“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7
Proverbs 11:14 which says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety,” essentially encouraging seeking and offering wise advice.
Corinthians 5 and 6 where Paul says, “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 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? 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.”-Jesus Christ, Matthew 7
Proverbs 27:17 says this, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend”
Matthew 7 where Jesus Christ says, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
We are allowed to give wise counsel to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and to those that are sitting at two tables, if we feel compelled to do so. We are not allowed to damn. It is reserved for God to separate the wheat from the chaff. However, if we have a huge plank in our eye with regards to what we are counseling on, we should be prepared to receive God’s correction. We must support one another and help one another in all matters, kindly and gently, without any ounce of arrogance or ego. We must all learn to communicate with and to listen to one another on matters of Scripture in order to make the way straight for Jesus Christ.
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7
I would have my brothers and sisters help me obtain every lasting life. Referring to the prior verses posted above concerning the “judge” verse that is always misused – by way of the Holy Spirit, I would have my brothers and sisters sharpen my iron as I cannot do this by myself. I would have my brothers and sisters not be lukewarm with me. I would have my brothers and sisters in Christ show me when I have fallen back on the milk again when I should be looking to eat meat.
This passage in Matthew 7 continues with:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”