While teaching a bible class when I was preaching over in Granby — I don’t remember exactly what the lesson was about or the comment that I made, but after I made a comment, one of the ladies in the congregation raised her hand.  And so of course, I called on her.  And she said, “Now, that’s judging, and we’re not supposed to judge.” And she made reference to Matthew Chapter 7 verse 1, so if you’ll turn over there, please, Matthew Chapter 7 verse 1.

Because in Matthew Chapter 7 verse 1, part of the teachings in the sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “Judge not.”  And that was the point that this person was making, and she did it in a very kind manner.  I don’t mean anything bad along those lines.  But a lot of time, when folks refer to Matthew Chapter 7 verse 1, it seems they focus on those first two words of Jesus, ‘Judge not,” and forget that that’s not all that was in that verse nor in the message that Jesus gave.  In order to have a proper understanding, we need to read several verses, and let’s begin in verse 1.

It says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.

“(2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

“(3) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

“(4) Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

“(5) Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”

I think we see, or we will see as we look at this particular passage, that Jesus is not condemning the idea of judging.  But instead, what it is that Jesus condemns is the hypocritical judgment.  Notice he says, “How can you go and try to help your brother with the mote that is in his eye, when you have a beam in your own?” 

Now, that word ‘mote’ comes from a Greek word which means ‘a small, dry stalk, a twig, a bit of dried stick, a tiny straw, a bit of wool.  In other words, it’s something along the lines, perhaps, of something that could blow into your eye, and it is given here with the meaning of, perhaps, what we might classify — now, we have to be careful when we classify one thing above another, because we must remember that sin is sin, and we have a category of classifying sin.  But all sin is a violation against God.  Oftentimes, this is used to indicate what we might classify as a minor fault.  But the word ‘beam’ that is used here actually means a beam which supports a building, and so we see that it is a large piece of wood.

Now, with that in mind, notice what Jesus says.  He says that we shouldn’t be focused on others and examining others to the point that we are looking for the littlest thing that we can hold against them, when we ourselves have some significant issues that we need to resolve first and foremost.  And that is the message that Jesus gives: first of all, we need to examine ourselves and focus on ourselves, and we need to strive to correct the necessary things in our lives before we try to help them to correct things in their lives.  But notice, in this passage, that Jesus never condemns the idea of going to another and trying to help them with a situation, even with a mote.

‘Cause notice, in verse 5, when he does refer to this process as hypocritical, he then says, “...first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”  See, the idea of helping the brother is not condemned, but it needs to be done in a proper manner and it should not be a hypocritical style of judgment.

We see that Paul makes a similar point, if you turn over to Romans Chapter 2.  Romans Chapter 2, we’re going to find something that is similar, having to do with the idea of a hypocritical judgment.  Again, we have no right to go to somebody and say that they need to correct some things if we need to correct that very same thing in our own lives.  We need to take care of it in our own lives first.

Romans 2:1, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest....”  Now, see, some would stop the verse there and say Judging, overall, is not right, we are not allowed to do it and should not do it.  But once again, we must continue to read the message that is given here.

“(1)Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest” — notice this — “doest the same things.

“(2) But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

“(3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?”

Again, the idea of judging is not condemned here.  What is condemned is judging somebody of something that you are guilty of yourself.  First of all, we must, again, strive to correct these things in our lives before we can try to help — and that should be the purpose, to help — before we try to help somebody with that particular issue.

When we think about it, in our own lives, we are constantly and continually making judgments.  To understand this, let’s look at the Greek word that is translated ‘judge’ here.  It is the same word in Matthew Chapter 7 that we looked at and here in Romans Chapter 2.  The word ‘judge’ means, literally, ‘to distinguish,’ so it’s idea of distinguishing one thing from another.  It’s used to mean ‘to decide.’  And then, through the use of the word, it can also mean ‘to try, to punish or condemn.’  In the King James version, this word is translated a different way, ‘concluding, to conclude, to determine, to judge, and to think.’   So yes, we make judgments constantly, or at least we should, because we are making determinations.  We’re making decisions, and certainly, we should be thinking.

Matter of fact, this last Wednesday evening in Bobby’s lesson on spirituality, he talked about the importance of the manner of our thinking.  And as we grow in knowledge of God’s word, as we should, then we will be better able to make better judgments, better decisions, better determinations.  And we should model, or pattern, our thinking after the pattern of scriptures.

If you go back to the book of Hebrews, Hebrews Chapter 5, I want to begin reading in verse 12.  Again, with the idea that if we grow in the knowledge of God’s word, we’ll be better prepared to make proper decisions, proper judgments.

“(12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”

Now, that word ‘ought,’ we’re going to see that in a couple of passages this morning.  This passage here tells us that we ought to grow in knowledge of God’s word, that we progress from the milk of God’s word, the basic principles of God’s word, and that we progress to the meat of God’s word, the more in-depth knowledge of the word.  And it says that we ought to be teachers.  There should come a time in which we can help to teach those around us.

It says, in verse 13, “For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

“(14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised” — notice this — “to discern both good and evil.”

Is not ‘discerning’ distinguishing?  And we said that the word ‘judge’ meant to distinguish one thing from another.  When we discern, we are discerning things, whether they be good or evil, so that we can tell the difference.  This word ‘discern’ comes from a Greek word, which literally means ‘judicial estimation.’  It comes from another word that is translated in some places as ‘to judge.’  And so we have a better way of judging whether something is good or evil as we grow in knowledge of God’s word.

And so hopefully, we are continually and constantly making judgments in our own lives.  But some would say, “Well, of course, we make determinations and decisions; we think about things in our own lives.”  Absolutely.  They say, “But where we cross the line and where we get ourselves into trouble is when we make judgments, not regarding our own lives but regarding others.”

Let’s consider that for a moment.  If you turn to I John Chapter 4, I want to begin reading in verse 7.  I John 4:7, it says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

“(8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

“(9) In this was manifest the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

“(10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

“(11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought” — there’s our word again — “we ought to love one another.”

And of course, there are many passages we could turn to in which we are instructed to love one another.  But what does it mean, to love one another?  Well, the idea here is the idea of the Greek word ‘agape.’  That is the type of love being spoken of. We are to have agape love, one for another.  That was a specific Greek word that designated the particular type of love.  And so we see it is the supreme love, the overall love, which I’ve heard described — and I think properly so — as a genuine concern, one for another.  So we should genuinely be concerned for each other.

We have the ultimate example here, that God was concerned for us, our spiritual wellbeing, to the extent that He was willing to send Jesus to die upon the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, so we would no longer be in that situation of hopelessness.  But instead, we could escape the condemnation of our sin, thanks to His forgiveness, His grace and His mercy, and have hope, hope of an everlasting home in heaven for all of eternity.

That is the example that we are given.  That is the example we should follow, in the example of concern, one for another.  So if we have genuine concern, one for another, should we not be, first and foremost, concerned with the spiritual wellbeing of one another?

In Luke 19:10, Jesus said that He came to seek and to save that which is lost, again serving as the perfect example for us.  Should we not also try to seek and save those who are lost?  But in order to do so, don't we first have to make a judgment as to whether or not they are lost?  How can you seek and save the lost, and go to the lost and talk to the lost and be concerned about the lost, if you first don't make a determination that the person is lost?

But it's not only those who have never responded to God's word that we are to be concerned for, that we are try to help and to instruct and encourage.  But it's one another, brothers and sisters in Christ, Christians, that we are to encourage, because we are to be built up and we are to be strengthened, because there is the danger and there is the possibility of falling away.  And so we are to be concerned, one for another.

If you'd please turn to James Chapter 5 — James Chapter 5, verse 19, it says,

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one covert him;

"(20) Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

Notice that.  "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth."

That word 'err' is an interesting word, which means 'to roam,' carrying with it the idea 'to roam from safety,' 'to roam from the truth' or 'to roam from virtue' or goodness.  The King James version: 'to go astray' or 'to wander,' or 'to be out of the way.'  We see it translated here. 'to err from the truth.'  But how do we know if we are doing that or if another is doing that?  Don't we, first, have to make the determination?  Don't we have to discern whether or not the things that we are doing, or the things that they are doing, whether they are in accordance with the truth?  Or astray from the truth.  But notice, it says in verse 20, to the one that converts a person from that situation,

"(20) Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

Isn't that what it's all about, saving souls from death, spiritual death?  But how do we do that if we say that we cannot make a judgment concerning one another?  If we cannot, first, judge that our brother is in error, how then can we help that brother to correct that error?  But if we say that we cannot make judgments or judge one another, then how could we ever help one another?

But should we stand back and allow someone to drift farther away and farther away... eventually, to the death of their own soul, because we said, "I'm afraid I can't judge what that person's doing?  Again, we are to help one another, have concern for one another.  In so doing, we do have to make some judgments.

Let's look at some scriptural examples.  Let's go to I Timothy Chapter 1.  Let's notice some writings of Paul.  Again, Paul, on of the apostles, inspired man of God.  It says, in I Timothy Chapter 1, in verse 18, his instructions to Timothy,

"(18) This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

"(19) Holding faith" —he was to hold onto his faith, not to be like the situation in James 5, erring from the faith; he was to hold onto that faith — "and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck."

Paul says there were some that were shipwrecked faithfully.  They're shipwrecked in their faith.  Well, that is a judgment that Paul made, and notice, he gets specific in verse 20.

"(20) Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme."

Paul had made some judgments regarding Hymenaeus and Alexander.  Was he wrong in making those judgments?  Did he cross the line?  Did he go too far?  Again, we're talking about an inspired writer, an apostle.

In II Timothy Chapter 2 verse 15,

"(15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Here, again, is the role of judgments and discernments, determinations, to "...Rightly divide the word of truth."  We must discern if it is right or wrong.

"(16) But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

"(17) And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus."

So again, Paul was specific.  Was he wrong in doing so?  In II Timothy Chapter 4 verse 9, Paul is urging Timothy to come to him.  He says,

"(9) Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

"(10) For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world...."

And of course, we know, in I John Chapter 2 verse 15, that we're not to love the world, neither the things that are in the world, but Paul says that Demas loved the present world and he forsook Paul.  See, Paul was making some judgments.

Notice, in Galatians Chapter 6 — Galatians Chapter 6 verse 1 — we find, again, the idea of helping another.

"(1) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual" — and again, we must keep in mind the studies on Wednesday evening, just what it means to be 'spiritual' — "restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

The idea is, be careful that you don't get led away by the other person.  You're going to help that person; don't allow that to work in reverse.  But notice here, when a person goes to somebody, they need to do it in the proper spirit, with the proper attitude, with meekness, with gentleness, with kindness.  That reminds me of the verse just preceding, the passage just preceding, in Galatians Chapter 5 verse 22.

"(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

"(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

"(24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

The fruit of the Spirit, that should characterize us, and that should describe our approach to one another, even in difficult situations, even when we are going to somebody, expressing our concern for something in their life, it should be done with love, with peace, with longsuffering, with gentleness, with kindness, with meekness.

Where we're gotten ourselves into trouble with the topic of judging is by doing it with the wrong attitude and the wrong purpose.  We should never ever judge one another to put that person down, to make us appear better than them, to rank ourselves above them, to make that person feel unworthy.  But instead, we should do so in a manner to show that we are truly and genuinely concerned, that we have love for that person; we want them to make their good decisions to help save their soul.

A person can say all the right things in all the wrong ways and do much damage.  Again, a person can say all the right things in all the wrong ways and do much damage.  And sometimes, when people have been judgmental, one toward another, they have done it in that manner, almost giving the idea of a holier-than-thou type of an attitude, when we should never ever do that.

In II Timothy Chapter 2, it's interesting, in the very writings that we looked at earlier in which Paul makes some judgments regarding others.  Notice what he says in II Timothy Chapter 2 verse 24.

"(24) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

"(25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

"(26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

This is how this process should work.  We should not strive, one with another, but be gentle, one to another.  We should help to teach one another, be patient with one another, use meekness in instructing one another.  Now, the world, oftentimes, associates 'meekness' with 'weakness,' and that is incorrect.  Meekness shows great strength.  The meek person is a strong person.  And so, in meekness, we should instruct those who are in need of help, and in so doing, hopefully, that will lead them to repentance; they will make the necessary changes, and in so doing, they will be recovered out of the snare of the devil.  Again, saving a soul from death and hiding a multitude of sins.

But one thing that stands in the way — that stands in the way of many things, including proper concern in working toward helping to correct the situation — is pride.  If a person goes to another full of pride, they are not going to be effective.  If a person receives another person full of pride, the process is not going to be effective.  If you turn to Proverbs Chapter 16 verse 18, (Proverbs 16:18) it says,

"(18) Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

Pride leads us to destruction.  It can lead to our destruction and the destruction of others.  We must be careful of that.  And we see 'an haughty spirit' described here.  In Strong's Concordance, it says that that word 'haughty' means 'arrogance.'  An arrogant spirit is not a good spirit, and an arrogant spirit leads to a fall.  It can lead to the individual's fall, and unfortunately, also the fall of those around him or her.

So again, I'm not trying to say that we go out in our lives and we constantly make judgments upon others, that's what we seek and that's what we're looking for, that's what we try to do.  That's not the purpose.  But the idea is, if we see something that concerns us regarding another, we do have the right to make judgments as to whether or not the things they are doing are correct or proper.  And we should have concern for that person.  We should be interested in the well-being of their soul, first and foremost.  And in so doing, that should motivate us to try to help them, and that should be the purpose of the judging, in order to help.

But in order to be effective, it must be done with the proper attitude, with the proper approach.  And if we approach them properly, they will realize that we are doing it out of true concern.  And when someone realizes that you are concerned for them, it certainly helps tremendously.  But we shouldn't have to tell them that we are concerned; we should show them that we are concerned.

Now if you'll turn to Philippians Chapter 1 — this was the scripture reading this morning, Philippians Chapter 1, and with these things being said, let's revisit that particular passage, Philippians 1:9.  It says,

"(9) And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment."

Now, the King James version uses the word 'judgment.'  As Steve read this morning, his translation uses 'discernment,' and we've talked about how they are the same.  If we discern something, we are judging something.  If we discern between good and evil, we're judging whether that is good or evil.

"(9) And this I pray, that your love may around yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment."

"(10) That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

"(11) Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."

So yes, we need to let our love abound, one for another. We should be genuinely concerned for the well-being of one another.  We should approve those things which are excellent.  To 'approve,' we must make that judgment.  We must do this in knowledge and judgment and discernment.  Not doing things in a way that causes offense, one with another, but instead, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, and in all things, giving praise and glory to God.

So the question is, this morning, though, have you judged yourself?  Again, first and foremost, we saw, in Matthew Chapter 7, that we are to judge ourselves, as to whether or not the things we are doing are right, whether or not we're following God's instructions.  And if we're not, hopefully then, we will be motivated to correct that, change that.  Remember, by responding in obedience to God through the manner which He has given to us, we can save a soul from death. That soul can be our own; it needs to be our own.  And we need to help others to do the same also.

We must believe in Jesus as the Son of God. (John 3:16)  We must have the willingness to confess that. (Matthew 10:32)  We must be willing to repent of our sins, as Jesus taught in Matthew 4:17; Luke 13:3.  We must repent of our sins and be baptized for the remissions of sins, as Peter said in Acts Chapter 2:38.  This is the manner in which God has given to us in His instructions as to how we can have our sins washed away through the blood of Christ, be spiritually cleansed and look forward to a home in heaven.  It is extremely important that we judge, within our own lives, whether we have done that or not.  And if you have not, hopefully, you will consider — we encourage you and urge you — to change that this morning.

But perhaps you have done that, and perhaps the judgments that you have made since have not always been in accordance to God's word, and perhaps because of that, through a sequence of events of whatever the situation may be, perhaps you have allowed sin back into your life.  Please, do not be in error of the way of truth.  But realize, if you are straying from the truth, that you need to be converted once again, praying to God, asking for His forgiveness, confessing your sins.  God will forgive you of those sins. (I John Chapter 1:7 through 9)

We must all remember that we not only have the option, but we have the responsibility, as Christians, to help one another along the way.  And remember, if you help to convert a sinner from the error of his way, you will save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins.  But first, consider your own soul.  And if you need to make changes, we encourage you to do so at this moment, as we stand and sing.


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Matt 11:28-29
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."