Discernment and Humility: Living the Golden Rule

Devotional

Day 1: Judging Others with Humility, Not Hypocrisy

Jesus teaches that while discernment is necessary, we must avoid judging others with a hypocritical spirit. Instead of focusing on the faults of others, we are called to examine our own hearts first, removing the "plank" from our own eyes before addressing the "speck" in someone else's. This self-examination leads to humility and a genuine desire to help, rather than to condemn. In a world quick to criticize, especially online, Jesus' words remind us that the standard we use for others will be used for us, and that true discernment is rooted in love and humility, not pride or self-righteousness. [21:57]

Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV)
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Reflection: Is there someone whose faults you’ve been quick to notice this week? Take a moment to ask God to show you any “plank” in your own life that needs attention before you speak or act toward them.

Day 2: The Golden Rule—Treating Others as You Want to Be Treated

At the heart of Jesus’ teaching is the call to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves. This “golden rule” sums up the law and the prophets, inviting us to approach every interaction with empathy, kindness, and fairness. It challenges us to consider how our words and actions affect others, especially in moments of disagreement or frustration. Living out the golden rule means extending grace, patience, and understanding, even when it’s difficult, and it unlocks the true spirit of Christ’s teaching on judgment and discernment. [21:57]

Matthew 7:12 (ESV)
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt wronged or misunderstood. How might you respond differently if you intentionally applied the golden rule in your next interaction with that person?

Day 3: Discernment Without Condemnation—Following Jesus’ Example

Jesus models discernment without condemnation in His encounter with the woman caught in adultery. He neither ignores wrongdoing nor responds with cruelty; instead, He calls out sin while extending mercy and grace. This balance is essential for Christians living in a polarized world, where upholding truth can often be mistaken for hate. We are called to speak truth with love, to uphold what is good without tearing others down, and to remember that every person is made in the image of God and worthy of compassion. [27:45]

John 8:7-11 (ESV)
“And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’”

Reflection: Is there someone you disagree with or whose actions you disapprove of? How can you show them both truth and grace, following Jesus’ example of discernment without condemnation?

Day 4: Valuing Others Above Ourselves—The Mindset of Christ

Paul urges believers to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility to value others above themselves. This Christlike mindset transforms our relationships, especially within our faith community, as we put each other’s needs first and offer grace even when we disagree. Jesus, though God, humbled Himself and served us with sacrificial love; we are called to do the same, extending humility and compassion to all, and helping others without hypocrisy. [30:55]

Philippians 2:3-5 (ESV)
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: Who in your life could use an extra measure of grace or encouragement today? What is one practical way you can put their needs above your own this week?

Day 5: Loving Others as Image Bearers of God

Every person, regardless of their beliefs or actions, is made in the image of God and worthy of love. We are called to love even those we strongly disagree with, recognizing that our battle is not against them but against the forces that hold them captive. This love does not mean condoning wrongdoing, but it does mean seeking their good, praying for them, and sharing the hope of the gospel with humility and compassion. When we see others as God sees them, we become agents of His grace in a divided world. [34:53]

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Reflection: Is there someone you find difficult to love or understand? Ask God to help you see them as His image bearer and to give you one way to show them Christlike love this week.

Sermon Summary

In a world where “do not judge” is often wielded as a shield against any discussion of right and wrong, it’s crucial to understand what Jesus truly meant in Matthew 7. The call is not to abandon discernment or to pretend that all choices are equally valid, but to avoid the hypocrisy and pride that so easily creep in when we judge others. Jesus’ words challenge us to examine our own hearts first, to remove the plank from our own eye before addressing the speck in someone else’s. This is not a call to moral blindness, but to humility and self-awareness.

Discernment is essential for Christian living. We are called to distinguish between good and evil, truth and lies, not just for ourselves but for the sake of our close-knit faith community. In small communities, where lives are intertwined, it’s especially important to hold each other accountable with grace and love, not with a spirit of superiority. The real danger is pride—when knowledge or religious experience puffs us up, we become like the Pharisees, quick to spot flaws in others while ignoring our own.

The antidote to this pride is the golden rule: “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” This principle unlocks the heart of Jesus’ teaching on judgment. It’s not about shutting down conversations or avoiding hard truths, but about treating others with the same grace and patience we desire for ourselves. Jesus models this perfectly in his encounter with the woman caught in adultery—he neither condones her sin nor condemns her, but offers both truth and mercy.

In our polarized world, where outrage and call-outs are the norm, Christians are called to a higher standard. We must speak truth, but always with humility, remembering that every person is made in the image of God. Even when we disagree or see faults in others, we are to value them above ourselves, just as Christ did for us. When we adopt his mindset, we can help one another grow without falling into hypocrisy. This is how we live out the golden rule, both within our church family and beyond.

Key Takeaways

1. True discernment requires humility, not hypocrisy. Jesus calls us to examine our own hearts before we address the faults of others, ensuring that our correction is rooted in self-awareness and grace rather than pride or superiority. Only then can we see clearly to help others without causing harm. [21:57]
2. The golden rule—treating others as we wish to be treated—serves as the foundation for all our interactions, especially when it comes to holding one another accountable. This principle demands that we extend the same patience, understanding, and mercy to others that we hope to receive ourselves, even when we disagree. [26:47]
3. Knowledge and religious experience can easily lead to pride if not tempered by humility. Like the Pharisees, we risk becoming experts at spotting others’ flaws while ignoring our own. True spiritual maturity is measured not by how much we know, but by how well we apply that knowledge with compassion and self-examination. [19:37]
4. Jesus models discernment without condemnation. In his encounter with the woman caught in adultery, he neither ignores her sin nor shames her, but offers both truth and mercy. This balance allows us to uphold what is good and true without tearing people down, reflecting Christ’s heart in our own relationships. [27:45]
5. Every person, even those we strongly disagree with or whose actions we oppose, is made in the image of God and worthy of love. We are called to separate the person from their actions, loving them as Christ loves us, while still standing for truth. This posture transforms our communities and witnesses to the world the radical grace of Jesus. [29:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - The Misuse of “Do Not Judge” in Modern Culture
[03:12] - Discernment vs. Moral Blindness
[05:30] - Judging and the Role of Community
[08:10] - The Pitfall of Pride and Seminary Mind
[11:20] - The Dunning-Kruger Effect and Spiritual Knowledge
[14:55] - Pharisees, Hypocrisy, and Cancel Culture
[17:30] - The Golden Rule as the Key Principle
[20:37] - Reading Matthew 7:1-12
[21:57] - Hypocrisy vs. Righteous Discernment
[24:43] - A Story of Hypocrisy at a Conference
[26:47] - Jesus and the Woman Caught in Adultery
[29:04] - Loving the Person, Not the Sin
[30:55] - Philippians 2 and the Mindset of Christ
[32:36] - Prayer and Application
[34:53] - Blessing and Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 7:1-12 (ESV) — 1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
6 Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

John 8:3-11 (ESV) — 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst
4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.
5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”
6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.
9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Philippians 2:3-5 (ESV) — 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Observation Questions

In Matthew 7:1-5, what does Jesus say we should do before we try to correct someone else?
According to the sermon, how is the phrase “do not judge” often misused in today’s culture? [00:45]
In the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8), how does Jesus respond to both the accusers and the woman herself?
What is the “golden rule” that Jesus gives in Matthew 7:12, and how does it sum up his teaching on judgment? [21:57]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus warn against hypocrisy when it comes to judging others? How does this relate to the idea of having a “plank” in our own eye? [21:57]
The sermon mentions that discernment is not the same as moral blindness. What is the difference between the two, and why is discernment important for a Christian community? [03:12]
How does pride get in the way of true spiritual maturity, according to the sermon? Can you think of ways that knowledge or religious experience might lead to pride? [19:37]
In Philippians 2, Paul calls us to value others above ourselves. How does this attitude help us avoid the pitfalls of judgment and hypocrisy? [30:55]

Application Questions

The sermon says that before we address someone else’s faults, we need to examine our own hearts. Is there a “plank” in your own life that you need to deal with before helping someone else? What might that look like in practice? [21:57]
Think about a recent time when you were tempted to judge someone else. Did you approach them with humility and self-awareness, or did pride sneak in? How could you handle a similar situation differently next time? [19:37]
The golden rule asks us to treat others as we want to be treated, especially when holding each other accountable. What is one practical way you can extend patience and mercy to someone you disagree with this week? [26:47]
The sermon gave an example of a Christian acting hypocritically toward a cab driver. Have you ever found yourself acting inconsistently with your beliefs in public? How can you be more mindful of your witness to others? [24:43]
Jesus neither condoned the woman’s sin nor condemned her, but offered both truth and mercy. How can you balance speaking truth and showing mercy in your own relationships? Is there someone you need to approach with this balance? [27:45]
In our polarized world, it’s easy to see people as “the enemy” when we disagree. How can you remind yourself that every person is made in the image of God, even those you strongly disagree with? [29:53]
The sermon challenges us to hold each other accountable with grace and love, not superiority. What is one step you can take this week to encourage someone in your faith community without falling into a judgmental attitude? [03:12]

Sermon Clips

Sometimes education, information puffs us up, and it's easy to do. It's easy to get puffed up and to start looking down on other people. I mean, think of the Pharisees that Jesus critiques all the way through the sermon on the mount and really through his whole ministry, because they were the masters at spotting everyone else's flaws while they were ignoring their own. [00:18:49] (27 seconds) #HumilityOverPride

And really, those viral call-outs are where we try to criticize other people so that we feel better about ourselves. And none of us are immune to that. Our human nature loves to do that, to criticize someone else, to build ourselves up. [00:19:52] (17 seconds) #CriticismReflectsSelf

The issue here isn't discerning. It isn't discerning right from wrong. It's doing it hypocritically. Holding others to a standard that we dodge for ourselves. [00:22:21] (15 seconds) #HypocrisyBlocksTruth

Far too often, beloved, we're fixated on someone else's face while ignoring our own reflection. I mean, we take selfies all day long, but we don't really see what's important. That only happens with self-examination. [00:24:02] (19 seconds) #SelfExaminationMatters

But using someone's service and then condemning them for providing it, that's not sharing God's truth, is it? That is what the video told us about. That's hypocrisy with a capital H. Was that man applying the same standard to the driver as he'd want applied for himself? Well, obviously not. He'd forgotten the golden rule in that moment. But that's the essence of righteous discernment. [00:26:47] (37 seconds) #GoldenRuleInAction

You see what he did there? That's discernment without condemnation. It's calling out sin without cruelty. Beloved, in 2025, with all the online outrage, division and the polarized views, not just politically, but over every area of our lives, you and I as Christians, if we just speak biblical truths, we'll be accused of hate. But Jesus right here shows us how to discern wisely without the judgment spirit or judgmental spirit. We can uphold what's good and true without tearing people down. [00:28:31] (50 seconds) #GraceInDisagreement

In our faith family of about 40, this means putting each other first, considering their needs, offering grace to them. Even, listen to this, even when we disagree or we see a fault in someone else, look out for one another's interests, not just your own. [00:31:14] (22 seconds) #DiscernWithLove

He treated us rebels with humility and with grace, pursuing us when we had no desire to pursue Him and we were very, very wrong. So, beloved, if God can show that to us, we can certainly extend it to each other, here, in our close community and outside those doors. [00:31:57] (29 seconds) #UpholdTruthWithGrace

So, beloved, if God can show that to us, we can certainly extend it to each other, here, in our close community and outside those doors. When we adopt Christ's humble attitude, we will see clearly to help with that speck in our brother's eye without hypocrisy. We'll be golden just as God commands us to be golden. [00:32:10] (31 seconds)

When we adopt Christ's humble attitude, we will see clearly to help with that speck in our brother's eye without hypocrisy. We'll be golden just as God commands us to be golden. [00:32:26] (15 seconds) #CriticismBoomerangs

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