Righteous Judgement

June 14, 2009

Introduction

To judge or not to judge: Is that the question?

Judging takes many forms:

· Self-judging

· Criticism

· Condemning

· Making decisions that affect our lives.

· Making judgments concerning the actions of others.

· Making judgments concerning actions we should take toward others.

· Many engage in making judgments about where others will spend their eternity.

As we examine the question this morning, we want to notice what the scriptures tell us about judging..

Body

I. We are not to be judgmental of others.

A. There are warnings about judging.

1. Jesus gave such warnings.

(Mat 7:1-5 NKJV) "Judge not, that you be not judged. {2} "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. {3} "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? {4} "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? {5} "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

2. Jesus admonished His disciples for being too judgmental of others.

(Mark 9:38-40 NKJV) Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." {39} But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. {40} "For he who is not against us is on our side.

3. Paul tells us about keeping our speech with others pleasant.

(Col 4:5-6 NKJV) Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. {6} Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

B. Jesus posed an interesting problem for the Jews of His day.

1. The Jews were judging Jesus and He reminded them of a common practice of theirs.

(John 7:23-24 NKJV) "If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the Law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? {24} "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

2. It is an interesting case: the law would be broken, or they would violate their understanding of the Sabbath day.

3. James reminds us that Mercy triumphs over judgment.

(James 2:12-13 NKJV) So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. {13} For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

II. There is a place for righteous judgment.

A. We are to judge with righteous judgment.

John 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

1. We have to judge when it is time to confront a brother.

(Mat 18:15-16 NKJV) "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. {16} "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'

a. This is intended to be a way of settling problems between Christians.

b. It requires judgment to know when to confront and when to overlook.

2. In a similar way, we must judge when a brother has been overtaken in a fault.

(Gal 6:1 NKJV) Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

a. How serious is the fault?

b. What is the implication of being “overtaken”?

c. This verse says nothing about being sinned against, nor does it list the steps that Jesus gave.

3. What about someone who is out of Christ?

a. How can we share with them, our faith?

b. How do we do this in a way that shows our love and concern for them?

B. There are definitely different forms of judging.

1. The judging that Jesus condemned was that of simply being condemning.

2. The judging that Jesus condemned was a judgment that was only intended to make others look bad.

3. This is judging that is intended to be accompanied by action.

4. We must make judgments as to what action we should take to restore someone if that is possible, or to lead one to Christ.

III. Paul was concerned about judging.

A. He urged us to be careful in our judgment.

(1 Cor 4:4-5 NKJV) For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. {5} Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

B. He urged us to do self examination.

(1 Cor 11:28-31 NKJV) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. {29} For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. {30} For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. {31} For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

Conclusion

We began out study by saying:

Judging takes many forms:

· Self-judging

· Criticism

· Condemning

· Making decisions that affect our lives.

· Making judgments concerning the actions of others.

· Making judgments concerning actions we should take toward others.

· Many engage in making judgments about where others will spend their eternity.

I hope we’ve learned that self-judging is always appropriate.

(1 Cor 10:12 NKJV) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Judging of others is proper when it is done out of true concern for what someone is doing that is wrong, or something they are not doing that they should be doing, or to determine a course of action to help them.

Is our judging being done to try to determine how best to help someone?

As a judge of yourself, are you right with God?

Is there something that you need to make right that is of a public nature?

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