Luke 6:37-42

In a fallen world, hostile to believers, Jesus calls his followers to adopt a love that is entirely unlike the world. A love marked by mercy, even as our Father in heaven is merciful. This means we must refrain from hypocritical, self-righteous judgment and instead, we must firstly assume a posture of grace, desiring ultimately that those caught in sin would be restored to the Father. As we allow the Lord Jesus to reveal to us our own spiritual blindness and our desperate need for him, we will be equipped to show others this mercy. Only when the log is removed from our own eyes will we be prepared to help our brothers and sisters with the specks in theirs. The good news is that Jesus is able to deal with every wooden plank in us because he was nailed to a wooden cross for us.

Luke 6:37-42

Scripture does not tell us to not judge, but rather to exercise godly, gracious judgement carefully, with the right heart, motives, and method. Making sober judgements, beginning with self-judgement, contributes to a healthy, thriving church body and prepares us for God’s judgement.

Luke 6:37-42

“Judge not, lest ye be judged” (for some reason always quoted in the King James Version) has got to have the dubious honour of being the most quoted, misunderstood, and misapplied Bible verse in society today. People take it to mean that we should stay out of each other’s business and never judge one another. But what Jesus is actually forbidding is a self-righteous, fault-finding, judgmental, condemning spirit. In this sermon, Pastor Matt shares how when we take the log out of our own eye, then, and only then, can we lovingly, truthfully, and gently help fellow Christians remove the speck from their eye.