King of the Mountain? (Matthew 7:1-6)

In a recent sermon, Logs, Dogs, and Hogs, from Matthew 7:1-6, I referred to judgmentalism as a type of spiritual king-of-the-mountain game, where we try to climb to the top—the supposed place of God’s favor—by criticizing and judging others. At best such behavior is merely an emotional sleight-of-hand for certainly, God’s kingdom doesn’t play by such rules. I mention this here because if we are going to truly help others and work for a peace and justice that pleases God, we have to start by humbling ourselves and considering others as inferior no longer (2 Cor. 5:16) but as equals or betters (Philippians 2:3). Why can't we learn to help each other climb the sand dune of circumstances together as advocates, not adversaries?

Matthew 7:1-6 

                                     “Judge not,

             that you be not  judged.

2                 For with the judgment you pronounce

                    you will be  judged,

                  and  with the measure  you use

                        it will be   measured to you.

3                                     Why do you see the speck

                                that is in  your brother's eye,

                          but do not notice the log

                                that is in  your own       eye?

4                            Or how can you say

                                          to  your brother,

                                             ‘Let me take the speck

                                     out of your                eye,’

                               when there is the log in

                                               your own        eye?

5 You hypocrite,

                                       first take the log

                                    out of  your own        eye,

                    and then you will see clearly

                                          to take the speck

                                    out of  your brother's eye.

Mature disciples are not judgmental towards others (v.1-2)

Matthew 7:1 is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. If you google it you will find that it makes most of the top-whatever lists. It is thrown at us anytime we address personal or systemic sin in our communities. “Don’t judge!” Yet the context of the passage says something very different.  Several verses in this chapter require a discerning judgement—v. 5, 6, 15, and 20. This makes it clear that contrary to popular opinion, this passage does not forbid confronting sin.

Proverbs 26 contains the classic case of a contextual paradox that will help us here.

Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
Answer       a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be wise in his own eyes. (Prov. 26:4-5)

There are times when you shouldn’t answer a fool and other times when you should. This kind of instruction frustrates us because we want clear guidelines and policies but that is not the way of the mature disciple. We actually have to discern the difference.

In the Hobbit Trilogy, the dwarf king Thorin Oakenshield, when told he has no right to enter the Lonely Mountain and disturb the dragon and possibly bring ruin on many, answered, “I have the only right!” Just because we have a log in our eye doesn't mean that we don't try to use it as a shield as well. We too think we have the only right to decide our own fate and destiny. Even if we acknowledge the Lord Jesus as the Righteous Judge, in a practical sense we set ourselves up in that high position to judge all around us: “He is stupid, she is rude, and they are crooks…” it goes on and on. And we will find ourselves held to the same standard by the One who alone sees clearly. Mature disciples are able to make clear judgments but are not judgmental.

Judgment comes with a warning label. There is reciprocity to judgment, for “with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (A proverb Jesus used in three different contexts, v. 2; Mark 4:24; Luke 6:38). This means that,

• In condemning others we bring condemnation on ourselves (Romans 2:1-8)
• In judging others we can forget that we will be judged (Romans 14:10-12)
• In judging, we may be usurping God’s position (James 4:11-12)

Mature disciples are not hypercritical (v. 3-4)

We all know the devastation that is brought to many families by drunk drivers. Those who are caught as charged with DUII (Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants). I think Jesus was getting at something similar here in this passage. That something I am calling “JUII” or  Judging Under the Influence of Intoxicants. We think we judge others fairly, but we don’t. We have a judgment that is impaired by the intoxicants of pride (self), prejudice (social biases), and perversion (sin). Right now I have to confess to being proud of that double alliteration. Please forgive me!

One of the best ways to keep from being hypercritical is by doing what Jesus said in verse 5, “First take the log out of your own eye.”  We must learn to judge ourselves first (v. 5, 1 Peter 4:17). Yet even as we seek to remove our own logs, we must have a right view of God. While being the Righteous Judge, that is not the primary way in which he relates to his children. Primarily he is the Lover of our Soul who seeks to redeem and heal his children. We must learn to respond to his love in kind. When we are confident in Christ’s love for us, we become more generous in sharing love and mercy with others. We relate lovingly as brothers and sisters in the family of God, not as competitors trying to climb and keep or place on some sandy mountain.

Mature disciples are discerning (v.6)

        “Do not give dogs what is holy,                          A

   and do not throw your pearls before pigs,                   B

                 lest they trample them underfoot                   B’

                         and turn to attack you.                       A’

This last verse involves judgment…but not one aimed at tearing down another but on survival and stewardship. In Jesus’ day dogs were unclean and vicious. Dogs rarely come across that way in our culture, so think more along the lines of the hyenas in The Lion King or red-eyed wolves in some fairy tale. They represent those who are treacherous, unclean, just want to feed their ego by tearing you apart. 

Hogs were also unclean, and also insensitive to the value of the message. Pearls are of no value to a pig who just wants something to eat. They serve only their appetites and have no spiritual aptitude.

So, how do we know who is a “dog” or a “hog”? It is usually apparent if we engage them in polite conversation, but if you really want to know… you will have to read the rest of the chapter (Matthew 7:7-29). Enjoy!