Judgment and Mercy

Matthew 7:1-5
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div.
© 2007 Harold Dinsmore

This morning we are going to look at a passage which is a part of what is called the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus had been preaching and now He comes to a subject concerning judgment and mercy.  In fact, judgment is the dominant theme throughout chapter 7.  Jesus taught that the hypocrites trusted in themselves – that they were righteous and despised others.  They made a big display of their own supposed good deeds, and passed stern judgment on to their neighbors.  Jesus teaches that judgment must be so performed that one must constantly be on the alert for temptation.  Read with me our passage, Matthew 7:1-5.  “Do not judge, so that you won't be judged.  For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and look, there's a log in your eye?  Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye”