Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 7: Matthew 7:1-5 Judgment and neighbor love

Chapter seven:
Judging and Proving

Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued

Matthew 7:1-5: f) Judgment and neighbor love

|| Luke 6:41, 42

MT7:1 “You,[1] condemn not,[2] that you are not condemned.[3] MT7:2 For you will be judged with that ‘judgment’ by which you are judging![4] MT7:3 Why look at the straw-speck[5] in your brother’s eye when you do not consider the rafter in your own eye? MT7:4 Or, how will you say to your brother:[6] ‘Permit me to exorcise[7] the straw-speck in your eye?’ MT7:5 Hypocrite,[8] first exorcise that rafter out of your own eye and then see clearly enough to exorcise the straw-speck in your brother’s eye!

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[1] You: The following teachings of the Nazarene have a direct bearing on his ongoing commentary on neighbor love.

[2] Condemn not: It ought to be clear that a judgmental attitude highly influences neighbor love. One of the most difficult characteristics to overcome for the Friend of the Nazarene with the Transformed Mind is ceasing to be critical of others. Much of this disease is inherited (Romans 5:12). Note how Adam blames his wife and God! (Genesis 3:12) This prideful attitude stems in part from that distortion of being created in the image of God and, therefore, a sense of being the center of the universe. So, our opinions are always exactly correct. This is really self-righteousness, or the attitude of always being in the right, and having the need to express this opinion.

[3] Not condemned: The real danger is not the criticism of others, but that condemnation from on High and with such a Finality.

[4] Judging: This word group “judge” is highly significant in the Bible and occurs over 340 times. There is a Judge, and an Associate Judge, and Book of Judgment, and a Judgment Day, and a Judgment. A study of this word group in a concordance is a must to learn one of the ‘primary doctrines of the Christ.’ (Hebrews 6:1) A basic rule of the Nazarene is that our judgment will be based on our own standards of judgment demonstrated in how we judge others.

See Matthew 18:35 and Galatians 6:1: standards. Two excellent Bible chapters on this subject of judgment are Romans chapters 2 and 14.

Various renderings: GDSP: judged by the standard you judge by; WMS: for exactly as you criticize others you will be criticized; BER: and with that yardstick you measure you will be measured.

The Friend of the Nazarene must struggle hard to remove this judgmental disposition from any dark chambers of the mind and then true liberation comes in the realization that it is not only unnecessary but also God cares little for your opinion of others. On Judgment Day you will not receive a call from ‘the Judge of all the earth’ (Genesis 18:25) asking your opinion on someone.

[5] Why look at the straw-speck: See Luke 6:42 and 1 Corinthians 4:5: self-examine. Various renderings: WMS: why do you keep watching the tiny speck in your brother’s eye; MOF: and fail to see the plank. How critical we are of the tiniest matters when it involves others but how generously forgiving of our own failings. The absurdum or hyperbole of the Nazarene is actually humorous and we wonder at the facial expressions, tonal emphasis, and gestures when the Nazarene relates this metaphor.

[6] Brother: Luke makes the word “brother” part of the address. Various renderings are: RSV: log; BAS: grain of dust; MOF: by what right; GDSP: just let me get that speck out of your eye. The use of “brother” makes it a religious setting. Religion, by its nature, in an atmosphere of righteousness, spawns a judgmental attitude. No religion is immune from this disease but James 1:26 warns that any ‘formal worshipper’ who fails to guard the judgmental tongue is practicing religion in vain.

[7] Exorcise: The Greek is EKBALLO and is used elsewhere for “cast out” or “exorcise” demons. We have chosen “exorcise” because there seems some sarcasm in the Nazarene’s words.

[8] Hypocrite: See Luke 6:42. Various renderings: PHI: you fraud.

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Preceding articles

Back from gone #2 Aim of godly people

Matthew 5:38-42 – 5. The Nazarene’s Commentary on Exodus 21:24

Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 1 Charity and neighbour love

Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 2 Prayer and neighbour love

Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 3 Forgiveness and neighbour love

Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 4 Treasures’ and neighbour love

Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 5 Matthew 6: 24-34: e) Anxiety and neighbor love

Next:

Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 7 Matthew 7:6-11 Giving and neighbor love

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Further reading

1. Do Not Judge Others
2. The Judgmental Secular World
3. Man Would Make Himself The Rule Of God
4. skilled at seeing other’s weaknesses
5. Is being “righteous” possible?
6. No self-righteousness
7. Why Self-Righteousness Can Be Annoying
8. 10 Deadliest Signs of Self-Righteousness You Probably Don’t Know
9. Gloating
10. Quick Takes: Romans 13:13
11. Matthew 7 – Wisdom and Freedom
12. Do you think it’s ever ok to judge
13. We’ll Always Be Good Enough With Low Standards
14. Feeling better by condemning
15. A Meditation on Life: Self-Righteousness
16. Blaming the Righteous and Just
17. Radical: Spirituality! Part 1
18. The Power of the Self is Broken
19. The (Right) Way
20. Love your enemies…
21. Not the Righteous, But Sinners
22. The Armour of God vs Garment of Self Righteousness
23. Log?..What log?
24. Day 10 – Removing the plank from our own eye
25. Judgement
26. Day 11 – Observing our fruit
27. Do to others…
28. Motives behind Criticism are often more Important to deal With then the Criticism itself.
29. Are you judging people by what they look like?
30. So how does a follower of Jesus respond to all this anger and hate?
31. Does ‘judge not’ mean make no judgements about sin?

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