Matthew 7:1 Judgment - For The Glory of Jesus

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Judgment

When you see someone are you placing judgment on them? Jesus wants us to know that judging others is His responsibility not ours. We should look at our own lives first.

This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.

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Matthew 7:1-12

1. “The first principle of judgment is that we begin with ourselves.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 29)

“If we first judge ourselves, then we are preparing for that final judgment when we face God.” (Wiersbe, 29)

See Luke 6:37-38

2. “We are supposed to exercise a righteous kind of judgment with careful discernment (John 7:24).” (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1134)

“God doesn’t forbid our judging wrong and evil actions, as we will see. The point is that if you are harsh in your judgments of others, you will be known as the type of person who is severe in his considerations of others.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 40)

Examine Ourselves

3. Jesus “is clearly not concerned about literal pieces of foreign matter in people’s eyes but about his followers’ moral failures. How often we criticize others when we have far more serious shortcomings in our own lives.” (Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew. [Nashville: Broadman Press], 128)

4. “If we know there are sins in our lives, and we try to help others we are hypocrites. In fact, it is possible for ministry to be a device to cover up sin!” (Wiersbe, 30)

5. “Once we have dealt with our own sins, we are then in a position gently and lovingly to confront and try to restore others who have erred (cf. Galatians 6:1).” (Blomberg, 128)

6. “Respect for what is holy, not merely contempt for the dogs and swine, motivates the principle of loving enemies (5:44). That verse governs personal dealings with one’s enemies, while this principle governs how one handles the gospel in the face of those who hate the truth.” (MacArthur, 1134)

Ask, Seek, Knock

7-8. “You and I are human and fallible; we make mistakes, Only God can judge perfectly. Therefore, we must pray and seek His wisdom and direction (James 1:5). (Wiersbe, 30)

9-10. “No loving parent would try to trick his or her children into thinking their request had been granted by such deceptive substitutions.” (Blomberg, 130)

11. “Often our prayers are not answered as originally desired because we do not share God’s perspective in knowing what is ultimately a good gift for us. We are especially tempted to think of the values of this world (e.g., health and wealth) rather that spiritual values.” (Blomberg, 130)

12. “Versions of the Golden Rule existed before Christ, in the rabbinic writing and even in Hinduism and Buddhism. All of them cast the rule as a negative command.” (MacArthur, 1134)

“Jesus made it a positive command enriching its meaning and underscoring that this one imperative aptly summarizes the whole gist of the ethical principles contained in the Law and the Prophets.” (MacArthur, 1134)

“This great truth is a principle that ought to govern our attitudes toward others.” (Wiersbe, 30)

References

New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew. Nashville: Broadman Press
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Robertson, A. T., A Harmony of the Gospels. New York, HarperCollins Publishers
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

Worry Fruit

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