Praise Break (part 2)

Thank you for joining me in this examination of this thing called Praise Break.

Currently, we're looking into whether or not we are allowed to even make a judgement call regarding Praise Break.

Previously, we looked at one of the verses people use to say we shouldn't/can't judge, which was the incident with the woman caught in adultery, the Pharisees, and Jesus.

Today, we'll look at another verse that supporters of Praise Break use to say we shouldn't/can’t judge.

 

Matthew 7:1

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

 

They say, 'that settles it. It can't be read any other way. It's clear that we are not to judge'.

The problem is that the thought doesn't end there. What does the context say?

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. 

 

When you read the next few verses, you clearly see that the first verse isn't a prohibition on all judging at all, but an introduction into how you should judge.

Notice in the next few verses that Jesus doesn't say you shouldn't take the mote out of your brother's eye, but first remove the beam that is in your eye so you can see clearly to be able to remove the mote out of your brother's eye.

Those who don't do this, Jesus calls them hypocrites - which brings us back to the same issue between the teachers of the law and the woman caught in adultery.

 

The next verse that people use is found in Luke.

Luke 6:37

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

 

This is the parallel verse to Matthew 7:1

And just like in Matthew, this verse is being ripped out of context. But, unlike in Matthew, Luke gives us more information as to what Jesus said. We actually find that the command to not judge is the end part of how we should treat our enemies.

Luke 6:27-38

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one] cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 

 

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  

From these verses we clearly see that it’s our enemies that we should not judge. Jesus isn't even talking about the brethren.

But when it comes to the brethren, Jesus said we should judge, but to not be hypocritical when we do so.

When we continue reading Luke 6, we see that Jesus continues to speak on this topic.

Luke 6:39-45

And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 

 

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. 

 

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 

 

Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. 

 

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  

 

For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 

 

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

 

Jesus speaks about the beam in our eyes and the mote in our brothers eyes. He then transitions into corrupt and good fruit.

 

These are the verses that people run to in order to prevent people from making a judgement call and say something is right or wrong. But when we look at these verses in context, we find that it doesn't say not to judge anyone.

 

At best, we can see that we aren't to judge those who are not in the kingdom of God. Those who are, we should be judging. We should be seeking to take the mote out of our brother's eye, but we must make sure that we have taken the beam out of our own eye first. We are not to judge hypocritically, but judge in the same way that we ourselves would like to be judged... with compassion and understanding.

We'll end today's investigation with this. Join us next time as we continue to look into Praise Breaks