Do not judge

Luke 6:37-42

KV 6:37a

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.”

Introduction

It is a continuation of Luke's "Sermon on the Plain." It sets forth Christian ethics for daily life. Today’s passage includes against judgmental attitude. In the end of the previous passage, Jesus talks about loving our enemies and being merciful because God is merciful. If we are merciful, we can’t be judgmental against others.

1. Read verses 6:37-38. How can we be not judged or not condemned? (37a). How can we be forgiven? (37b) In order to receive, what should we do? (38a) Why should we use a good, honest measure with pressing down, shaken together and running over? (38b)

1-1) Read verses 6:37-38.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

1-2) How can we be not judged or not condemned? (37a).

When we do not judge or condemn others, we won’t be judged or condemned.

We will be judged or condemned in a same way as we judge or condemn others.

We need to learn how to embrace others instead of judging others.

**When Jesus said this, he must have had in mind Pharisees who condemned and judged Jesus.

They did not know that they were sinners. They were spiritually blind.

Though we are forgiven sinners, it’s easy for us to judge others or condemn others.

We can not contradict ourselves by doing these.

How often we ended up hurting others by exalting ourselves to the position of the judge.

The righteous God alone is entitled to judge over each of us.

** Hebrew 4:12-13

“the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

We are very thankful to the Lord God who sent Jesus Christ, the word of God. (Revelation 19:13)

**Pharisee’s problem was to set aside the words of God and judge others based on their rules and regulations.

Mark 7:8-9, Jesus says about them, “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” 9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!”

1-3) How can we be forgiven? (37b)

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” If we would forgive others, we can be forgiven same way.

Jesus must have wanted us to be proactive to forgive others on top of His commands; do not judge or condemn others.

According to a dictionary, ‘forgive’ means to stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake.

1-4) In order to receive, what should we do? (38a)

“Give, and it will be given to you.”

**Giving is the opposite of taking.

In this selfish world, how can we always give our money and time while others are getting something?

However the nature of Jesus’ love is giving and living sacrificially.

**Jesus is a righteous God for he does not reserve anything to give himself to love us.

He is the exact representation of God himself. (Hebrew 1:3)

Jesus says, “it is better to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

When one wants to get something, either love or money from others, he becomes miserable for it is simply against creation purpose from Jesus.

When one gives something to the needy, he or she lives according to Jesus’ image.

Great is the reward of those who give generously.

**We see many miserable people around us.

They lavish their money for their end such as physical pleasures but penny pinchers for God and others.

They are like dead sea.

The Jordan rivers has been pouring fresh water into the dead sea, yet it has remained as a dead sea in which no living thing can hardly survive!

Late Dr. Samuel Lee and Mother Sarah Barry encouraged poor Korean students to give based on Jesus’ teaching; “You give them something to eat.”

Since then UBF became not only outreach ministry to reach the needy in the society but a missionary sending ministry to serve all nations.

God richly blessed us to be fruitful and increase in number.

1-5) Why should we use a good, honest measure with pressing down, shaken together and running over? (38b)

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

There is a promise here, that we will receive back a good measure overflowing into our laps. With the measure we use to give, it will be given back to us.

Giving generously will be never forgotten for our God is faithfully rewarding each of us. God never ignores our giving no matter how small it might be.

Jesus says in Matthews 10:42,

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward."

We believe that going out fishing or one on one Bible study will be rewarded surely from our Lord.

2. Read verses 6:39-40. Why can’t the blind lead the blind? (39) Although the student is not above the teacher, how will everyone be like a teacher? (40)

2-1) Read verses 6:39-40.

“He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”

2-2) Why can’t the blind lead the blind? (39)

He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?

This emphasizes on how important teacher or shepherd is. If the blind follow the blind, both of them fall into a pit because both of them can’t see and avoid the pit.

This parable teaches how one can also be a mature Christian and lead other people to a fruitful life.

**From this verses on, Jesus had in mind his immature and spiritually blind disciples so that they may grow in their faith enough to lead others.

They might have been felt ok as long as they were with Jesus who is available to them.

Jesus had a plan to encourage them to grow in their faith to imitate Jesus.

Thank God for Jesus’ vision for us.

May the Lord help us to grow in our faith in Jesus Christ!

2-3) Although the student is not above the teacher, how will everyone be like a teacher? (40)

“…everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”

If we are well trained, we can be like our teacher, though we cannot be above the teacher.

So the leader or teacher is very important. The followers or the pupils can improve with training, but they rarely surpass their teacher or the leader.

Without spiritual maturity through disciplined life in the word of God, no one can really lead others or give to others sacrificially.

Often times we are surprised at the fact that we ended up leading others to pit contrary to our expectation.

Have mercy on us so that we may grow through full training.

**In the other side of the coin, we must be willing to be trained like Jesus’ disciples in loving others in this selfish world.

Then God will surely help us to grow.

3. Read verses 6:41-42. What should we pay attention more to than to the speck of sawdust in our brother’s eye? (41) Who is hypocrite? (42a) What should we do first to remove the speck from our brother’s eye? (42b)

3-1) Read verses 6:41-42.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

3-2) What should we pay attention more to than to the speck of sawdust in our brother’s eye? (41)

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Here, the speck of sawdust represents small defect while the plank represents big flaw.

So obviously, the plank in our own eye needs more urgent attention rather than the speck of sawdust in other’s eye.

**Jesus had to live together with 12 disciples.

As they were strenuously trained in the same room as common life members, they must have seen others’ weaknesses.

One person might say, “Why do I have to be trained? He has more serious weakness than me. Mine is nothing compared to his.”

In this way it may be endless to pinpoint and easily in danger of breaking the unity of love.

Jesus must have wanted to keep it from happening.

**There is a sinful tendency for us to look at others' small weaknesses, but pay no attention to the obvious sin problems we have.

A speck of sawdust in one's eye is irritating and needs to be removed, but it is not fatal.

On the other hand, a plank in one's eye is serious and would require immediate care.

One should be more concerned about a plank in his own eye than about a speck of sawdust in another's eye.

This can happen when people live together as roommates or as husband and wife.

May the Lord help us to pay attention to our plank first and come to Jesus and have mercy on others!

3-3) Who is hypocrite? (42a)

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? (42a)

**Those who are pointing fingers to other’s fault rather than pay attention on his own weakness and sin.

Instead of looking at others' small weaknesses, we need to repent of our own sins.

We should apply Jesus' teachings to ourselves first, and repent.

**This doesn't mean that we ignore others. After repenting our own sins, we can be useful to serve others as good shepherds for them.

3-4) What should we do first to remove the speck from our brother’s eye? (42b)

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (42b)

**When we see the weakness of others, we should look into ourselves whether we have the same weakness or more serious problem.

Then, we have to repent ourselves first before we help others to repent. Otherwise, we become hypocrites.

It is to daily remember what kind of sinners we are as well as the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

St. Paul once wrote: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst." - 1 Timothy 1:15

Paul always remembered what kind of sinner he was and the wonderful grace of Jesus.

Through Jesus' grace, he could remove any planks in his eye, and then be a good shepherd for others no matter where he went.

Let us remember the wonderful grace of Jesus given to us so we can see clearly to take care of those who need good shepherds.

In conclusion

We should not judge or condemn others because we will be judged or condemned by same standard. When we see other’s fault, we should look into ourselves whether we have same sins and repent first before we point out other’s sin. Praise Jesus who helps us to grow in His image in fulfilling His world mission purpose. Amen.

One word: Do not judge