Growing up, I remember watching professional football and always seeing at least one sign with a Bible verse on it.  Do you remember what that verse was?  It was John 3:16 – the verse that most people knew.

Today, I’m afraid that most people do not know what that verse states, but they do know what Matthew 7:1 states: “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.”  Many people are quick to use that verse when they feel like someone is pointing out something that they are doing wrong.  And Jesus did go on to say in Matthew 7:3, “Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye?”

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Yes, we should not judge others in a wrong way, but it would be foolish of us to not understand what Jesus meant.  Right after saying those things, He said, “Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pears before pigs…” (Matthew 7:6).  And a few seconds later, He said, “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.  You’ll recognize them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:15-16).  How can we determine who is acting like dogs or pigs?  How can we determine who are false prophets?  How can we determine anything in life without coming up with a judgement about them?

Judging in a wrong way is judging that is based on what we think, what we come up with, or what we decide without anything to back up the judgement.  That is wrong, and it is sinful.

On the other hand, when someone points out that God has said that a certain action is wrong, that is not wrongful judging.  It is stating what God says is right or wrong.  Therefore, if another person has a problem with it, they have a problem with God.

Jesus clarified that throughout Scripture.  He even said in John 7:24, “Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.”

I am not encouraging everyone to start going around and pointing out what everyone else is doing that is wrong.  Remember that we have got to make sure our own sight is clear before we point out the splinter in another person’s eye.  And we do that by making sure that we know God and His Word and are living by that standard.

If my neighbor’s house is on fire, it would be evil to not warn him.  Today, many of our neighbors’ lives are on fire.  If we do not care enough to warn them, that would be evil.

Let’s start looking out for one another.  Let’s help one another live above the cultural norm.  Let’s point people to Jesus.

Erwin Lutzer wrote a great book that digs further into this. Check it out by clicking the picture below…