Introduction

Again, I express my appreciation to all of you who turned in the Questionnaire for Topics for Sunday Morning Sermons. One of the words in the list was “Judging.” As I suggested, one word can take on several aspects. One suggested “self-judgment,” another “judging.” So this morning, we want to look at several aspects of judging.

Judging takes many forms:

· Self-judging

· Criticism

· Condemning

· Making decisions that affect our lives.

· Making judgments concerning the actions of others.

But this morning we focus our attention on what the Bible says about judging.

Body

I. Paul was concerned about judging.

A. He urged us to judge nothing before the time.

(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.

II. We are not to be judgmental of others.

A. Jesus posed an interesting problem for them.

(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."

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

2. It is an interesting case: the law would be broken, it was just a matter of which part of the law it was best to break.

B. 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. 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.

III. There are some things that we are to judge.

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.

B. In this type of judging there is a great distinction from that which Jesus condemned.

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 judging is intended to be accompanied by action.

4. Action to restore if that is possible.

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.

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.

Are we doing such judging with a plan to try to help the person involved?

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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