I hope it feels so good to be right. There's nothing more exhilarating than pointing out the short comings of others, is there?

Some slooge from my recent Providence Church sermon on Matthew 7:1-6, which includes the most popular legitimate* Bible verse among Americans: "Judge not, that ye be not judged."

Key: This passage does not teach that judgments should never be made (cf. 7:16), but that hypocritical judging and judgmentalism are reprehensible for Jesus' followers.

The Pharisees took it upon themselves to arrogantly pronounce judgment upon others, while blind to their own glaring faults. The Christian should operate in an opposite manner: critically judging his or her self first.


I. When not to Judge
A. When you’re heart is not right.

B. When your lifestyle won’t allow it. ~ N.B. Those addressed in this passage are “hypocrites” (Matt 7:5)

II. When to Judge
A. When choosing personnel for positions (e.g., Leadership positions, teachers, those interacting with children, future spouse, etc.)

B. When a self-professed believer is in sin, our Christian obligation (cf. 1 Cor 5:9-11; Matt 18:15-20) ~ Reason for judging: Not to tear down, but to build them up in Christ (Prov 27:17) and restoration (James 5:19-20)

C. When contemplating evangelism

D. In all things (1 Cor 2:15)

III. How to Judge
A. With humility - After cleaning the plank out of your own eye first

B. With understanding

"when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know: First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin. And second, we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her."
- F.B. Meyer

C. With concern for the other person

IV. How not to Judge
A. Judging [merely] according to outward appearances (cf. James 2:2-5; 1 Sam 16:7)

B. Judging prematurely (cf. 1 Tim 5:22, 24)

C. Judging hypocritically (Matt 7:3) ~ It’s difficult to see another’s sin properly, with impaired vision

(Click to listen)

* The most popular Bible verse among Americans when polled is "God helps those who help themselves." However, it's actually NOT in the Bible. In fact, the Bible teaches that God helps those who cannot help themselves.