The following blog post contains notes and application questions from our July 21, 2019 message, Judging Others. For more from this series, check out Summer on the Mount.

Discussing and Applying the Sermon

• Is there anyone in your life that you are currently being judgmental toward? If so, seek that person out to both apologize and ask their forgiveness.
• Are there any Christians in your life that you are avoiding making biblical judgments toward? If so, seek them out in humility and share with them where you see them out of step with God’s Word.

Summary

What does it mean when the Bible says, “Judge not, lest you be judged”? Todd Wagner answers this question while teaching through Matthew 7:1-6—easily one of the most misinterpreted passages in the Bible—as we continue our series, Summer on the Mount.

Key Takeaways

• The Sermon on the Mount is a Kingdom ethic for Kingdom people. It’s the character of those that love and know God...not requirements we need to do to earn God’s love.
• This section of the Sermon on the Mount addresses three things: 1) What does it mean to judge not? (v1-2); 2) How to judge rightly (v3-5); and 3) When is it time to move on? (v6)
• There is a huge difference between being judgmental and making judgments. There is nothing in the Scripture that says we shouldn’t make judgments.
• Don’t judge whether or not somebody is going to go to heaven based on their resume.
• Toleration where people are concerned is a virtue, but tolerance where truth is concerned is a tragedy.
• The log Jesus is talking about in verses 3-5 is the log of self-righteousness.
• “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it;” “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act;” “We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men.” -George Orwell
• Political correctness creates profound confusion.
• There is nothing in Matthew that prevents you from saying boys are not girls.
• Don’t cause people tears by how you come to them...come to them in tears.
• You don’t have to be perfect before you speak...you just need to be perfectly in touch with your own sin.
• Pigs love mud...stop asking a pig to stop loving mud. Don’t be surprised when sinners sin.
• We don’t Shepherd pigs, but we do love. We do share our hope. We never move on from the gospel.
• Pray, live a holy life, and propose a better way by how you live your life.
• Correct those who are self-righteous (share the Truth…about God, about good/evil).
• Maintain Courage if you are a shepherd (speak the Truth in love).
• Challenge the wayward to be faithful (shepherd in love).
• Maintain compassion for the lost (shed tears for those who are lost).

Mentioned or Recommended Resources

• Suggested Scripture study: Matthew 7:1-6; Luke 18:9-14; Matthew 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Matthew 18:15-17; Matthew 7:15-20; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 3:3-5; Galatians 6:1-2; Proverbs 9:8,15:12,23:9,26:4-6; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Jeremiah 1:17-19
• Sermon: Speak the Truth in Love
• Sermon: Only God Can Judge Me
• Sermon Series: The Most
• Real Truth. Real Quick.: What Does the Bible Mean When It Says, “Judge Not, Lest You Be Judged?”
• Real Truth. Real Quick.: Is There an Unforgivable Sin?
• Resource: Posture to Take Prior to Difficult Conversations