Matthew 7:1-6 NIV
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces
The Problem:
Weighing what is good and bad is a necessary discernment that can be misused at a great cost.
Question for Reflection:
Am I seeking to restore people into the fold of mercy? Or am I seeking to cast them out by condemning them?
Matthew 7:1 NIV
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
Matthew 7:1 [Jonathan T. Pennington]
Do not judge unfairly, lest you be judged the same way.
WISDOM PRINCIPLES FOR EVALUATING—
1. We are qualified to evaluate the heart of a fellow image bearer.
Matthew 7:3-4 NIV
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
“What I condemn in others may be but a reflection of myself in a mirror.” –Howard Thurman, Civil Rights leader & spiritual mentor to MLK Jr.
2. Hasty judgments caution us to dwell on the we have received.
Matthew 7:1-2 NIV
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
“…A society for reconciliation instead of damnation.” –Scot McKnight
3. Mercy seeks to not excuse bad behavior.
Matthew 7:5 NIV
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
4. To cultivate mercy, we must first our own hearts and actions.
Matthew 7:5a NIV
First take the plank out of your own eye…
“An awareness of one’s own faults… will make more charitable one’s judgement of others.” –Donald Hagner
“In light of our self-examination… judgement of others then comes from a place of humility, not pride.” –Rich Villodas
5. Accept that some people are not open to restoration.
Matthew 7:6 NIV
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Question for Reflection:
Am I seeking to restore people into the fold of mercy? Or am I seeking to cast them out by condemning them
Prayer for Wisdom in Evaluation—
Search me, God, and know my heart.
Create in me a clean heart.
Bring to mind someone or some people
I may have evaluated unfairly and cast out.
Show me how much alike my spiritual sibling I truly am.
Give me wisdom to evaluate fairly.
And to welcome them to the path of restoration,
Whenever their hearts are receptive to the journey.
Amen.
Answer Key: not; mercy; restore; examine; Kingdom