7: 1-5 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.🪃
Judge Not
Matthew 7
1Judge not, that you be not judged.
I think it is safe to say that it has become modern-day Christianity’s favorite verse.
People use it in their conversations. I’ve even heard it in slogans to justify crazy, sinful actions.
Sadly, it’s flamboyantly used as a false sense of biblical understanding for every kind of unrighteous behavior as people shout out, “Judge not.” We sometimes forget who’s behind it all.
(The Devil) He used it first and said it under the tree in a conversation with Eve. When the devil tempted Eve with twisted scripture to fit into his agenda in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1–7), he stirred up the sinful nature in her. He did this through a clever line of reasoning, bringing doubt linked to deception.
The truth is that God spoke light and blessing to man of freedom from the beginning.
Satan came up behind and spoke dark doubt and ultimate bondage.
Genesis 3:1 The serpent begins his lying.
Now the serpent was more *cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
*Cunning, shrewd, subtle
aw-room’ pronounced ‘a-roam H6175
“Has God indeed said” or “It really means this?”
The first attack was targeted against the Word of God.
From the beginning, Satan has tried to undermine God’s people by undermining God’s Word.
He can undermine just as effectively by getting us to neglect God’s Word as by getting us to doubt or misuse it.
The Devil said,
Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden”? Satan took God’s positive command in Genesis 2:16-17 (Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat)
✔️Right here, it is in plain sight: he lied and twisted God’s words: “God won’t let you eat of every tree?”
Can’t you hear the nasty attitude behind those words?
If your attitude is failing to line up with God’s word,
(Get an attitude adjustment in Matthew 5 with “The Beatitudes”)
Truth
Jesus brings the truth about this very present-day issue,
John 8:44
44 Your father is the devil. You belong to him. You want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He was always against the truth. There is no truth in him. He is like the lies he tells. Yes, the devil is a liar. He is the father of lies.
Be watchful for the devil’s ways
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Your adversary the devil walks about: this exhorts us to remain clear-headed (sober) and watchful (vigilant) because Satan has not yet been bound and restrained for 1,000 years as Revelation 20:1-2 says he will be. At present, the devil walks about. “He walketh about– he has access to you through doors you have opened. It would help if you had never allowed it or closed them and repented.
He watches your reactions, reads your generational history, and informs himself and his fallen demon servants.
Walks about, walking G4043
The devil certainly walks about; he is a finite being and can only be in one place at one time, yet his effort, energy, and associated demons (fallen angels) enable him to extend his influence all over the world and in every arena of life.
Yet the sound of his roar — his deceptive lies — is still potent, bringing fear to devour souls and rob Christians of all their effectiveness here on earth.
Here is a dose of reality
Only The Lord our God is all-knowing and everywhere at all times. The Father God knows what in your heart be for you speak. He knows your every thought. He is omnipotent, meaning all-powerful; omniscient, meaning all-knowing; and omnipresent, meaning present everywhere at all times.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
A Simple Guide for Behavior
Read all that Jesus says! So you can receive the whole truth.
Matthew 7:1-5 The Message
7 1-5 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
The basic meaning here is that we are to judge ourselves before we judge others so no one else will have the opportunity to do so.
There is an unrighteous and unholy brand of judgment that we can quickly allow to take root in our hearts that is harmful, hypocritical, and ungodly.
If we condemn others for things we are doing ourselves, we bring condemnation upon ourselves (Romans 2:1-3).
If we judge hastily, callously, contemptuously, carelessly, wrongfully, or prematurely, we are guilty of judging with an unrighteous judgment. God will judge those who judge others in such a way in that same way (Luke 6:36-38).
Boomerang 🪃