Judge Not???
Website Editor • June 24, 2020
From Pastor Lance Shumake's message on Matthew 7:1-6:
"JUDGE NOT, LEST YE BE JUDGED."
Matthew 7:1 is often quoted, yet also often misunderstood. It will stumble into a conversation when one person is making a moral assessment of another and it rubs the wrong way. "Judge not...", the offended will say.
But.. is this what Jesus is really saying? Does He truly want us to never judge others?
As contrary as it may seem, the answer is no. Fair evaluation and discernment of people are good things! (ex. discernment of false teachers, wolves in sheep's clothing, etc.) Rather, He IS telling us not to condemn others or judge them unfairly.
In context, Jesus is worried about the unity and harmony of His disciples. It is a threat to the unity of the church when members of the same body jump to conclusions about others. Though Jesus was speaking to His disciples, He might as well have been speaking directly to us today. Everywhere we look, someone is making a judgment about someone else.
Consider face masks.
What do you think when you see someone you know wearing one? What do you think when you see someone you know not wearing one?
On Sunday, Pastor Shu guided us through four reasons we tend to judge others unfairly:
We judge others unfairly when we forget what we don't know.
Often, we make assumptions without knowing all of the context. We don't know the heart, intent, or circumstances -- but, based on the information we do have, we jump to conclusions. We decide that we're right and more enlightened that the other person. We become arrogant and lacking humility. This is a scary and dangerous place to be. It is a place where we consider ourselves gods above others.
We judge others unfairly when we ignore our own shortcomings. Jesus points this out in verse 3, "why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?". It is far easier to point out faults in others while forgetting our own.
Jesus tells us to put away the magnifying glass and pick up a mirror. Our mirror is God's Word. It shows us where we are in our journey to become more like Christ. It teaches us, instructs us, and corrects us. It helps us deal with our own sin struggles so THEN -- only after
-- God can use us to help others.
We judge others unfairly when we fail to discern properly.
Actually, in verse 6, Jesus hints that maybe we're failing to discern at all: "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs."
Once you deal with your own sin, God gives you the ability to approach people in a different way. But, on the back end of this, don't stop judging people completely! Don't stop discerning.
To put what Jesus is saying bluntly, there are some activities, discussions, and people that are not worth your time. Don't waste your time wading into these situations as judges. We must be a people that balance humility and discernment.
We judge others unfairly because we lose sight of the Gospel. The Gospel reminds us of the measurement God uses to judge us: even though we are certainly guilty and dead in our trespasses, God sent Jesus to take our verdict and pay the penalty for our sin. Because of Jesus, our Holy Judge declares us "not guilty!" for all eternity. Through Him, we are declared righteous before God!!
When we remember the Gospel and what God has done for us, we are transformed! God gives us the ability to be more patient with others.
Colossians 3:12-17 says it better than we ever could,
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Watch this sermon, here.
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Jesus suffered and died in order to bring us to God Jesus conquered death by his resurrection “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” —Martin Luther Problem #1 - he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison —Jesus preached through Noah to those who lived at that time (1 Peter 1:10–12) —Jesus proclaimed His victory to evil angels (see Genesis 6:1-4) Problem #2 - baptism now saves you —Scripture is clear - we are saved by grace not works —baptism pictures our salvation from God’s judgment through the resurrection of Christ “The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.” —Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude —in baptism we are appealing to God for a good conscience "This appeal is an act of the heart looking away from itself and from all human instruments and calling on God, appealing to God, for grace to save.” —John Piper —in baptism we are pledging to God to live in a manner worthy of the gospel Jesus ascended to heaven and now reigns over everything “We can face suffering as Christians with confidence rather than panic, and hope rather than despair, because the road marked with Christian suffering is, no matter what its twists and turns are, the road to vindication and glory. The God who vindicated Jesus will vindicate you, and he will sustain your faith until that day.” –Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Discipleship Questions: How does Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us when we suffer? Why did we need Jesus to suffer and die to bring us to God? How does Jesus’ victory over death give us eternal hope? What are your thoughts regarding some of the problems in this passage? How does what Peter says about baptism elevate the importance of baptism? When were you baptized and how does this passage inform your understanding of baptism? How does knowing our victory is secured help us with all the things this life throws at us?
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-17 Nobody can (truly) hurt Christians Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The train of thought is as follows: “No one will be able to harm believers on the future day if they are zealous for good” (v. 13). Indeed, even present suffering is not a sign of punishment but of blessing both now and especially in the future, on the day when God rewards his people with eternal life. -Thomas R. Schreiner Honoring Christ Erases Fear Share your faith with strength and gentleness Embrace balance Be prepared to share The truth of the gospel is a public truth that can be defended in the public arena. This does not mean, of course, that every Christian is to be a highly skilled apologist for the faith. It does mean that every believer should grasp the essentials of the faith and should have the ability to explain to others why they think the Christian faith is true. -Thomas R. Schreiner Be prepared to suffer “I’ve spent a number of years in India and Africa where I found much righteous endeavor undertaken by Christians of all denominations; but I never, as it happens, came across a hospital or orphanage run by the Fabian Society [a British socialist organization], or a humanist leper colony.” -Malcolm Muggeridge Be bold! We will likely suffer as Christians in this world, but that suffering is slight and temporary compared to the eternal inheritance that awaits us. The worst thing that can happen to us is that we die and receive our promised inheritance. Can you imagine how emboldened Christians would be if we only believed what Peter is saying? -Juan R. Sanchez Discipleship Questions: Does the fact that nobody can (truly) harm us comfort you? What would change if we lived like we really believe that? Are you a more confident person as someone who knows Christ? Does your security in Christ embolden you to take some risks in life, knowing that the worst that could happen is death? How equipped / prepared are you to give a reason for the hope that you have? What would grow your confidence and competence in that? Have you considered joining Michael Clark one day for evangelism at the harbor? Well….you should….
