February 11, 2022
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (Matthew 7:1)
What’s the context?
This is actually part of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. And, in this section, He’s actually teaching us not to act like hypocrites. He says, “Don’t be a show-off. Don’t act you’re better than other people. Don’t think you can get up on your high horse, and look down on everyone else, and judge them.”
And that’s when Jesus says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)
But wait. Hold on! Slow down for a minute. Later on in the same chapter, Jesus says, “Be on your guard! Watch out for false prophets.” So, wait. If I’m going to deem someone a false prophet, what do I have to make? A judgement!
So, what I want to show you is that clearly Jesus was not telling us that we have to live without discernment and sound judgement. What He’s telling us is that we should be very, very careful to not judge hypocritically.
You can see this clearly when you read the very next words. Because then Jesus goes on to say: “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? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take that speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)
In other words, look in the mirror first. Don’t pick apart the little faults in other people’s lives when you’ve got some big issues in your life. He’s saying, “Don’t judge hypocritically.”
Let’s pray.
Jesus, I picture You right now … not as a character in a dusty old book or a figure in a stained-glass window … but as You really were. A young man, full of life, full of love. Your smile is bright. A crowd is gathered around You. But You focus on one person in that crowd … one person who’s lived a very messy life – a life out of bounds. But you don’t judge them, You just love them. A love that changes them. Now, Lord, look at me like that. Because I also have lived a life out of bounds, for I am a sinner. I’ve messed up. And I need Your forgiveness. I need Your mercy and grace for all the times I have done deeds worthy of judgement.
Jesus, I give My life to You. I surrender.
In Your Name I pray, Amen.