Peace Presbyterian Church

“Hearts Overflowing With Grace”

As we have been studying the Sermon on the Mount, we have been continually challenged by Jesus’ invitation to discipleship, which is both basic and demanding. One such passage is from Matthew 7:1-3, where Jesus says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Just as He did with forgiveness, Jesus links our judgment of others with how God will judge us. In fact, in Luke 6:37, Jesus combines these subjects, saying, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” As believers then, we need to refrain from judging others, instead choosing to embrace forgiveness in order to be forgiven by God and to be embraced by His grace.

As I have been reflecting on these passages, I realized that being judgmental is one of the major issues and struggles we face as believers. There can be a variety of factors that lead us to judge others, such as insecurity, hurt, unrealistic expectations, bitterness, anger or hate. All of these root causes are both dangerous and destructive to our soul and to our faith. Passing judgment on others is deadly to our relationships and is also poisonous to our own relationship with God.

I find that when I am being judgmental, it is usually more an indicator of what is in my own heart, rather than being reflective of someone else’s shortcomings. Jesus echoes this when He says in 7:3-5, “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, “Let me take the speck out of your eye’, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” In essence, we ignore our own failures and weaknesses in order to judge someone else’s behavior. Jesus calls us to be honest with ourselves and to look deeply into our hearts in order to see what sins lie within us.

By judging others, we take on the role that belongs only to God. James tells us in 4:11-12, “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against their brother or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?” We are called to love one another, by sharing the grace that God has given us. When we judge others, we slander them, for we have no idea or understanding of what they may be thinking or going through. Instead, we should do as Paul tells us in Colossians 4:6, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Everything we say should communicate God’s grace, not judgment.

When we find ourselves tempted to judge others, we are called to lovingly pray for them and then also to pray for ourselves. May our hearts overflow with grace, as we graciously love others.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Brian

Sermons for August 2006

Basic Christianity, Demanding Discipleship

August 6, 2006:
  Elder Tim C. Preaching
  Pastor Brian on vacation

August 13, 2006: James 4-11-12; Matthew 7:1-6
  “Hearts Filled with Grace”
  Communion Sunday

August 20, 2006: Jeremiah 29:11-14; Matthew 7:7-12
  “Hearts that Seek Him”
 
August 27, 2006: John 10:1-10; Matthew 7:13-4
  “Hearts that Find Life in Him”

We will continue our sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount, as we look at this important teaching of Jesus, which is both basic Christianity and demanding discipleship. May each of us faithfully respond to Christ’s call to radical and self-abandoning discipleship.
When provided, please read and reflect on the Scriptures ahead of time in preparation for hearing and responding to God’s Word as it is read and proclaimed.