“Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5
Do you know what it means to “judge” something? The word “judge” when used in Matthew 7 here (“krino” in Greek) basically means to condemn someone for something.
An easy example to compare to our passage today would be as simple as, obviously, a judge in a courtroom. A duty of a judge in the courtroom is to determine the facts and decide a case, and to sentence (or condemn) a wrongdoer. Judges determine the penalty that a person or party receives for an infraction of the law.
Let’s say for a moment that a judge hands down a monetary fine to someone who violated a traffic law, maybe they failed to stop at a red light or stop sign. Now, what should happen to that judge if they themselves do not stop at that red light? They should receive that same punishment, shouldn’t they?
You could judge another person for just about anything. Someone could get upset at another for throwing trash out of their car window on the highway, but if they themselves do that same thing, do you know what that is called? It is called hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is
-“the contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing real character or inclinations, especially with respect to religious and moral beliefs.
-The claim or pretense of having beliefs, standards, qualities, behaviours, virtues, motivations, etc. which one does not actually have.
-The practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which one criticises another.”
The hypocrisy of the Pharisees was something that Jesus addressed several times throughout the Gospels, how they appeared outwardly to everyone that they were righteous and holy, but inside they were filled with hypocrisy and iniquity. And how they payed tithes of herbs and spices, but they didn’t keep the “weightier matters of the law” (Matthew 23:23).
“Thou shalt not kill” is one of the Ten Commandments. Yet, what were the Pharisees trying to do to Jesus? Jesus told them this in John 7:19. “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?”
In the book of Luke, Jesus compares someone who finds fault with another to a blind man trying to lead another blind man.
“And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.” Luke 6:39-42
In the passage of scripture where the Pharisees brought the adulterous woman before Jesus, they wanted to stone her for the sin of adultery, but Jesus convicted them that they too were sinners. “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her,” Jesus said. One by one they left, each convicted by their conscience.
In Luke 13, we can find another similar passage.
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:1-5
Jesus explained to them that everyone is a sinner, and that unless we repent, we will all perish.
We all are sinners, the Bible makes this fact very clear. We all have made mistakes. But a person needs to fix their own problems first if they want to help another person with that same problem.
I have heard it said that when you point a finger at another person, three of your finger are pointing back at you, and that really is true. Before you go judging others for their sins, look at yourself. Examine your own life, and overcome your own shortcomings so that you can begin to help others with theirs.
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 