SOTM 32—Judge

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/som-32-judge/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p><strong>1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.</strong></p><p><strong>Introductory comments</strong></p><ul><li>We are called to a high standard of holiness (chapter 5), to be lived out not to impress others, nor as a program to enrich ourselves materially (chapter 6). Next the Lord warns us, urges us, and instructs us about many pitfalls that can wreck our faith, like judgmentalism, the broad road, false prophecy, and failure to build on his Word.</li><li><strong>Matt 7:1</strong> is the most quoted verse today, eclipsing even <strong>John 3:16</strong>. Yet Jesus did not intend it to be used as it often is—defensively. Jesus does not forbid judging others' salvation (though ultimately the Lord is their judge), or correcting false doctrine, or addressing serious sin (as in Matt 18).</li><li>Those who adhere to high standards can easily lapse into judgmentalism. "It is a mark of fallen human nature to notice the faults in others and be blind to our own."</li><li>We are encouraged to help our brothers and sisters, but only sincerely.</li><li>Jesus words connect to the Lord’s Prayer. The context is forgiving others, as the NT and the early Christian writers make clear. “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Do not judge, and you shall not be judged. Do not condemn, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (<strong>Luke 6:36-37</strong>).</li><