Hebrews 12:15 (KJV)
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

 

One of the deadliest tools of our adversary which is the easiest to afflict our lives with and do the most damage is when we engage in judging or criticizing one another. There are more marriages, parent and children relationships, and employer and employee relations, to name a few, that are damaged or utterly destroyed because of this critical spirit that presumes to judge others unmercifully. In this devotional I would like to address the subject that deals with this atrocious spirit that seems to find such ease in accessing our lives no matter if we happen to be believers or not. It is a spirit that preys upon the natural part of man simply because we fail to walk in true forgiveness. We hold on to our hurts and offenses, and administer them right back to others with a vengeance when we feel threatened by anything that remotely resembles that past infraction on our lives. Let us draw from our text which is found in the book of Matthew and hopefully it will empower you to kick this demonic spirit from off of your life. 
 
Matthew 7:1-6 (KJV)
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 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?
5 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.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

 

I.      We will begin this study by looking at the word "judge."

This simply means within context to verse one of this passage of Scripture that we are using as our text which is defined as to criticize, condemn, or judge someone. It is fault-finding and is a notorious characteristic of the devil which influences to tear others down. I hope you will not be so quick to ignore this lesson as though you may have no problems in this area. I have found that this spirit of criticism can slip up on you without you even being aware of it until it's all too late in the aftermath of its assault. Let us break this down and take a much closer look at this destructive spirit we call "criticism." In this treatise we are not talking about the moral judgments that all of us may have to make from time to time (1 Corinthians 5:3-5, 12-13). 
 
When a person has fallen short we tend to judge or condemn them.
 
1.     When a person has messed up, we should be offering compassion, not judgment. This ought to be a time for reaching out to them, not pushing them further away. 
 
Ephesians 4:29-32 (KJV)
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 

2.      You will seldom find a spirit of criticism in the humble and loving person. These folks consistently demonstrate a loving compassion for those among us who fall short.
 
Galatians 6:1-3 (KJV)
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

 

There are many reasons to why people tend to judge or criticize others.
 
1.     Criticism promotes our own self-image. In other words, when we point out someone else's failure and then tear them down it seems to make us feel a little better about ourselves, at least in our own eyes.
2.     Criticism is enjoyed by human nature. There seems to be this human trait that takes pleasure in hearing about someone's short-comings and then the insatiable need to share it with others.
3.     Criticism makes us feel that our own lives (morality and behavior) are better than the person who has failed.
4.     Criticism of others helps us to justify our bad decisions and the wrong things that we have done. We tend to rationalize our own bad decisions by pointing out everyone else's faults so as to spotlight their mistakes in hopes of hiding our own.
5.     Criticism boasts to our friends of just how strong we are in comparison to the victims of our criticism.
6.     Criticism becomes an outlet to hurt others in order to get revenge. Why? It is because we feel they deserve it. In other words, they have hurt me so they deserve to hurt as well. 
 
There are many reasons why we should never want to criticize someone.
 
We never fully understand the circumstances and have all of the facts. What exactly happened and why it happened are just not known. There are always behind the scene facts. These infractions are often behind close doors and unfortunately, there is always something seldom remembered. These people emerge from the closed doors and enter the public, and the one who does the talking does not always reveal the facts. The spirit of talk is the spirit of self-justification. On the contrary, the spirit of silence is always the spirit which desires no hurt for others.

 

Every person whether they are spiritual or non-spiritual come short or fail in some point at some time. According to (1 John 1:8, 10) no one is ever exempt while they are in this flesh from possibly sinning. However, I did not say they were not forgiven, for the Word teaches that those in Christ Jesus are made righteous because of His sacrifice and therefore their sins have been forgiven once and for all. However, as long as you are wearing this corruptible suit there will be times that you will not act according to your new nature. That of course means you have fallen short. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8-16; 1 John 1:9).

 

Whatever one may know about someone else is never fully known. In other words, how can we criticize another? We just don't know what each person has been fully exposed to over the course of their life. In example: what kind of mother, what kind of father, or what kind of friends did this person who you are noting their faults have that influenced them in a negative way? What are their particular genes; or what temperament have they inherited and developed over time? Was it fiery, composed, inferior, strict, strong, lovable, or shy? We need to consider that there is much that goes into influencing a human life over time that only God Himself can truly know that person enough to judge them. I don't believe you or me have that kind of insight that would afford us the right to pass judgment upon them. When we judge someone we have usurped God's authority. Whenever we judge someone else, we are essentially saying that we are worthy and have the right to be judge over other people. We are actually promoting that we know more than God, which is ridiculous to say the least. However, there are some who will display this periodically, while others will exercise a judgmental spirit all of the time.

 
Romans 14:4 (KJV)
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

 

James 4:11-12 (KJV)
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

 

II.                The Criticizer will be judged.
 
The criticizer will be judged by the very same measure that they use. This means that whatever this person criticizes, they will be condemned for it in the same measure they chose to use against another. This ought to have us become more caring and much more compassionate.

The criticizer will be judged by the law of equal weight. This simply means as a man sows that shall he reap.

Other passages of Scripture teach us that the criticizer will actually receive the greater condemnation.

 
James 3:1-2 (KJV)
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

 

a)      He shall receive no mercy.
 
James 2:13 (KJV)
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

 

b)      He shall be judged.
 
Matthew 7:2 (KJV)
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

c)      He shall be condemned and unforgiven.
 
Luke 6:36-37 (KJV)
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

 

The believer must make sure his confession is not just a hollow profession. - The person who judges and criticizes others can expect to be judged.

 
Romans 2:1-3 (KJV)
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

 

God forgives the person who is of a humble and repentant heart; but He shall judge those who are judgmental and critical of others. There is no mercy whatsoever for the person who shows no mercy (James 2:13). There are at least two strong reasons in Scripture for us to be more compassionate rather than judgmental or critical.

 
James 2:12-13 (NLT)
12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.
13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

 

James 5:9 (KJV)
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

 

III.             The Criticizer Always Fails to Examine Himself. 
 
The person who judges is inconsistent in his judgment. Look at the word "beholdest" from our text in Matthew 7:3 which holds the idea of an individual continuing to look for something wrong in the other person. Its here that they are often looking at the failures of others so as to gossip, criticize, and revel in their short-comings. When we judge and criticize, we are simply revealing that we have a serious problem: a beam in our own eye.
 
Scriptures worth exploring in regards to failing to examine yourself: (Lamentations 3:40; Matthew 7:5; Romans 3:10; 23; 1 Corinthians 11:28; 13:5; 1 John 1:8; 5:19; Psalm 53:3; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 53:6; 64:6).
 
IV.             The Criticizer is Deceived About Himself.
 
This person will speak without thinking. They have not thought through what they are saying or doing. A thinking person knows that they are as human and sinful as the next person. In other words, they have just as many specks in their eye as the next person. Therefore, they do not have the right to judge or criticize another. The person who judges is unthinking and deceived in these particular points below.

The criticizer is not a fit candidate to rightfully judge another.

In other words, they are as sinful as the next person, but they are not considering their own sin. This person feels free to be critical of those who come short or fail. The criticizer is the weaker of the two. They are weak because they judge and criticize the most. They have a great need to boost self over others in order to feel good about themselves. The criticizer does not examine himself. Self-examination can be hurtful, so few of us will do it. Yet God says, "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1 Corinthians 11:31).

 
Scriptures that deserve your time to study regarding being self-deceived: (Galatians 6:3; James 1:22; 26; Proverbs 12:15; 20:6; 21:2; 30:12).
 
V.                The Criticizer is a Hypocrite.
 
Before a person can truthfully pass judgment they must extract their own sin first. When we judge or criticize, we are hypocrites. Why?

VI.             The Criticizer is Un-deserving of the Gospel.
 
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine" (Matthew 7:6). What Christ was saying is very simply stated: we are not to be foolish and jeopardize ourselves. When we know that a person will not receive us or the instruction of the Gospel, we are not to approach them. There are some criticizers and scoffers to whom we must avoid and leave them to their own demise (1 Corinthians 5:3-5; 12-13). This is obviously some strong language that our Lord spoke. Can these be saved? Yes! "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).
 
Scriptures to consider in light of this last point: (Matthew 13:15; 2 Timothy 3:1-4; 2 Peter 2:12; Jude 10). 
 
Conclusion: We need to be very careful with this subject for it points out the often unnoticed spirit of criticism that sneaks up on us all. I believe this spirit is why marriages have collapsed or near it; it is why parents and children have grown cold towards each other; and why so many other facets of life have been dramatically depleted from us when the Bible so wonderfully boasts that it can offer an abundant life. Judging and criticizing of others will rob you of every good thing that Christ came to bring into your life. Owe no man anything, except love! I pray that you will truly recognize this ugly spirit should it ever try to come upon you; and that you will refuse to shake hands in partnership with it. My friends in faith, the critical spirit is destructive!