Shalom Aleichem...
Reflections is a weekly Christian Teaching Ministry. Each week we will talk about the Bible and lessons we can put to use in our daily life. We will try to, on a weekly basis, provide to you stories, thoughts, and just easy ways to live your life on a straight path.
THIS WEEK'S TEACHING....December 20, 2021
Are we permitted to judge others? In this teaching of the series "Taking Up Your Cross in Today’s World" we will examine what the Bible teaches on this.
The Holy Spirit has been convicting me to teach on what does it mean to judge and to rebuke. This has been a difficult sermon to prepare, because many may not agree with what I have to say, but I feel it needs to be said. To those whom the gift of discernment has been given by the Holy Spirit, may understand better what I will be trying to get across. There is a lot of evil in today’s world and some of it may even be masquerading as goodness in our churches. We must be able to test the spirits and determine the good from the bad. Thus we must be able to judge the fruits of a person’s works.
Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. (NIV)
In the passage that you just read we are told to say "No" to all ungodliness and worldly passions. We should not be involved in anything that is sin and evil. Today there are so many groups out there in the world that are trying to convince us that their views are good and best for our nation.
There are the pro-abortion groups that tells us that the taking the life of an unborn baby is OK, because it is just a glob of tissue and the woman has a right to do with her body what she wishes. There are the homosexual groups that are trying to convince people that their lifestyle is normal and acceptable and that they should have all the rights of a traditional married couple and even to pastor churches. There are the sex-crazed groups that are telling us that pornography and sex with children is acceptable.
There are the cult groups telling us that Islam is a peaceful religion that worships the same God that Christians worships. There are groups telling us that witchcraft is acceptable to teach to our children. There are groups telling us that we Christian are bad because we are intolerant to all of the above groups of people. Jesus was never tolerant to evil or sin. He rebuked the sinful person and if that person repented, then He forgave and encouraged that person.
In the verses that we read, we are told that while we wait for Christ’s return, we are to do what is good, and also teach, encourage and rebuke with all authority. To be able to say "No" to all ungodliness and to rebuke others, we must be able to make judgments on what is good and what is evil. I have been told so many times that we are not to judge, but if we are not allowed to judge then how can we determine the difference between righteousness and sin?
Let’s look at the verses that most people uses to say we are not to judge..
Matt 7:1-5
1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ’Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (NIV)
Are these verses really telling us not to judge anyone? I don’t think so. It is telling us not to form a habit of judging hastily, harshly and without an allowance for circumstances. We are to be just and compassionate in our judgments because in the same way that we judge, God will judge us. We cannot judge or rebuke someone else, if we are involved in the same sin. That is why Jesus said first remove the plank out of your own eye, and then you will be able to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. If we are involved in sin and we rebuke a brother for committing that same sin, then Jesus calls us hypocrites.
We are first to be sure that we do not have that sin in our lives, then we can rebuke our brother that is committing that sin. So the above verses are not telling us not to judge, but they are telling us to be sure our lives are right with God and then to rebuke our brother justly and with compassion, encouraging him on turning his life around.
We learn more about this in the book of Luke...
Luke 17:1-4
1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.
2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ’I repent,’ forgive him." (NIV)
Here Jesus is telling us to rebuke a brother that sins. To determine if that brother did sin, we must make a judgment. We are to judge our brothers’ actions. In the first verses that we read, we were told to encourage our brothers and now we are being told to forgive our brother if he repents. Even if he sins against you seven times in one day and he comes to you for forgiveness, then you are to forgive him each time. We cannot judge someone’s heart, we can only judge someone’s actions or as the Bible says by their fruits. Now if he doesn’t repent, the Bible gives the procedure to follow in that case, but I don’t want to get into that in this sermon, because that isn’t the point of this sermon.
2 Tim 4:1-5
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-- with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (NIV)
Here again we are told to correct, rebuke and encourage with patience and careful instruction. To correct and rebuke, we have to judge a person’s actions. Today we are seeing some churches falling away from sound doctrines and there are many pastors preaching only what their congregation wants to hear. In this series of teachings on Taking up your Cross, Every week I know I have stepped on toes so much that they hurt. This series has deliberately focused on subjects and verses that most people don’t want to hear.
The Bible refers a lot to the fruits of our actions, so I wanted to refer to at least one of these many verses.
Matt 7:16-23
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ’I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV)
In these verses we are referred to as fruit tress, producing fruit. If we are producing good fruit, then we are doing God’s will in our lives. If we are not producing good fruit then we are out of God’s will. These verses also tell us that not everyone that sits in a pew in a church will enter the kingdom of heaven. There are some that may think that they are saved and are trying to enter into the kingdom by doing good works, but Jesus says that He never knew them.
We are saved by grace through faith and not by works. Many may have walked the isle and been baptize by water, but unless they believe with their hearts that Jesus is the one and only Son of God and that He is their Savior and Lord, then they may not be saved. Only you and God know your heart.
Rom 10:9-11
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
(NIV)
Are you reading this teaching and have never confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord?
Maybe you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord when you were a child, but you have never really believed that God raised him from the dead, then you need to make a commitment tonight. We talked about judging people tonight, but there will be one that will judge everyone and His judgment will be true and just. Jesus will judge all people, those still alive when He returns and those that have already died.
Everyone that has ever lived will be judged. When you accept Christ as your Savior, your name is in the Book of Life. During the judgment, if your name is not found in the Book of Life, then you will spend eternity in a true, physical hell, where you will be tormented for eternity. If you have truly accepted Christ has your Savior, then you will spend eternity in His presence in a very real Heaven.
A perfect place, with no pain, no sorrows, and no hurts. A place that is so perfect, that it is hard to even imagine what it will be like. It is your choice, your future. You judge the two and make up your mind on where you want to spend eternity.
DID YOU EVER WONDER???
In keeping with the subject of this week's subject....The Bible is direct and to the point....
Jesus’ command not to judge others could be the most widely quoted of His sayings, even though it is almost invariably quoted in complete disregard of its context. Here is Jesus’ statement: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Many people use this verse in an attempt to silence their critics, interpreting Jesus’ meaning as “You don’t have the right to tell me I’m wrong.” Taken in isolation, Jesus’ command “Do not judge” does indeed seem to preclude all negative assessments. However, there is much more to the passage than those three words.
The Bible’s command that we not judge others does not mean we cannot show discernment. Immediately after Jesus says, “Do not judge,” He says, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs” (Matthew 7:6). A little later in the same sermon, He says, “Watch out for false prophets. . . . By their fruit you will recognize them” (verses 15–16). How are we to discern who are the “dogs” and “pigs” and “false prophets” unless we have the ability to make a judgment call on doctrines and deeds? Jesus is giving us permission to tell right from wrong.
Also, the Bible’s command that we not judge others does not mean all actions are equally moral or that truth is relative. The Bible clearly teaches that truth is objective, eternal, and inseparable from God’s character. Anything that contradicts the truth is a lie—but, of course, to call something a “lie” is to pass judgment. To call adultery or murder a sin is likewise to pass judgment—but it’s also to agree with God. When Jesus said not to judge others, He did not mean that no one can identify sin for what it is, based on God’s definition of sin.
And the Bible’s command that we not judge others does not mean there should be no mechanism for dealing with sin. The Bible has a whole book entitled Judges. The judges in the Old Testament were raised up by God Himself (Judges 2:18). The modern judicial system, including its judges, is a necessary part of society. In saying, “Do not judge,” Jesus was not saying, “Anything goes.”
Elsewhere, Jesus gives a direct command to judge: “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” (John 7:24). Here we have a clue as to the right type of judgment versus the wrong type. Taking this verse and some others, we can put together a description of the sinful type of judgment:
Superficial judgment is wrong. Passing judgment on someone based solely on appearances is sinful (John 7:24). It is foolish to jump to conclusions before investigating the facts (Proverbs 18:13). Simon the Pharisee passed judgment on a woman based on her appearance and reputation, but he could not see that the woman had been forgiven; Simon thus drew Jesus’ rebuke for his unrighteous judgment (Luke 7:36–50).
Hypocritical judgment is wrong. Jesus’ command not to judge others in Matthew 7:1 is preceded by comparisons to hypocrites (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16) and followed by a warning against hypocrisy (Matthew 7:3–5). When we point out the sin of others while we ourselves commit the same sin, we condemn ourselves (Romans 2:1).
Harsh, unforgiving judgment is wrong. We are “always to be gentle toward everyone” (Titus 3:2). It is the merciful who will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7), and, as Jesus warned, “In the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2).
Self-righteous judgment is wrong. We are called to humility, and “God opposes the proud” (James 4:6). The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector was confident in his own righteousness and from that proud position judged the publican; however, God sees the heart and refused to forgive the Pharisee’s sin (Luke 18:9–14).
Untrue judgment is wrong. The Bible clearly forbids bearing false witness (Proverbs 19:5). “Slander no one” (Titus 3:2).
Christians are often accused of “judging” or intolerance when they speak out against sin. But opposing sin is not wrong. Holding aloft the standard of righteousness naturally defines unrighteousness and draws the slings and arrows of those who choose sin over godliness. John the Baptist incurred the ire of Herodias when he spoke out against her adultery with Herod (Mark 6:18–19). She eventually silenced John, but she could not silence the truth (Isaiah 40:8).
Believers are warned against judging others unfairly or unrighteously, but Jesus commends “right judgment” (John 7:24, ESV). We are to be discerning (Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). We are to preach the whole counsel of God, including the Bible’s teaching on sin (Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 4:2). We are to gently confront erring brothers or sisters in Christ (Galatians 6:1). We are to practice church discipline (Matthew 18:15–17). We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
In keeping with the subject of this week's subject....The Bible is direct and to the point....
Jesus’ command not to judge others could be the most widely quoted of His sayings, even though it is almost invariably quoted in complete disregard of its context. Here is Jesus’ statement: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Many people use this verse in an attempt to silence their critics, interpreting Jesus’ meaning as “You don’t have the right to tell me I’m wrong.” Taken in isolation, Jesus’ command “Do not judge” does indeed seem to preclude all negative assessments. However, there is much more to the passage than those three words.
The Bible’s command that we not judge others does not mean we cannot show discernment. Immediately after Jesus says, “Do not judge,” He says, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs” (Matthew 7:6). A little later in the same sermon, He says, “Watch out for false prophets. . . . By their fruit you will recognize them” (verses 15–16). How are we to discern who are the “dogs” and “pigs” and “false prophets” unless we have the ability to make a judgment call on doctrines and deeds? Jesus is giving us permission to tell right from wrong.
Also, the Bible’s command that we not judge others does not mean all actions are equally moral or that truth is relative. The Bible clearly teaches that truth is objective, eternal, and inseparable from God’s character. Anything that contradicts the truth is a lie—but, of course, to call something a “lie” is to pass judgment. To call adultery or murder a sin is likewise to pass judgment—but it’s also to agree with God. When Jesus said not to judge others, He did not mean that no one can identify sin for what it is, based on God’s definition of sin.
And the Bible’s command that we not judge others does not mean there should be no mechanism for dealing with sin. The Bible has a whole book entitled Judges. The judges in the Old Testament were raised up by God Himself (Judges 2:18). The modern judicial system, including its judges, is a necessary part of society. In saying, “Do not judge,” Jesus was not saying, “Anything goes.”
Elsewhere, Jesus gives a direct command to judge: “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” (John 7:24). Here we have a clue as to the right type of judgment versus the wrong type. Taking this verse and some others, we can put together a description of the sinful type of judgment:
Superficial judgment is wrong. Passing judgment on someone based solely on appearances is sinful (John 7:24). It is foolish to jump to conclusions before investigating the facts (Proverbs 18:13). Simon the Pharisee passed judgment on a woman based on her appearance and reputation, but he could not see that the woman had been forgiven; Simon thus drew Jesus’ rebuke for his unrighteous judgment (Luke 7:36–50).
Hypocritical judgment is wrong. Jesus’ command not to judge others in Matthew 7:1 is preceded by comparisons to hypocrites (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16) and followed by a warning against hypocrisy (Matthew 7:3–5). When we point out the sin of others while we ourselves commit the same sin, we condemn ourselves (Romans 2:1).
Harsh, unforgiving judgment is wrong. We are “always to be gentle toward everyone” (Titus 3:2). It is the merciful who will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7), and, as Jesus warned, “In the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2).
Self-righteous judgment is wrong. We are called to humility, and “God opposes the proud” (James 4:6). The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector was confident in his own righteousness and from that proud position judged the publican; however, God sees the heart and refused to forgive the Pharisee’s sin (Luke 18:9–14).
Untrue judgment is wrong. The Bible clearly forbids bearing false witness (Proverbs 19:5). “Slander no one” (Titus 3:2).
Christians are often accused of “judging” or intolerance when they speak out against sin. But opposing sin is not wrong. Holding aloft the standard of righteousness naturally defines unrighteousness and draws the slings and arrows of those who choose sin over godliness. John the Baptist incurred the ire of Herodias when he spoke out against her adultery with Herod (Mark 6:18–19). She eventually silenced John, but she could not silence the truth (Isaiah 40:8).
Believers are warned against judging others unfairly or unrighteously, but Jesus commends “right judgment” (John 7:24, ESV). We are to be discerning (Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). We are to preach the whole counsel of God, including the Bible’s teaching on sin (Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 4:2). We are to gently confront erring brothers or sisters in Christ (Galatians 6:1). We are to practice church discipline (Matthew 18:15–17). We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE...A TEACHING
Is It Essential to Memorize Scripture?
Getting God’s Word into our hearts and minds is essential for spiritual health. Two disciplines that can aid us in this process are memorizing, and meditating on, biblical texts. In this chapter, we will consider memorization, and in the next chapter, meditation.
Memorization is a way to get the Word of God off the pages of the Bible and into our lives for the long haul. We can have a whole shelf full of Bibles, but they do us no good until we know what is in them; so of course we need to read the Bible. But how much better is it to get Scripture into our minds in such a way that it stays there far beyond the time spent reading the Bible and maybe for a few moments afterward. When we memorize Scripture, God can use it whenever he wishes to help us, encourage us, convict us, and challenge us. The written Word of God came through the Holy Spirit’s work of inspiration (2 Peter 1:21), so it makes sense that if we get the Word into our memory banks, the Spirit will work through it to guide us into truth (John 16:13) and guide us into his way of living (Galatians 5:16–25).
One of the greatest benefits of memorizing Scripture is stated in Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” In every case, when Jesus was being tempted by Satan, he responded by quoting Scripture (Matthew 4:1–11; he quoted from Deuteronomy!). Since Jesus is God of the universe, he could have simply commanded Satan to leave him alone and Satan would have had to submit. But instead, Jesus provided a model for us regarding how to deal with temptation: use the Word of God. We are promised that if we submit to God and then resist the devil, he will flee from us (James 4:7). What better way to resist Satan than by the Word of God (Ephesians 6:10–18, especially verse 17, which tells us to stand against the devil with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”).
There are many other benefits of memorizing Scripture.
Here are some practical suggestions for memorizing biblical texts:
1. Acknowledge how vital the Bible is to your spiritual health and crave it as a baby craves milk (1 Peter 2:2). Ask God to increase this craving. This will provide the motivation to undertake and keep up this challenging discipline.
2. Choose passages to memorize that are the most important to you spiritually and emotionally. As you are reading through the Bible, list verses that you find challenging, helpful, and encouraging, and start memorizing them. For example, if you struggle with anxiety, memorize Matthew 6:33–34 or Philippians 4:6. If you find it hard just to trust God, memorize Psalm 37:3–5 or Proverbs 3:5. An effective system known as the Topical Memory System has been developed by the Navigators (Navigators.org). It includes sixty verses that lay a good biblical foundation for newer Christians.
3. Study the passages. Knowing what they mean in their contexts will help you remember them and apply them.
4. Experiment with recognized techniques of memorization, such as imagery or mental association. There are countless books in stores and online that can help you develop these and other techniques.
5. Review what you have memorized. This is necessary for long-term mental retrieval of what has been memorized.
6. Develop a system for memorization and review. Many people find it helpful to write the passage they want to memorize on a card. Carry the card with you and review it periodically throughout the day. Use moments in your day that would otherwise be wasted, such as while you are standing in line, waiting for an appointment, or sitting at a stoplight. You will be amazed at how productive these brief times can be.
7. Set realistic goals—maybe one verse a week to begin with. As with physical exercise or weight loss, setting one’s goals too high is almost a certain guarantee of failure.
8. Memorize verses from the translation that you use most and are most familiar with. The wording of these verses will be most familiar to you, and as you read the Bible, you will also be reviewing the verses you have memorized. As an alternative, check the wording of a verse that you want to memorize from a number of translations and memorize the translation that is clearest and most meaningful to you.
9. Give it a try. Too many people don’t even try because they assume they are not good at memorization. Some people have amazing abilities to memorize; most of us don’t. But we can all memorize to some degree.
10. Challenge yourself. After you get used to memorizing a verse or two, try memorizing a whole paragraph, chapter, or maybe even a short book.
11. Be humble. As with all good things, there are dangers. One danger here is spiritual pride (“Do you know how much of the Bible I have memorized?”). The Pharisees knew the Jewish Scriptures well and had memorized large portions of it, and yet Jesus often criticized them for their pride and doing things to be noticed by men (Matthew 6:1). Memorizing the Word of God does not guarantee that it will have a good effect upon our lives. We need to do it with the right attitude of humility, dependence upon God, and a true desire to honor God rather than ourselves.
Dawson Trotman was a troubled young man who agreed to start attending church rather than go to jail. He accepted a challenge at the church and memorized twenty verses. One day as he was on his way to work, one of the verses that he memorized, John 5:24, popped into his consciousness:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life” (kjv). After that, another verse (John 1:12) came to mind. As a result, Trotman trusted in Christ and became a Christian. During the rest of his life, he memorized hundreds of verses from the Bible, founded a very successful Christian organization, the Navigators, and taught thousands of others how to memorize Scripture.
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED WEEK:)
Ho'omaikaʻi ka Pua iā kākou