Measure for Measure

This powerful message confronts one of the most misunderstood teachings in Scripture: Jesus' instruction not to judge. Rather than a blanket prohibition against discernment, we discover a profound spiritual principle that runs throughout both Old and New Testaments—measure for measure. From Jacob's deception leading to his own betrayal, to the Egyptian Pharaoh's cruelty returning upon his own household, to Haman hanged on his own gallows, we see a consistent pattern: the standard we use to judge others becomes the standard by which we ourselves are judged. The sermon unpacks Matthew 7:1-5, revealing that Jesus isn't calling us to ignore sin or abandon truth, but rather to approach correction with humility and clean hands. Before we can help remove the speck from our brother's eye, we must deal with the plank in our own. This requires honest self-examination, surrounding ourselves with God's Word as a mirror, and cultivating genuine humility. The ultimate goal isn't winning arguments or feeling superior—it's restoration. When we embrace this principle, we become a community that practices both grace and truth, recognizing that we're all priests in God's kingdom, called to shepherd one another toward Christ-likeness while remaining acutely aware of our own need for transformation.