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We read on into Matthew Chapter 7 and verses 1 to 6. Jesus has been mainly speaking to and showing His disciples how there was going to be this new way to live, but there were people overhearing. We never know who is listening to us.

Jesus wants His disciples to be different from others and from the religious norms of the day, and not to be like the Pharisees and Scribes.

Then Jesus speaks about worship – our giving and praying and fasting – and valuables and investing and treasure and vision and light – and what is most important – and then Jesus looks God ward and tells His people not to worry. We studied all that in Chapter 6.

Jesus has been teaching us about who we are – our character – and how we live – our conduct – and what we do when no one sees us – our secret life – and what our desires and ambitions and motives are – and how we handle money and that emotion or that feeling called worry.

On He goes. Now – what do you think about others – and what so you think about other disciples – are you given to judging? This is one crucial area.

What do we think of one another? What are we actually thinking? Jesus speaks about a judgmental attitude – or a superiority – or a harshness.

We are not to turn a blind eye to anything that is wrong. We are not to be indifferent about sin. We are not to be tolerant, and lower our standards, and have a tolerance that should not be tolerated.

Elsewhere Jesus teaches those in leadership that there will be times when we have to correct or rebuke.

Jesus is using the language of the law-court where the person is prosecution and judge and jury.

Why is this ‘judgmentalism’ and condemning not of God? Well – the Pharisees were very good at it.

If our lives are going to be characterised by the presence of God we cannot do what only God can do.

It is not just being judgmental – but also not being hypocritical.

Jesus is not talking about the authority of the state and government – otherwise we would have problems about Courts and judges and police – and various forms of authority. Pilate’s power was given to him from above – John 19 verse 11.

In a fallen world we need judges and courts and police and the army.

Romans Chapter 13 verse 4 is so helpful here.

And, we have to exercise authority and discipline in the home and, at times, also in the church.

One of the sentences emerging from the reformation was – the church is a place where the word is preached and the sacraments are administered – and where discipline is exercised.

We do have critical faculties – in the highest sense – and we are not to suspend or dismiss these. We do not throw out our critical faculties. The Psalmist teaches us “Let those who love the Lord hate evil”. There has to be a proper balance and that is not always easy.

Jesus tells us that we not throw our pearls before swine, and we are to watch out for false prophets, and by their fruit you will know them.

What Jesus is referring to here is when people might want to attack others with a harsh condemning censorious carping criticism. We are to be the opposite of the self-righteous attitude of the Pharisees who were confident of their own righteousness and they looked down on everybody else – Luke Chapter 18 verse 9.

When we consider others, we seldom know all the facts. Only Almighty God knows what might be hidden in the darkness of a man’s heart, and why a person acts in that manner. I Corinthians Chapter 4 verse 5 is also very helpful in this whole complex area.

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

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