The verdict is in.

-Maybe you have felt judged by others, people who think they have it all together and they look down on you.

-Maybe you feel judged by others but it is really your own guilt and shame that is keeping you from being around these people. They are not really judging you they may not even know what you are doing wrong

-Maybe you tried to help someone in their spiritual walk and struggle with sin and they accused you of being judgmental. They put up walls.

-Maybe you suffer from having a critical spirit. You criticize people because they don’t do things the way you would or you know you can do a better job.

-Or maybe you are critical of others to draw people away from seeing your faults or making yourself look better.
Like Augustine said “Lord, deliver me from the lust of vindicating myself.”
Lets see what Jesus has to say about Judging others…

V1-2 “judge” means form an opinion of, Is this talking about judgment from God or from the other people around you?

It seems as though this gives us the idea that if you are compassionate, loving and forgiving towards others they will respond that way to you. The idea of we reap what we sow. People will most likely treat us they way we treated them.

But God’s point of view, being every person will be judged by God we are accountable for the way that we treat other people. If we are constantly judging people and criticizing them God will hold us accountable for those attitudes. James 3:1 stricter judgment

The first time I went snowboarding. I am going to be better then all these people. I will pick this up no problem. Skating and surfing.

Before I became a parent I would look at other peoples kids and say “my kids will never do that”

Through these situations and situations like these God has humbled me to realize that anytime I am critical or judgmental I need to pray for the people I am criticizing or judging.
When someone in his congregation pointed out several faults in him and his preaching A wise pastor Instead of retaliating, or trying to defend himself, he looked at the woman and said, "If what you say is true, would you mind praying for me?"
The next step is that we have to pray for our own critical or Judgmental spirits
Sometimes we Judge people based upon our own preferences or rules
James 4:11-12 Adding rules and judging others by those rules makes you a Judge of the law basically saying “God’s commands are not good enough I need to add some and hold others to them” its called legalism Preferences, convictions or absolutes - Dancing
Dancing foot and praying knee.


We have a law of liberty Romans 1:1-13 when things are not spelled out for us we need to realize there is liberty and if God had something to say about it He would have. But we should not do things that will cause others to stumble into sin.


Lets get into the meat of this passage
V3 Why are looking at others faults and ignoring your own. Where is your heart? IF you are so focused in on the sins, faults or shortcomings of others your heart is in the wrong spot.

John 8 Stoning of the women. Law said she must be stoned, Deut 22:22-23 but where was the guy? Picking and choosing what they want to believe and do.

Verse 9 The “convicted by their own conscience” maybe that is you, you don’t like being around others because your own conscience is convicting you of your wrong doing.

Youth group “Too many people pointing fingers”

Notice even though Jesus had every right to judge but He judged with mercy and compassion. And gave sound advice
Said “go sin no more”
Vrs 12 Notice the follow up to this. This is why I love Jesus, I want to Follow a God like that.
Notice “so you shall put away evil from Israel” Deut. 22:22-23
HE is the light here to take away sin.

“God Judges after He expresses His love”


V4 The question posed here is how can you help another person understand how to have victory over a certain sin if you are having the same problem with it.
Understand things are always seem easier from the spectators position.
It was F.B. Meyer “when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know”
1. we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin.
2. we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her.
3. We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances. Stephen Brown, Christianity Today, April 5, 1993, p. 17.
V5 clean up your act and then you can be helpful to someone else.

The idea is not that we should ignore sin and refuse to discuss it’s consequences, rather one should be gracious, quick to forgive and come alongside and help.
“He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help”.
A. Lincoln

Notice this passage says “then you be able to see clearly” Sin clouds our vision. Example: when we are full of pride and puffed up we can’t see where are wrong or have wronged others.

Criticism or judgment is always difficult to accept, but if we receive it with humility and a desire to improve our character it can be very helpful. Only a fool does not profit when he is rebuked for his mistakes.
It stated that when we are criticized we ought to ask ourselves whether the criticism contains any truth. If it does, we should learn form it, even when it is not given with the right motivation and in the right spirit. The article then offered these three suggestions:
(1) Commit the matter instantly to God, asking Him to remove all resentment or counter-criticism on your part and teach you the needed lessons.
(2) If you have made a mistake or committed a sin, humbly and confess it to God and to anyone you may have injured.
(3) Be willing to learn afresh that you are not infallible and that you need God's grace and wisdom every moment of the day to keep on the straight path.
When we are criticized or judged, let's accept what is true and act upon it, thereby becoming a stronger person. He who profits from rebuke is wise.
V6 “pearls before”

Godly counsel, comforting and advice should be reserved for people who want to hear it and will take heed to it and will respond. Those who do not want it will turn on you, mock you and ridicule you for trying to show them the error of their way. These people are enemies of the cross, not just your average un-believer who is ignorant of the truths of God.

There are people who are too hard hearted to closed, to proud to hear you out. It is not always gross immorality often times it is just plan stubbornness or pride.

God calls us to rebuke and corrects people of the errors. Proverbs 9:7-9 Remember the fruit of getting close to the Lord is wisdom. James 5:20