Matthew 7:1-11(NLT)
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others.[a] The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.[b]3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye[c] when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend,[d] ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.[e] Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
How often have we found judging people to get us in trouble? How often have you felt the brunt of unfair judgement? Our own human attempts at judging others take us out of the type of righteous and holy living God calls his people towards.
What if Christ's call to not judge was a call to a greater reliance on the Holy Spirit and the provision of prayer?
Jesus tells us the standard that we use in judging will be the standard by which we will be judged (7:2). We aren't called to judge, but to live as righteous people and to call others to righteousness. Where we once pointed out others flaws, as we journey towards holiness as a Christian community we are looking for people to help us attempt to take out the planks we each carry.
Join us on Sunday at 9:45 at St. Paul's for worship and a time of reflection on dismantling judgement.
Sermon Text: Download Dismantling judgement
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