The Issue of Matthew 7 deals with judgment. The subject of judgment is certainly a
touchy one to say the least. Jesus was
giving some instruction on right judging and wrong judging.
Many people want to
focus in on chapter 7 verse 1. “Do not judge, or you will be judged.” But I think it is important to look at verse
two also. Jesus said, "Whatever judgment
you use you will be judged by the same standard, with which you judge." What is the standard? It is Jesus Christ and his
righteousness.
One day we all will be judged by that measuring stick. Every word which He has spoken will come to
shed light on the dark corner of our lives. As a follower
of Christ, I have been born again by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I am glad
that I will be judged in God’s only son and not myself.
In verse number 3 he brings up a bit of an
illustration. He says before you deal
with a speck of sawdust and someone else eye, you might want to deal with a 2 x
4 your own. But then in verse 5 he
says once you deal with your own 2 x 4 week and then see clearly to remove the
speck from our brothers eye. Therefore, Jesus seems to me to say it is not that we refrain from making judgements, but we do so in the right spirit, the right way being right ourselves.
I like to think of it this way: We must make moral judgments concerning right and wrong, without being judgmental regarding the ones involved. There is a difference in making moral judgements and being judgmental about the behavior.
Then in verse 6, Christ is
encouraging us to exercise wisdom in these matters. Christ wants us to distinguish between what
is of great value and what is not. No one would want to give their dog what is
sacred, or valuable. In the same way no one would want to cast their fine
jewelry underneath the feet of pigs for them to trample under, thus devaluing
what is important.
So, the idea of wisdom is clearly on the mind of Jesus. All through out the scriptures the appeal of wisdom and its importance is highlighted. Yet, here it is more than that. We must be wise enough to discern and identify
dogs and pigs. It is not just the
necessity of making proper judgments Jesus is teaching about here, but that we should be able to acknowledge
and correct our own, even greater failures first and foremost.
I will say this, many today believe it's inappropriate to
make judgments concerning anything. I
do not think that's what Christ teaching, I believe He is telling us to make
sure that we are clean and right before we point out the mistakes of
others.
That is the principle and lesson
to be learned. Also, as a side note, we can
make positive or negative judgments concerning situations, people circumstances and morality.
