THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF JUDGING OTHERS

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF JUDGING OTHERS
MATT. 7:1-6

I. THE LORD IS NOT TELLING US THAT WE SHOULD NOT EVALUATE OR MAKE DECISIONS IN WHICH WE MUST LOOK AT SOMEONE’S STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, BUT HE WARNED AGAINST SELF-RIGHTEOUS, OFTEN UNMERCIFUL CONDEMNATION OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING – Matt. 7:1

1. AGAINST THE KIND OF HYPERCRITICAL, JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE THAT TEARS OTHERS DOWN OFTEN IN ORDER TO BUILD ONESELF UP

2. THAT KIND OF CRITICAL SPIRIT HAS A WAY OF BOOMERANGING

3. A CALL TO BE DISCERNING RATHER THAN NEGATIVE

II. GOD’S JUDGMENT IS WHAT MATTERS THE MOST – Exo. 20:1-7

1. EVERY WORD YOU SAY WILL BE JUDGED – Matt. 12:36

2. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD – 1 Cor. 10:31

3. GOD WORKS IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE – Phil. 2:13

III. CORRECT YOUR OWN FAULTS BEFORE YOU CRITICIZE THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS – v. 1

1. JUDGE YOURSELF FIRST

2. IT’S EASY TO SEE A SMUDGE ON SOMEONE ELSE’S FACE AND BE OBLIVIOUS TO THE UGLY SNEER ON YOUR OWN (MSG)

3. DON’T CRITICIZE AND YOU WON’T BE CRITICIZED

IV. THE YARDSTICK YOU USE TO JUDGE OTHERS WILL BE USED TO JUDGE YOU – v. 2

1. THOSE AROUND YOU WILL PICK UP THE PECK MEASURE YOU HAVE BEEN USING AND MEASURE YOUR OWN CORN WITH IT

2. DON’T PICK ON PEOPLE, JUMP ON THEIR FAILURES, CRITICIZE THEIR FAULTS UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU WANT/ARE OPEN TO THE SAME TREATMENT

3. YOU DON’T MIND A FAIR OPINION OF YOUR CHARACTER; NEITHER ARE YOU FORBIDDEN TO DO THE SAME FOR OTHERS

V. NEVER TRY TO OFFSET A WRONG WITH ANOTHER WRONG; IT’S ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO RIGHT – v. 3

1. BE NOT AS A JUDGE WHO PAYS NO ATTENTION TO HIS OWN PROBLEM, BUT FUMES OVER THE OTHER PERSON’S

2. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO LET SOMEONE HAVE IT OVER SOMETHING YOU FEEL THEY HAVE SAID OR DONE WRONG, AGAIN JUDGE YOURSELF FIRST AND THEN LOVINGLY FORGIVE AND SEEK TO HELP THAT PERSON IF YOU CAN

3. LET GOD DEAL WITH THE PERSON WHO HAS ANGERED YOU AND GIVE HIM TIME TO WORK

VI. DON’T BE GUILTY OF THE FAULT, OR A SIMILAR KIND OF FAULT, THAT YOU CRITICIZE SOMEONE ELSE FOR – v. 4

1. THE TRAITS THAT BOTHER US IN OTHERS ARE SOMETIMES THE HABITS WE DISLIKE IN OURSELVES

2. OUR UNBROKEN BAD HABITS AND BEHAVIOR PATTERNS MAY BE THE VERY ONES WE MOST WANT TO CRITICIZE OR CHANGE ABOUT OTHERS

3. DO YOU FIND IT EASY TO MAGNIFY OTHERS’ FAULTS WHILE IGNORING YOUR OWN

VII. DON’T FORM AN OPINION BEFORE KNOWING ALL THE FACTS – vs. 4-5

1. THERE ARE THREE SIDES TO EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT CAUSES YOU TO WANT TO JUDGE SOMEONE—YOUR SIDE, THEIR SIDE, AND GOD’S SIDE

2. GOD’S SIDE IS THE ONE WE ALL SHOULD DESIRE TO BE ON

3. WHAT WOULD JESUS DO—WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

VIII. BEFORE YOU TEAR APART SOMEONE ELSE’S HOUSE FIRST MAKE SURE YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER – v. 5

1. JESUS TELLS US TO FIRST EXAMINE OUR OWN LIVES INSTEAD OF CRITICIZING OTHERS

2. IF YOU ARE READY TO CRITICIZE SOMEONE, CHECK TO SEE IF YOU DESERVE THE SAME CRITICISM

3. OUR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN WITH GOD’S HOUSEHOLD/CHILDREN – 1 Peter 4:17

IX. WATCH OUT FOR LOGS, DOGS, AND HOGS AND KEEP IN MIND IT IS SOMETIMES BEST NOT TO SAY SOMETHING– v. 6

1. THERE ARE SOMETIMES IT IS BEST TO REMAIN SILENT INSTEAD OF VOICING YOUR OPINION BEFORE THOSE WHO DO NOT HOLD THE SAME CONVICTIONS NOR UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DO

2. WHERE THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PERCEIVE THE PURITY OF GREAT TRUTH, BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT SETTING IT BEFORE THEM; WHEN BY CONDUCT THEY ACT AS SUCH, DON’T PUT AN OCCASION IN THEIR WAY FOR DISPLAYING EVIL CHARACTER

3. BE DISCERNING AND DON’T PROVOKE AN ATTACK UPON YOURSELF OR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST

X. LIFE GIVES BACK WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT, SO FIRST PRAY IT THROUGH

1. AVOID IMPULSIVENESS

2. THINK THINGS THROUGH

3. DON’T PROCEED UNTIL YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST ON A MATTER

© 2016 Bobby Mullins

First preached at Fellowship Baptist Church on Sunday February 14 & 21, 2016