DO NOT JUDGE

CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH

13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI

EXPOSITORY BIBLE STUDY

FOCUS:         NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS FOR KINGDOM LIVING

TOPIC:          DO NOT JUDGE       Part 1 

TEXT:           

1.         WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO JUDGE ANOTHER PERSON

Dictionary meaning:- to judge means to assess somebody or something in order to estimate its value; to assess somebody’s good and bad qualities in order criticize and form an opinion about him. Look at Matt7;1-2 from different versions:

KJV:   “judge not, that you be not judge, for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will measured back to you .”

GNB:  “do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for Of will judge you in the same way as you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others.”

LB:     “Don’t criticize, and then you won’t be criticized, for others will treat you as you treat them.”

The way you judge others depends on the accuracy of your own estimate of their character. It therefore involves looking down on another person. Whatever is found or seen in the life of the person in question forms the basis of that judgment. Judging others may or may not be verbalized but your attitude will normally show it.

2 (a) IN WHAT WAYS DO WE JUDGE OTHERS?

Discuss practically. Rom.14:1-3; Mat.7:3; Lk.18:9-13; Rom.11:131-3; Jn.12:3-8.

Some judge people because of their weakness in exercising their faith, or because of one sin or the other in their lives. It may also be because in our own estimate, we believe that we are spiritually better than the other person, we judge and criticize him.

Sometimes we judge people’s prayer life by the tone of their prayers, their appearance, fasting, and activities or even by the kind of fellowship they attend. Even when we pray for a particular person, we may find ourselves criticizing and judging him. We often forget that God is the only one who knows the right worth of each person because he sees into the heart and discerns the intent of every man’s heart. He does not use the outward appearance or behavior alone to assess us. While you are criticizing or complaining against a brother, God may be commending him.

Look at the case in Jn.12:3-8. Judas Iscariot judged Mary’s action as a waste and a wrong way to serve God whereas Jesus commanded her. We are likely to be wrong in our estimate of others and so sin against God. Also, the measure we use in judging others will be the same measure used to mete out judgment back unto us. So the Lord instructs ‘judge not’

Do you find yourself often criticizing others? Do you sometimes see yourself better than others? It is a fearful thing to note that the same measure of judgment awaits you. There is need to repent straightaway.

(B) DOES IT MEAN WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE OTHERS AT ALL? EXPLAIN.

1 Cor.5:12-13; 1 Cor. 4:3-5; 1 Cor. 6:1-6.

Looking at the scriptures, we are allowed to judge others especially in indisputable matters that have definite biblical positions and scriptural instructions on how to handle them.

For example, proven cases of immorally among the brethren or setting issues of disputes among the brethren .when we do this, we are only being scriptural, rather than condemning them.

While looking at any such case, we must fear God and do it   mercifully (to them) and faithfully (to God). Such judgment must be corrective and disciplinary and not condemning. Be careful not to use yourself as a yardstick. When a matter involves us and another Christian, we must not judge. And we have no business judging those who are outside. That is God’s own work.

CALVARY IS REAL BIBLE CHURCH

13 UKWANSI STREET, ABAKALIKI

EXPOSITORY BIBLE STUDY

FOCUS:         NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS FOR KINGDOM LIVING

TOPIC:          DO NOT JUDGE         Part 2

TEXT:           

3.         WHY DOES GOD WARN US AGAINST JUDGING OTHER

Matt.7:1-2,5; Rom2;1-2-13; Rom.14:4,7-12

            Many times we see the wrong in others because such wrongs are in our own lives. But instead of crying to God to remove such wrongs from our own lives, we quickly see and point out these same wrong in others that if you are guilty of the same offence, you will not escape God’s judgment.

            Note that whatever measure you sued to dish out judgment to others, the same will also be sued for you. If you judge without mercy, you will also receive judgment without mercy. If you judge at face valve, you will also be judge like wise.

4.         LOOK CLOSELY…Matt. 7:3-5

(a)               What are the ‘mote’ and the ‘beam’ in the eye when does a ‘mote’ become a ‘beam’

(b)               Discuss what each one of us must do if we will be of any help to our brother’s ‘mote’ in the eye.’

A mote is the smallest particle in a beam. A beam is made up of many motes  glued together. When a mote in the eye is not removed as soon as it is discovered but is defended and protected, it is likely to grow to become a beam. When a little sin is allowed to persist in the life of a believer, it will soon become a “besetting sin”, an iniquity and a wickedness.

Moreover, when a tiny mote is found in the eye of a leader, it appears in the spirit as a beam. The size of the beam increase as your leadership responsibility increase. Leadership multiplies the mote. If a little sin is allowed in the life of the leader, the privileges of leadership covers it unit it grows out of hand.

In practical terms, when a particular sin is found in the life of an ordinary church member, it is regarded as a mote. But if the same sin is found in a leader’s life, it becomes a beam even in the estimate of others and it hinders effectiveness in ministry. It hinders us in God’s presence and hinders the sharpness of our insight into God’s word and into other people‘s lives.

What to do in order to CLEARLY see and effectively remove the mote in our brother’s eye is to FIRST remove the beam in our own eye. This is a kingdom life principle that we must individually cultivate and make our lifestyle if we will last in the kingdom.