Judgment with Humility: Embracing Grace and Restoration

Today’s focus is on the often-quoted phrase, “Only God can judge me,” and what Jesus truly meant when He spoke about judgment in Matthew 7. While it’s true that God is the ultimate judge, the call is not to avoid all forms of judgment, but to approach it with humility, self-examination, and love. Jesus’ words about not judging are set in the context of hypocrisy—He warns against pointing out the faults of others while ignoring our own. The challenge is to first look in the mirror, to examine our own hearts and motives before ever considering speaking into someone else’s life.

There’s a natural human tendency to compare ourselves to others, to feel better about our shortcomings by highlighting the failures of those around us. This comparative mindset is a trap, whether it’s the “moralist” who uses a magnifying glass to scrutinize others, or the “religious” person who uses a telescope to keep their distance from those they deem unworthy. But the standard is not other people—it’s Christ Himself. When we measure ourselves against His holiness, we all fall short and are equally in need of grace.

Judgment, when done rightly, is never superficial or hypocritical. Jesus calls us to avoid snap judgments based on appearances or associations, and Paul reminds us not to hold non-Christians to Christian standards. Our posture toward those outside the faith should be one of kindness and invitation, not condemnation. For those inside the family of God, the goal of any correction or accountability is always restoration, never superiority or shame. We are called to gently restore, to carry each other’s burdens, and to create a culture where honesty and vulnerability are met with compassion and encouragement.

True accountability is not about policing each other’s failures, but about walking together toward Christlikeness. It’s about being future-oriented, helping one another become who God has called us to be. When we embrace this kind of community, secrets lose their power, and we experience the freedom and growth that come from being fully known and fully loved. The invitation is to pursue relationships marked by grace, truth, and restoration, always pointing one another back to Jesus.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Self-examination precedes any judgment of others. Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7 is not a blanket prohibition against discernment, but a call to first look honestly at our own hearts. Before addressing the faults of others, we must confront our own shortcomings and motivations, ensuring that our actions are rooted in humility rather than hypocrisy. [06:33]
• 2. The danger of comparison is that it distorts our sense of righteousness. Whether we use a magnifying glass to amplify others’ faults or a telescope to keep our distance, we deceive ourselves when we measure by any standard other than Christ. True spiritual maturity comes from recognizing our universal need for grace and refusing to find comfort in the failures of others. [10:36]
• 3. Judging rightly means avoiding superficial and hypocritical assessments. Snap judgments based on appearances, associations, or preferences are not the way of Jesus. Instead, we are called to judge with discernment, leading with love and grace, and always remembering that the standard is God’s holiness, not our own preferences or strengths. [15:47]
• 4. We are not called to hold non-Christians to Christian standards. Paul’s instruction to the Corinthian church is clear: our responsibility is to those inside the family of faith. For those outside, our approach should be one of kindness, patience, and invitation, trusting that it is God’s goodness that leads to repentance, not our condemnation. [17:08]
• 5. The goal of accountability within the church is always restoration, not shame. When we speak into each other’s lives, it must be with gentleness, compassion, and a desire to see one another become more like Jesus. True accountability is marked by vulnerability, encouragement, and a future-oriented vision of who God is calling us to be, rather than a fixation on past failures. [24:02]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:43] - “Only God Can Judge Me”: Cultural and Biblical Roots
• [04:39] - Hypocrisy and the Context of Jesus’ Words
• [06:33] - The Mirror: Self-Examination Before Judgment
• [07:48] - The Trap of Comparison and the Moral Sliding Scale
• [09:15] - The Religious Mindset and the Danger of Distance
• [10:36] - Christ as the True Standard
• [13:43] - Avoiding Superficial Judgments
• [15:05] - Hypocrisy in Judgment: Paul’s Warning
• [15:47] - Balancing Truth and Grace
• [17:08] - Judging Outsiders vs. Insiders
• [22:41] - The Difference Between Judging and Being Judgmental
• [24:02] - Restoration as the Goal of Accountability
• [25:18] - Choosing Accountability Over Avoidance
• [26:54] - Family Values and Honest Conversations
• [31:13] - Freedom in Vulnerability and Community
• [32:13] - The Power of Secrets and the Call to Grace
• [33:45] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Matthew 7:1-5 — “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

- Romans 2:1-4
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ... Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

- Galatians 6:1-2
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 7:1-5, what does Jesus say should happen before we try to address someone else’s faults?
2. According to Romans 2:1-4, what is the danger of judging others while ignoring our own issues?
3. In Galatians 6:1-2, what is the goal when we address sin in another believer’s life?
4. The sermon described two “tools” people use when comparing themselves to others: a magnifying glass and a telescope. What do these represent? [09:15]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus puts such a strong emphasis on self-examination before addressing someone else’s sin? How does this change the way we approach others? [06:33]
2. The sermon talked about the “trap of comparison.” How does comparing ourselves to others distort our understanding of righteousness? [10:36]
3. What is the difference between judging and being judgmental, according to the sermon? Why does this matter for Christian community? [22:41]
4. Why is restoration, not shame, the goal of accountability within the church? How does this reflect the heart of Jesus? [24:02]

Application Questions

1. Think about a time when you were quick to judge someone else. Did you take time to examine your own heart first? What would it look like to “check yourself before you wreck yourself” in those moments? [06:33]
2. Are there ways you use comparison (either a “magnifying glass” or a “telescope”) to make yourself feel better about your own shortcomings? How can you shift your focus to Christ as the true standard instead? [10:36]
3. The sermon said we shouldn’t hold non-Christians to Christian standards. How do you usually respond to people outside the church who live differently than you? What would it look like to lead with kindness and invitation instead of condemnation? [17:08]
4. Is there someone in your life (inside the church) who you feel called to gently restore or encourage? What would it look like to approach them with humility, compassion, and a future-oriented vision for who God is calling them to be? [24:02]
5. The pastor described a culture of accountability that is “future-oriented” and focused on who we are becoming, not just what we’ve done wrong. How could you help create this kind of culture in your small group or friendships? [25:18]
6. Secrets lose their power when we bring them into the light. Is there something you’ve been hiding that you need to share with a trusted friend or mentor? What’s holding you back, and what freedom might come from being fully known? [31:13]
7. When you think about having honest conversations about sin or struggles, what fears come up for you? How can you take a small step toward vulnerability and grace-filled accountability this week? [32:13]