Lesson 759

(Lesson 759)(09-17-13) Today's lesson is taken from Matthew 7:1-5;

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."

Today's lesson concerns something Christian people are almost all guilty of, on a day to day basis. It seems almost impossible to live among other human beings without making judgments of both their actions, and their motivation for taking those actions.

In this lesson, Jesus, in essence, says that we, being imperfect, are not worthy to make judgments against someone else, who are, like ourselves, also imperfect. A good analogy for this is "the pot calling the kettle black".

The following quote is taken from Romans 1:29-32 and continuing through Romans 2:1-2. This passage accurately describes the condition of carnal mankind, his/her worthiness to make judgments concerning the sins of others, and the punishment we can expect if we make those judgments.

This passage very clearly tells us that if we find fault with others, we are likewise guilty of that fault;

"Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things."

It is the nature of mankind to judge, however, as this lesson very clearly tells us, if we judge the actions of others, that judgment will bring condemnation down upon our own heads.