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Matthew 7:1, 2 - Letting God Be the Judge.

Matthew 7:1, 2 (KJV) Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT) "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

Matthew 7:1-2 (AMP) DO NOT judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. 2 For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.

Matthew 7:1-2 (MSG) "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults - unless, of course, you want the same treatment. 2 That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.

WORD STUDY

Judge Not. Jesus here refers particularly to judging another's motives, not to judging the right or wrong of his acts. God alone is competent to judge men's motives, because of the fact that He alone is able to read men's innermost thoughts (see Heb. 4:12; DA 314). Looking thus on men's hearts, God loves the sinner the while He hates the sin. Able to discern only the "outward appearance" (1 Sam. 16:7) and not the heart, men inevitably make mistakes. Jesus does not here refer to that fine sense of discrimination by which the Christian is to distinguish between right and wrong (Rev. 3:18; cf. 5T 233), but rather to the habit of censorious, sharp, and usually unjust criticism. [SDA Bible Commentary]

COMMENTARY PEARLS

The Parable Of Icebergs
   On our trip to Alaska we saw both glaciers (large masses of ice that move across land) and icebergs (pieces of glacier floating in the ocean). It was an amazing thing to watch a glacier calve, or break off, sections into the sea. We watched with some trepidation as the chunks floated toward our boat. As one chunk came toward us, a piece of jutting white ice shone above the surface. The closer the iceberg came, the more visible the rock-hard, jagged-edged steel blue glowed beneath. Those edges were large and sharp enough to slice open the side of a ship. (The Titanic came to mind, though I try not to think about a sinking ocean liner when I'm aboard one.)
   Here's the truth about icebergs: No matter how much ice we see above the waterline, the biggest part of the iceberg is hidden beneath the ocean. [Seven-eighths of an iceberg's mass is under the water]
   People are like icebergs. We see a part of them, but the real person - the whole person - is hidden below the surface. Still waters run deep, the saying goes. In fact, all human beings run deep. Only God knows what they have experienced; what troubles they have faced or are still facing; what they think about; what dreams and hopes they have; what pain, what joy, what good and evil they have encountered.
   In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us not to judge one another. One simple reason is because we're not equipped to do it well. We see or hear only what's on the surface of a person's life; we don't understand his or her thoughts or motivations. God alone sees the heart, the mind, the soul hidden within each human being. He who made our innermost parts knows our innermost hearts.
   Of course we have to decide which people we will trust and invest in, so we sometimes need to draw conclusions about others based on their actions. But we must always do that in humility, remembering that we don't have the whole picture about anyone. Nor does anyone else have the whole picture about us. Thank God that He alone, who is holy and righteous, can and will judge.
   Father, You know that I am often tempted to judge others. I hear one unkind word and deem someone unkind. I see one impatient look and label someone impatient. Forgive me for forgetting that all people consist of far more than I can see or hear. I am grateful that You know me - and all people - fully. You alone are a just judge, and Your decisions are always right. Please help me to leave the judging to You and instead respond to people around me with compassion. [Earth Psalms by Francine Rivers]

The Parable Of The Pear Tree
   Our Asbury student Scott Cozart told the following parable in chapel this morning.
   A father wanted to teach his four sons the lesson of not judging something or someone too quickly, and so he called his four sons together and said "I have a task for you. I want you, my eldest son to go out into our fields and take a look at the pear tree and come back and tell me what your evaluation is of its condition."
   So the eldest went out and saw the pear tree. But it was winter, and the son saw the tree on a harsh winter day and reported back and said to his father. "I see nothing of promise about the tree. It appears old, and gnarled and has no blooms on it at all. I doubt it will survive the winter."
   Three months later the father sent the next eldest son out in the spring to evaluate the pear tree. The son came back saying "The tree is very beautiful, with white blooms, but it seems purely ornamental, it has no fruit, nor any sign of ever bearing any. I doubt it will be of much practical use to us."
   Three months later the father sent the third from the eldest son out in the summer. The son went out to see the tree and came back reporting: "the tree seems to be growing and doing well, and it is full of leaves, and I could see some fruit, so I picked one and tasted it, but it was bitter, not fit for human consumption. I doubt it will prove of much use to us."
   Finally three months later the father sent his youngest son out to see the tree once more. This time the tree was full of ripe beautiful golden and red pears. The son tried one and came back with the glowing report "Father we must come quickly for the harvest is upon the tree, and it is heavy laden and needs us to pick the pears for they are ripe and delicious now."
   The father called his four sons back together, and said, "You see each of you have observed well the condition of a the tree at a particular season of the year, but your judgment of the tree was only partial, and made too quickly based on what you saw on only the one occasion. See to it that you never judge human beings this way. Never evaluate them too quickly or on the basis of one encounter, for it is unfair and unwise. Indeed all living things should only be evaluated over the course of time and after repeated careful inspection, for who knows but the ugliest and most unproductive of living things might some day turn into the most beautiful and fruitful." By Ben Witherington

COMMENTARY

Stay Out of Satan's Trap. "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Do not think yourself better than other men, and set yourself up as their judge. Since you cannot discern motive, you are incapable of judging another. In criticizing him, you are passing sentence upon yourself; for you show that you are a participant with Satan, the accuser of the brethren. The Lord says, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." This is our work. "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 Cor. 11:31. DA314 [Remnant SB]

Jesus' statement, "Do not judge," is against the kind of hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears others down in order to build oneself up. It is not a blanket statement against all critical thinking, but a call to be 'discerning' rather than negative. [Life Application SB]

Christ is not telling us to avoid evaluating people or not to use our God-given wisdom (see 1 John 4:1-6). The world is full of false Christians and even ministers of Satan (2 Cor. 11:13-15). As never before, Christians must be alert and must "try the spirits" (1 John 4:1). What Christ is condemning is harsh judgment and unjust criticism of others' motives ... Every believer has the obligation to test others by their fruits (vv. 15-20), but no Christian should ever judge motives (see Rom. 14 and 1 Cor. 4:5). [Wiersbe Expository Outlines]

ILLUSTRATIONS

   I can almost see the woman cowering, head hung in hot-faced shame. The gathering crowd of religious folks are looming, glaring in judgment, raising their stones and voices in condemnation. I imagine she was feeling frightened and ashamed, her very life in the hands of powerful, angry men (John 8:3-11, NIV).
   Jesus shut them down. "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." He didn't qualify or quantify the sin - sin was sin, none better, none worse. Clearly, those wielding the stones so viciously had secrets themselves. They were wise enough to drop their weapons, shut up, and leave. Jesus sounds light and gentle as He sends the woman on her way, saying, "Go now and leave your life of sin."
   I've both cowered in sin-filled shame for my mistakes and wielded stones eager to condemn someone I deem has done wrong. I've repeated sins and snubs, and I have repented countless times. I've collected stones, storing some, hurling others, realizing all too late I should just drop my weapon, shut up, and walk away. I am learning, more slowly than most maybe, to leave judgment to the only righteous judge: Jesus. Isabella Campolattaro
   Faith Step: Find a smooth pebble and inscribe it with Jesus's words in John 8:7 (NIV): "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone." Carry it in your purse or pocket and touch it as needed for a gentle reminder. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]

   It had been a tough week: work pressures, health challenges, and a whole lot of discouragement. By the time Friday rolled around, the only comfort measure I craved was a juicy cheeseburger from a local restaurant.
   My husband and I had been trying to eat healthy, but a kale salad just wouldn't do the trick. I grappled with whether to take him up on his offer to make a cheeseburger and French fry run.
   My daughter looked at me with compassion and said, "No judgment, Mom." A weight lifted from my shoulders. Her approval reminded me that I didn't need to beat myself up for an occasional slip.
   The relief of not being judged made me ponder how often I'd judged someone else in the past week. The friend pursuing alternative health ideas that I didn't trust. The parents struggling with an unruly child. Or the time I rearranged the dishes in the dishwasher after my husband loaded it. Critiquing the choices of others comes far too easily.
   When Jesus invites me to step away from judgment, He isn't saying that my moral choices don't matter or that I can't have an opinion. But He is calling me to examine being unduly critical of people who do things in a different way. He invites me to recognize the freedom that comes from being accepted and accepting others - especially when an occasional Friday night cheeseburger is involved. Sharon Hinck
   Faith Step: Think about a time you found fault in someone else's choices. Ask Jesus to give you a heart of love and understanding. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]

Every Saturday the football terracing's are full of people who are violent critics, and who would yet make a pretty poor show if they themselves were to descend to the arena. Every association and every Church is full of people who are prepared to criticize from the body of the hall, or even from an arm-chair, but who would never even dream of taking office themselves. The world is full of people who claim the right to be extremely vocal in criticism and totally exempt from action. [Barclay Commentary]

How often do we find Satan seated next to us in church helping us negatively criticize almost every element of the worship service we are in.  Noisy children! (Suffer the little children to come to Me.) Someone singing too loud or off key! (Sing to the Lord and rejoice!) The preacher is not humorous enough, is too long-winded, isn't speaking to my particular need, etc. (Give honor to them who have authority over you...attend to their teaching.)  And we all know there is more of this hell-born commentary.  How pleased the adversary must be.  Worship only the Lord God!  Abandon yourself to Him in adoration and exaltation.  What is it we want when we dwell on such negatives as those above?  Some pitiful self-righteous attitude that we MUST be served in a MUCH better manner, we deserve it.  Tell Satan to get out, and may God forgive us our sinful attitudes and enable us all to find contentment in one of His many gospel preaching/teaching churches.  [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom]

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

   Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment. I made this statement at the temple in Jerusalem, teaching that judging can be either good or bad. I was speaking to people who had assessed Me on the basis of appearances: focusing on the letter of the Law rather than the spirit of the Law. What they were doing was wrong, but that doesn't mean all judgments are wrong. I forbid superficial, self-righteous, and hypocritical evaluations. But I do want My followers to make righteous assessments about moral and theological issues - based on biblical truth.
   In this age of "tolerance," there is immense pressure on people to refrain from making statements that differentiate right from wrong. The fear of being labeled "intolerant" has silenced many people who know how to make right judgments. I want you to have the courage to speak the truth in love as I lead you to do so. The best preparation is to search the Scriptures and your heart. Then ask My Spirit to speak through you even as He loves others through you. (John 7:24; Mat. 7:1; Eph. 4:15) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

John 7:24 (NIV) Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.
Devotional pending.

2 Corinthians 13:5 - Spiritual Check-Up Time
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20221231-0915.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/