JUDGING (Discerning) Luke 12:54-57
A. Hypocritical judging (Matthew 7:1-5) SOME judge others and DO the SAME thing (Romans 1:26 TO 2:3)
B. Judging Motives (1 Corinthians 4:5) “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsel of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” (Romans 14:13) “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or occasion to fall in his brothers way.”
C. Judging by Appearance (John 7:21-24) “Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcisio; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgement.”
A. Judge RIGHTEOUS judgment (John 7:24) “Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
B. Judge a tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:16-20) “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” 1
A. John judged Diotrophes (3 John 9-11) “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrophes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”
B. Judge/reject heretic (Titus 3:10-11) “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”
1. “Heretic” G141 αἱρετικός aihretikos hahee-ret-ee-kos' From the same as G140; a schismatic. (“heretic” is the Greek word itself.). [Strong’s]
C. Judge/withdraw from disorderly (2 Thessalonians 3:6-14)
D. Judgment between brethren (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)
A. To determine fables VS. faith (1 Timothy 1:3-4) “As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine. Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” “Fables” Jewish stories, opinions, superstitions
B. To hold faith…not to be shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:18-20) “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare: Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” Examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28-32) 2
C. To consent to wholesome words (1 Timothy 6:3-5) “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereunto cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising, Perverse disputing of men of corrupt mind, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
D. To shun babbling/erring (2 Timothy 2:16-18) “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”
E. To identify evil workers (2 Timothy 4:14-18)
F. To MARK those which cause divisions (Romans 16:17-18) “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
1. “SIMPLE” = [AKAKO] = “harmless, without evil”
2. “MARK” = [SCOPEO] = “to take aim at, i.e. (fig.) regard, consider, take heed, Look at (on), mark”\
A. We Must NOT:
1. Judge Hypocritically
2. Judge Motives of others
3. Judge Solely by appearance
B. Only 2 paths in this life…path to heaven or path to hell
1. ONLY by diligent study of God’s word and making judgements according to what it teaches, can we be SURE we are on the right path.
C. What is your “judgement” today?
1. Are you IN Christ? Are you walking faithfully in His path to heaven? 3