Judging or pointing the finger .....

I’ve taken these past few days to think a bit more on this topic of pointing fingers, judging, and both are really in the same category. Matt. 7 is really all about relationships and it is interesting that so many times pastors break this chapter down into topics but it is really all about one thing- Judging and about how you should treat your brothers in Christ and how better to understand those who are lost.

So, I thought this next week I would just break down Matt. 7: 1-28 and we would look at what the Word says about Judging others, pointing the finger at others faults and even having an unforgiving spirit towards those who are asking for forgiveness. It is truly about learning to live in harmony with each other. I can’t help but be reminded of our role as believers. To love God and to Love men….. that is what God intended us to do and in doing this we will draw the lost to Christ!

Matt. 7: 1-6

“ Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

For me the easiest way to really digest this is to list the areas of warning and the areas of rebuke- then dig a bit deeper in the word by doing a cross reference check and reading other passages that will help give me the bigger picture. So, here’ s to digging in!

I’ve looked up some cross references to get a deeper understanding and meaning to the text above. Here’s what I discovered.

1. (Matt.7:1) Romans 14:10-13; Here is where the judging and unforgiving spirit comes together. One regards the other as weaker while the other refuses to forgive or thinks they are not worth the time of day. Both are wrong!
This is convicting to me. I have said that before, “ it’s just not worth the time to work it out.” Oh that is such wrong thinking. Even if the friendship isn’t fully restored back to where it was before the incident it is worth working through the conflict if for the very reason of restoration. It is about making things right or restoring things to the proper place.

The key is this “ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this - not to put an obstacle or stumbling block in a brother’s way.” Romans 14:12-13
When I read this the thing that keeps coming to my mind is those who judge character traits, judge intentions, or presume to understand the heart of another. (the meaning of Judging in this context is: someone qualified to give an opinion on someone.) The truth is that none of us, are in the position or know to “Judge” another, Only Christ can do this. What Romans suggest is that instead of judging another’s motives, character, or heart we ought to instead, deal with the offense instead of the heart of the individual and then determine that we won’t be a stumbling block to them. Leaving the judging to Christ the one and only person who is qualified.

What does this mean then? It means stepping back from the situation and taking our eyes off of that individual and praying for them. That is where Matt. 7: 7-12 comes into play:
“ Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in haven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law of the Prophets.”

2 Promises:
First, we are given a promise that if we ask and seek we will find. All will be given to us if we are asking according to His will. Then secondly, how we treat others, is how we can expect to be treated.

We are called though to pray for not only ourselves but the other person as well. This is the key! When you feel the need to judge, STOP and pray. Not just praying for the other person but pray for yourself. Pray that God would give you understanding in the situation, pray for a heart that doesn’t presume anything. Pray that God would deal with you first and then if He needs You to say something that He would direct your words and actions. If you feel you need to confront someone go to Matt. 18:15-20 and follow the guidelines of how to confront a brother when there is a problem.

Finally, in Romans 7: 13-23 my subject heading says this : “ Ways contrasted / Fruits contrasted”

Ways meaning: the way to Christ and the way to godly living. It is clear that Matthew is trying to help us understand that both the way to Christ and to godly living is not the easiest path.

Fruits meaning: the fruit of those who are believers and those who are lost. Sometimes we need only understand who we are dealing with. Sometimes we presume that just because someone says they are “Christians” doesn’t mean they are; the proof if you will is in the FRUIT! How one lives out his/her life is the proof of their salvation. This might make all the difference in how you deal with any given situation. All the more reason to seek the Lord in what to do, how to act and what to say.

There are ways to determine who you are dealing with and this will in the end give you understanding in how to deal with someone.

Here’s the key point:

When you catch yourself judging someone: based on the scripture.
1. Take time to reflect on yourself. If you are seeing something in someone else and are bothered by it, maybe the Lord is using this person to show you something about yourself. If that is the case, take time to remove the Log from your own eye.
If it is just something that rubs you the wrong way and you know that they are Christians but maybe it’s just a personality issue rather than a real character issue. Then follow Phil 4:8- “ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let you mind dwell on these things.”

2. If you’ve done step one then stop and pray for the other person. Asking the lord to show you how you ought to deal with this problem. Sometimes just praying makes all the difference. Seek counsel from the Word and from those who are your spiritual mentors. In these two things I believe you will find the answers. The word promises this and so then you must take the step to confront or let it go.

3. In the end after you’ve dealt with the issue, it is left to God to judge. I love how the Lord helps us have a deeper understanding into what this life is about. Again, the key is loving God and loving men…. We are called to do these two things and in that God receives the glory and the lost are drawn to HIM!

The real question we ought to ask ourselves is what path are you taking and what fruit are you bearing?

Lord, I thank you so much for the word and how it really does light our path. I thank you for teaching me more about myself in my life on life experiences with other people. Thank you Lord for the successes and failures. I ask lord that we would not be women who judge but that we would be women of integrity and women of character. Lord help us to walk according to YOUR Ways and not our own.

Here’s to walking the narrow path and for bearing fruit that is totally of You Lord!
Strengthen us and grow us to be more like YOU!

It is in Your name I pray
The name of Jesus.
Amen……………..