Judge Not Luke 6:37-42 Judge audio video notes. Judge not that you be not judged may well be the best-known verse in the entire Bible even above John 3:16. Even people far from God know, Judge not that you be not judged. The truth is we must make judgments every day concerning people. You can’t go through life and not judge the actions of people, at least you best not.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE CHAPTER 6
by Delbert Young
Judge Not or Be Judge, That is the Question (Luke 6:37-42)
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Judge Not Luke 6:37-42 Judge audio video notes
Scriptures: Luke 6:37-42, 1 Corinthians 5:12
Luke 6:37-42 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 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.” He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
“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? 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.
We’ll read verse 37 from the King James Version.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned:
Have you ever, because of concern for him, tried to help someone from making a mistake only to hear something like, “Judge not that you be not judge.” “Don’t judge me.” They even quoted King James. Luke 6:37 may well be the best-known verse in the entire Bible even above John 3:16. Even people far from God know, “Judge not….”
The truth is we must make judgments every day concerning people. You can’t go through life and not judge the actions of people, at least you better not. If you raise children, you must judge their actions. You must judge their relationships. Developing our own personal relationships requires judging character. It best or you’re heading for a pitfall. If you have a business, you must judge employees by their work and abilities. Church leadership is to judge.
1 Corinthians 5:12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to JUDGE those inside the church who are sinning in these ways.
I must judge sin. Not only mine but yours if I am to help you. So, what does Jesus mean by “Do not judge…” What does “judge not” mean? Let’s read it again.
Luke 6:37 “Do not JUDGE, and you will not be judged. Do not CONDEMN, and you will not be condemned.
First, Jesus connected the dots. He connected judge with condemn. It’s judging to condemn. The word judge is krino {kree’-no}. From it, we get the English words “criticize,” “critic,” “critique” etc. Krino means judgment passed; to pronounce judgment; act the part of judges, pass judgment on; of warriors and combatants. “Condemn” is katadikazo {kat-ad-ik-ad’-zo}; give judgment against, to pronounce guilt; to condemn. We’ve already made up our minds and decided. Jesus means judge not in a condemning way.
So it’s when we designate ourselves as judge and jury for the purpose of condemning that we are wrong. The jury is “stacked.” We’ve become combatant with someone focused only on the wrong and negative, critiquing to condemn and pronounce guilt, defending ourselves, but condemning our combatant. Judge not that you be not and you will not be judged avoids condemning.
Jesus isn’t addressing required judgments in life such as raising children, selecting friends, judging sin, or operating a business.
His context is actually that of loving our enemies. It’s when you’ve blown it with someone. It’s when someone blew it with you. Now you’ve become combatants – enemies. Our minds rapidly move to judgment and pronouncing condemnation. We’re angry and hurt. We create slander and gossip. We say, “Well, it’s true.” Gossip’s seldom true, but let’s say you’re gossip is different and it’s all true. True or not, if you judge and condemn you’re wrong and not doing what a child of God does. It’s judge not in pronouncing condemnation.
Here’s the truth and sometimes we can’t handle the truth. You are a sinner and not in the kingdom of God. This is what Jesus is helping us within this Sermon on the Plain. Are you real or deceived? Are we children of the Most High (Luk 6:35), or playing church no different from the lost (Luk 6:32-34)? How are we supposed to handle judging and condemning is the topic of our passage. The bottom line is Children of God do not judge and do not condemn people, even enemies. That’s what he said, “Do not…” So, let’s work through this line upon line.
Luke 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. GIVE, and it will be given to you…
Notice, to “forgive” is not enough. We must give. Why? Why not just let me forgive and be done with it? Isn’t that good enough? No. We haven’t truly forgiven until we are able to give. The ability to give is the test. You recall Jesus saying, “Do good for those who hate you”? Doing good to people who hate you is the test. Condemning is the product of judging. Giving is the product of forgiving. Giving to people you’ve condemned is proof you’re a child of God and you can’t do this unless you are a child of the Most High infected with God – agapao love. This is supernatural.
Luke 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. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be POURED INTO YOUR LAP…
KJV says “bosom.” In those days people used a “lappack” as people use a “backpack” today. Mothers carried their babies in this manner. The outer garment (cloak) had a large pocket or pouch hanging outside the tied belt to carry whatever. If going to get flour, the flour was poured into the lap pack. Everyone wanted a good measure. Shake it. Make my lap pack run over. The metaphor is when you give, it will be given to you to the point your lappack can’t hold it all.
Luke 6:38 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.
If we measure out forgiving and giving, we get it back good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over poured into our lap. If we measure out judgment and condemnation we get back a lap full of woe more than we can handle.
Jesus connected the dots between judging and condemning and connected the dots between forgive and give. Amazingly, most people never connect the dots. Judgmental condemning people never get it. They never figure out why their life has so much woe and grief dumped in their laps. They live in constant woes: health woes; family woes; occupational woes; and financial woes. Am I saying if someone is going through those things it’s because they are judgmental and condemning? No, of course, I am not, but it would be a good idea to investigate.
Judgmental and condemning people live a life of constant woe and drama, but don’t take my word for it, or even the word of Jesus. Let your mind go sitting right there. Think of someone you know who is judgmental and condemning. How’s that working out for them? Even the world says, “What goes around comes around.”
Have you ever had someone to blow it with you?
Perhaps it got nasty. Cruel words were exchanged. Feelings were damaged. However, they came to you and said, “I apologize. I’m so sorry. I blew it. I was wrong. You were right.” How did that feel? Did it sort of make you want to find someone to forgive? This is what Jesus is after.
Let me ask you, is being judgmental and condemning, a learned behavior or genetically inherited? They’ve learned behaviors learned from parents or others. We learn to judge and condemn from those we follow and those we allow to teach us life. Being judgmental and condemning is a natural learned behavior and the way of the world. However, forgiving and giving – doing good to those who hate us – is also learned behavior.
Luke 6:39-40 He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? WILL THEY NOT BOTH FALL INTO A PIT? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is FULLY TRAINED WILL BE LIKE HIS TEACHER.
What’s that got to do with judging and condemning? Judging, condemning, forgiving, and giving are all learned behaviors. Jesus gives a humorous hyperbole to make the point. Imagine you’re blind and need to navigate some pits in life. You put your hand on someone’s shoulder trusting them to lead you, navigating around the pitfalls of life. You believe he can see, but he’s also blind. Then you and your blind guide fall into the same pit. What a huge thought in such a simple hyperbole.
Again, Jesus connected the dots between the blind leading the blind, and teachers. We don’t connect dots very well. A person when fully trained will be like his teacher, be it a parent, friend, mentor, whomever. If they can’t navigate the pits of life, neither will you. For example, sometimes children become like their parents and they both fall into the same pitfalls of life – alcoholism, abuse, welfare, addiction. Falling into the pit is directly connected with our life’s teachers – teachers we put our hands on to guide us – learned behavior.
Jesus referenced the Pharisees as blind guides (Mat 15:14) – blind teachers.
They were the most judgmental, condemning people of all. “Religious” people always are. The Pharisees taught and guided the Jewish people to reject Jesus. The people followed them then and today both are in the pit of hell. From whom we follow, we learn. From whom we learn, we become. You will judge and condemn, or forgive and give exactly the way your mentors (guides) do or did. So the question is who are you following?
The spiritual aspect of life is of utmost importance to avoid when it comes to the eternal pit of hell, but other areas are important as well. For example, where are you going in your marriage? Whose marriage are you following? Where are you going with your education? What educated person is your guide? Do they have their life – family, and finances – in order? Where are you going with your finances? What financially successful person do you know who has successfully navigated the pits? Where are you going with parenting your children? That’s a big deep pit.
Do you know any successful parents you would want to emulate? Where are you going with your occupational hopes? In all these and more, we must navigate pits. Jesus says we can, but we’ve got to put our hand on the shoulder of someone who knows the route. Jesus is instructing us we best become certain we are following the correct guides. They could lead us to a deep, dark, destructive pit.
What’s that got to do with judging and condemning?
Have you ever judged someone’s marriage, but then found yourself going through a similar marital situation, maybe even a deeper pit? Here is the heart of judge not. Judge not how someone raises their children, or you will fall into a pit of difficulties with your own children. I’ve seen it happen many times. Judge not people having financial problems. You will shortly have your own pit of financial problems. Judge not someone who fell into sin. I promise. It will come back upon you. It will happen – good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, And POURED INTO YOUR LAP. Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned.
Luke 6:41 “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?
Another hilarious hyperbole, Jesus is obviously exaggerating, plus injecting more humor into his sermon. It sounds funny until you realize he’s saying “you” are the one with the plank. That’s not too funny. The word Jesus used translated plank is dokos {dok-os’} and means a beam. It’s the main beam supporting a building – a rafter. The obvious thought is how can you judge and condemn what’s going on in the lives of others when you can’t face up and correct what’s going on in your own life?
Luke 6:42 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.
Hypocrite?! Yes. When we judge and condemn anyone, refuse to forgive others, or refuse to give, Jesus said, “You hypocrite!” You can’t help the person needing help. They’re ducking to avoid you killing them with your rafter. You’re playing church. You’re playing a child of God. Take care of your problems first, and then maybe you can help someone else.
The word hypocrite is hupokrites {hoop-ok-ree-tace’} an actor, stage player, and pretender. It’s playing church. It’s pretending to be a child of the Most High. You’re lost. You’re a hypocrite.
Doesn’t it irritate you to no end when someone with a chaotic sinful existence judges you? It’s absolutely amazing how the very people who do the most judging and condemning are the people with rafters stuck in their faces, constantly falling into pits and taking anyone with them they can get to follow. You jump in attempting to help. “Don’t follow him!” “Don’t follow her.” They say “Don’t judge me. Judge not…” You watch them walk away and before long disappear into a pit.
I want to note Jesus didn’t say not to help others with irritating specks or debilitating planks in their eyes. We can help, but not judgmentally. We’ve got to recognize we’ve got our own debilitating planks. If only those with no issues were allowed to help those with issues then no one would ever be helped. Let’s read it once more.
Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. FORGIVE, and you will be forgiven.
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are commanded not to judge and condemn. There are times when you will blow it with someone. There will be times they blow it with you. Jesus said, “Forgive.” Forgive – apoluo {ap-ol-oo’-o} means – to set free; to let go, dismiss; to acquit. Get over it. Let it go. That’s what a child of God does.
How well do you deal with judging and condemning? It’s got a lot to do with who you’ve followed and allowed to teach you in life. It’s learned behavior. How about your own flaws, weaknesses, and sins? Yours are only “specks,” right? Are they, really? Or, do you need eye surgery? Jesus frowns and is saddened when we judge and condemn because he realizes a lap full of woes and pits are coming our way. He smiles when we forgive and give. He knows we’re living blessed even as our Father in heaven. We’re living like children of the Most High. Do you make him frown or smile?
Judge Not Luke 6:37-42 Judge audio video notes
Judge Not Luke 6:37-42 Judge audio video notes
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