Breaking the Cycle of Condemnation: Redefining Judgment and Love in the Sermon on the Mount (Sermon on the Mount Series)

How do we navigate relationships through the lens of love rather than condemnation? Continuing the Sermon on the Mount Series, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford deep-dive into Matthew 7:6—perhaps one of the passage's most misunderstood verses—exploring Jesus' cryptic words about pigs, pearls, and sacred things. This conversation dismantles harmful religious strategies like condemnation and coercion, and instead paints a picture of a new posture rooted in discernment, humility, and invitation.

Drawing on insights from Dallas Willard, the Apostle Paul, and even C.S. Lewis, the episode highlights the destructive loop created by both judgmentalism and spiritual nagging. Mike and Tim invite listeners to replace condemnation with curiosity, supremacy with service, and coercion with love.

Key Takeaways: • Condemnation vs. Discernment – Understanding the Greek word "Krino" and the difference between judging someone's value and healthily discerning behavior in relationship. • The Pigs and Pearls Metaphor – Unpacking why pushing even "good" things (truths or moral views) on unwilling recipients often causes harm rather than transformation. • Jesus’ Revolutionary Invitation – How Matthew 7:6-12 calls us toward relationship-based restoration rather than control, manipulation, or exclusion. • Parenting, Preaching & Public Witness – Real-life parallels in how parents, pastors, and political Christians often confuse righteousness with dominance. • Love Like God Loves – Reflecting on the sequence of God’s covenant love (committed to, with, for, and toward us), and how we can mirror that in our relationships.

Resources Mentioned: • Matthew 7:1-12 – [Link to passage] • Dallas Willard’s thoughts on "Condemnation Engineering" • A Fellowship of Differents by Scot McKnight – [Link] • C.S. Lewis quote on parental incivility from The Four Loves • Galatians 6:1 – Paul's instruction on gentle correction within the church • Acts chapters (esp. 8-10) – The inclusion of the Ethiopian eunuch and Peter’s vision of clean/unclean

Join us in reflecting on how we speak to, engage with, and love our neighbors, families, and even enemies through the radical ethos of the kingdom. Subscribe, leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Voxology on Instagram and Facebook to stay connected.

As always, we encourage thoughtful and grace-filled discussion. Feel free to email us at hello@voxpodcast.com.

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Instagram & Twitter: @voxologypodcast Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre Timothy John Stafford’s music: timothyjohnstafford.com Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy



As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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