Biblical Judging
Introduction –
Chapter seven is not simply a collection of final
thoughts. There is a clear underlying
theme of biblical judgment throughout.
In our day, the great unpardonable sin, is to say there is sin. We live in an age that lacks any sense of
biblical discrimination, and attempts to use this verse to justify the
position. We want peace and pluralism
at any cost. If you stand for principles,
you will be identified as ‘fringe’, ‘difficult’, and ‘extreme’. And that’s within the church.
Understanding What the Text Is Not Saying – “Judge not, that you
be not judged”, is one of the most well known verses among non-believers. It has become a frequently quoted verse
among Christians as well, particularly when a church shows a little muscle and
actually disciplines someone. But this
verse cannot be isolated and absolutized for several reasons –
1. It would be self-contradictory. You cannot tell someone to ‘judge not’
without judging them.
2. It ignores the context
- of this passage (see verse 6), of this chapter (v15), and of the Sermon on
the Mount in general, where Christ has been judging the religion of the
Pharisees. In addition it would
contradict the teaching of Christ elsewhere.
We are to judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24), and we are to judge
those who sin against us (Matt 18:15-18).
Paul judged the man caught in sexual immorality (1 Cor 5) and calls
those who do not judge him arrogant (1 Cor 5:2). In 2 Thess 3:6 we are commanded to withdraw ourselves from
Christians who walk disorderly. This
requires that we must judge others.
“Measured Back to You” – Now this raises another question. How is
it that Christians are going to be judged?
1. There is an eternal judgment – which determines who
will be in Heaven and Hell. This
judgment has already occurred for believers in Christ. Our justification by faith (Rom 4:23-5:2)
keeps us completely safe in Christ.
2. There is judgment concerning covenant
blessings and curses –
and these judgments occur in this life.
Paul teaches on this regarding the Lord’s supper (1 Cor 11:27-32). God does not ignore our sins, but chastens
us as a good Father (Heb 12:5-11).
3. There is a judgment of rewards – and we have seen
this throughout the Sermon on the Mount (5:12 as one example). The works of ministers will be judged (1 Cor
3:11-15), teachers will be judged more strictly (James 3:1), and every believer
must appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:9-11). A life squandered may be forgiven, but
nothing can retrieve a squandered life.
And “to whom much is given, from him much will be required” –
Luke 12:48.
Biblical Judging – In verses 1-5, we
learn that there is a type of judging we must not participate in and a type
that we should.
1. Level Playing Field
– We must judge from a position of humility, not of self-exaltation. We are all sinners, we are all ‘like that
other man’ – Luke 18:9-14.
2. God’s Standards
– The judgment is never our judgment.
It is the judgment of the Word of God – John 12:48. Again, we see it is arrogant not to call sin
for what it is.
3. Applied To Me First
– Hypocrites are not allowed to judge.
But a man who has taken the beam out of his own eye should seek to
restore his brother. In fact, he is
required to – Gal 6:1.
Holy Things and
Pearls –
these could be the offices of the church, or the means of grace, but most
likely it is referring to the gospel itself.
There comes a time when you are to withhold the gospel (Matt
15:11-14). This rubs against the grain of
the modern evangelical mindset that will do anything to satisfy the consumer. But Jesus would not put up a circus tent and
do his magic tricks just to gather a crowd (Luke 23:9).
Cautions – We are not given
license here to hold back the gospel arbitrarily, nor upon our own
judgments. It is only after persistent
blasphemy and stiff-necked attitudes.
Nor are we to withhold the gospel out of fear for our own personal
safety. You must wait and be very clear
before you make such a decision.
1. Do not judge where you would be
condemned. Humility and repentance
start with you.
2. Discrimination is necessary in order to obey
all of Christ’s commands. You must
treat all people lawfully which does not mean that you treat all people the
same.
3. The gospel is a holy and valuable
thing. Do not despise it. Are you amazed that God would send His Son
for you, and do you love the Word, the sacraments, the gathering of God’s
people? Those who despise the gospel
will have it taken from them. Those who
love the gospel will set their hearts to praise and glory in God.