Lucas 6

Lucas 6

Maclaren has a rather graphic explanation of "do not judge" writing that "The ‘judging’ of which He speaks sees motes in a brother’s eye. That is to say, it is one-sided, and fixes on faults, which it magnifies, passing by virtues. Carrion flies that buzz with a sickening hum of satisfaction over sores, and prefer corruption to soundness, are as good judges of meat as such critics are of character. That Mephistophelean spirit of detraction has wide scope in this day. Literature and politics, as well as social life with its rivalries, are infested by it, and it finds its way into the church and threatens us all. The race of fault-finders we have always with us, blind as moles to beauties and goodness, but lynx-eyed for failings, and finding meat and drink in proclaiming them in tones of affected sorrow. How flagrant a breach of the laws of the kingdom this temper implies, and how grave an evil it is, though thought little of, or even admired as cleverness and a mark of a very superior person, Christ shows us by this earnest warning, embedded among His fundamental moral teachings. He points out first how certainly that disposition provokes retaliation. Who is the Judge that judges us as we do others? Perhaps it is best to say that both the divine and the human estimates are included in the purposely undefined expression. Certainly both are included in fact. For a carping spirit of eager fault-finding necessarily tinges people’s feelings towards its possessor, and he cannot complain if the severe tests which he applied to others are used on his own conduct. A cynical critic cannot expect his victims to be profoundly attached to him, or ready to be lenient to his failings. If he chooses to fight with a tomahawk, he will be scalped some day, and the bystanders will not lament profusely. But a more righteous tribunal than that of his victims condemns him. For in God’s eyes the man who covers not his neighbor's faults with the mantle of charity has not his own blotted out by divine forgiveness. (Sermon: Judging, Asking and Giving) We can judge what people do or say, but we cannot judge why they do it or why they say it. How can we know the heart motives of other people when Jeremiah tells us that our "heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Oswald Chambers - Criticism leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person. It is impossible to develop the characteristics of a saint and maintain a critical attitude. Jesus is telling His audience to avoid the hypocrisy and condemning spirit that arises from self-righteousness. Believers are not in the condemning business and are to leave any necessary condemnation to God the only righteous Judge. To reiterate, we are not to judge other peoples motives for as Scripture clearly teaches "God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1Samuel 16:7b) IVP Background Commentary - “Judge,” “condemn” and “pardon” are all the language of the day of judgment, prefigured in God’s current reckonings with his people (e.g., on the Day of Atonement). (The IVP Bible Background Commentary) Pardon (apoluo - present imperative - keep on forgiving) and you will be pardoned (apoluo) - Note that most versions render apoluo as forgive. And so the NET Bible has "forgive, and you will be forgiven." Christ commands the opposite of what He has just forbidden. In other words to pardon (or release or forgive) is the antithesis of judging and condemning. The first two commands were negative, but this is positive, indicating something believers are to put into practice routinely! Pardon is in the present imperative which is a command to make this our habitual response! Now just try to obey this one in your own (old self) strength! We cannot! The only way to obey this command is jettison reliance of self and rely wholly on the Holy Spirit's supernatural enabling power. In other words, the only ones who can obey this command habitually (not perfectly) are genuine believers. But even believers still need to make the daily choice to die to self and selfishness and to rely on the Spirit's enabling power. THOUGHT - How are you doing dearly beloved in Christ? Are you beginning to learn how to rely on the Spirit, daily seeking and trusting God for the Spirit's filling (Eph 5:18+) so that you might then be able to obey the command to walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16+)? We need to be aware that in this command would be prohibitions against holding grudges or being bitter, both simply permutations of an unforgiving spirit. This topic of forgiveness/unforgiveness is so important because it can be so destructive in marriages, relationships and churches and it will quench the power of the Holy Spirit in a person's life as fast as any sin I know of! For that reason there are a number of resources below that go into great depth on this crucial issue. William MacDonald on pardon (forgive)...be pardoned (be forgiven) - This makes our forgiveness dependent on our willingness to forgive (ED: WE SEE THE SAME "DYNAMIC" IN Mt 6:12, 14, 15+). But other Scriptures seem to teach that when we receive Christ by faith, we are freely and unconditionally forgiven. How can we reconcile this seeming contradiction? The explanation is that we are speaking of two different types of forgiveness—judicial and parental. Judicial forgiveness is that which is granted by God the Judge to everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. It means that the penalty of sins has been met by Christ and the believing sinner will not have to pay it. It is unconditional. Parental forgiveness is that which is granted by God the Father to His erring child when he confesses and forsakes his sin (1Jn 1:9+, Pr 28:13+). It results in the restoration of fellowship in the family of God (1Jn 1:6-7+), and has nothing to do with the penalty of sin. As Father, God cannot forgive us when we are unwilling to forgive one another. He doesn't act that way, and cannot walk in fellowship with those who do. It is parental forgiveness that Jesus refers to in the words "and you will be forgiven. (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary) Darrell Bock has an excellent word on Jesus' commands in this section writing "being merciful (Lk 6:36) means being quick to encourage people toward restoration after they fall. Mercy does not gloat over sin or take pleasure in pointing it out; it roots for the sinner to find a way home to spiritual health. Often after someone falls we are anxious simply to cut him or her off to keep the church body from being leavened or to show that we will not associate with deeds of darkness. The church is to be concerned about moral purity. But we also should be quick to help set up opportunities for repentance and restoration. We should be discerning about the presence of sin but not judgmental in dealing with it. To be judgmental is to rejoice in pointing out sin and to refuse to reach out to the sinner to restore him or her to spiritual health. Rather than leaving the sinner to wallow in sin and the pain of moral failure, we should encourage the sinner to find the right path. Perhaps no picture of this commitment is clearer than the career of Hosea. He called sin by its name but always stood ready to receive the sinner back, even after gross sin. It is no accident that Jesus' words against judgmentalism come right after the call to be merciful as God is. An unwillingness to be judgmental is almost a requirement for those who face persecution. Without it, lines of battle would become hardened and the ability to love the enemy would be destroyed. God is interested not in polemics but in offering the hope of restored relationship to the lost. This exhortation needs to be set in the framework of Jesus' entire teaching. Jesus does not mean that we should close our eyes to sin and wrongdoing. Jesus' rebuke of his opponents in Lk 11:37-54 shows that being merciful does not mean suspending moral judgment and responsibility. But we are not to hold judgment against the person in such a way that ministry and reconciliation become impossible. Disciples are to bear good news, not hold grudges. (Luke 6:17-49 Jesus' Teaching) Henry