Judging Righteously
Readers Theater - Matthew 7:1-6

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Part of a study on the Sermon on the Mount

Free E-mail Bible Study Bible study Humility: Disciple's Guide to a Humble Life

READER 1 Judge not
READER 2 That you be not judged.
READER 1 Judge not?
READER 2 Don't discriminate?
READER 3 Don't use your eyes?
READER 1 Your ears?
READER 2 Your senses?
READER 3 Your intuition?
READER 2 What do you mean, "judge not"?
READER 1 Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
READER 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged,
READER 3 and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
READER 1 If you measure accurately
READER 2 You will be measured accurately, too.
READER 1 If you measure critically,
READER 3 That will be your lot, as well.
READER 1 If you're a fault finder,
READER 2 That will be the way you're measured, too.
READER 1 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye.
READER 2 Tiny
READER 3 Small
READER 2 Infintessimal
READER 3 Teensy, weensy speck
READER 1 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?
READER 3 A plank?
READER 2 A beam?
READER 3 A heavy log?
READER 1 How can you examine your brother's speck when your log looms so large that it fills your own eye.
READER 2 When it keeps you from seeing straight.
READER 3 When it keeps you from judging accurately.
READER 2 When it keeps you from rendering appropriate judgement.
READER 1 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?
READER 3 You hypocrite,
READER 1 First take the plank out of your own eye,
READER 2 And then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
READER 1 Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
READER 2 Do not by hypercritical
READER 3 Or judgmental
READER 2 But merciful
READER 3 And even-handed
READER 1 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged,
READER 2 But we must make judgments.
READER 3 We must discriminate between right and wrong
READER 2 Between what is false
READER 3 And what is genuine.
READER 1 Jesus said,
READER 2 Do not give dogs what is sacred;
READER 3 Do not throw your pearls to pigs.
READER 2 If you do, they may trample them under their feet,
READER 3 And then turn and tear you to pieces.
READER 1 Woe to you if you can't tell a scoffer
READER 2 From a hungry soul,
READER 1 Or an inquirer
READER 3 From a cynical unbeliever.
READER 2 Do not give dogs what is sacred;
READER 3 Do not throw your pearls to pigs.
READER 2 If you do, they may trample them under their feet,
READER 3 And then turn and tear you to pieces.
READER 1 Yes, judge.
READER 2 Judge rightly.
READER 3 Judge with open eyes.
READER 1 Judge with clear eyes.
READER 2 Free from planks.
READER 3 Free from spiritual myopia.
READER 2 Like the hypocrites.
READER 1 Yes judge,
READER 2 But do not be judgmental.
READER 1 Yes, judge,
READER 3 But judge with clear-eyed mercy.
READER 2 Judge the way you'd like to be judged.
READER 1 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
READER 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged,
READER 3 And with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

All lessons now compiled as a 220-page book available as an e-book or printed book.

Part of a study on the Sermon on the Mount found at https://www.jesuswalk.com/manifesto/

Copyright © 2024, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.

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