BEWARE OF JUDGING Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. Matthew 7:1-2 (ASV) ________________________________________ The word “judge” can mean evaluate or analyze. It also refers to private, judgmental attitudes that tear down others in order to build-up oneself. . . This command to “judge not” does not refer to judging in a court of law, nor is it a blanket statement against critical thinking. Believers should be discerning and make certain judgments. For example in Matthew 7: 15-23 Jesus said that the false teachers ought to be exposed. . .in Matthew 18:15 He admonishes us to help them. “And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline in 1 Corinthians 5: 1-5. However, followers of Christ should not be critical or condemning in their attitudes toward others. A JUDGMENTAL, CRITICAL SPIRIT DIFFERS RADICALLY FROM LOVE. This is something we need to understand and accept – THE BELIEVER’S SPECIAL POSITION WITH CHRIST DOES NOT GIVE THEM LICENSE TO TAKE GOD’S PLACE AS JUDGE. . . Those who judge in this manner will find themselves judged the same way by God. . . As God will have mercy on the merciful and forgive those who forgive – He will also condemn those who condemn. . . The way Jesus’ followers treat others is the way God will treat them. God judges the world by two measures –mercy and justice. Each person receives what he or she measures out – either with mercy or with severity (justice). “Judge not, that you be not judged” is one of the most misquoted passages of scripture in the Bible and is frequently applied as a flat blanket command against all moral judgment. Many people use it to judge what they consider a judgmental attitude on the part of others. Jesus, however, gave these words as one negative application of the Golden Rule, that is, we should seek to measure ourselves and others by the same standards. Jesus declared that it is unacceptable to excuse our personal sin while holding others accountable for similar behavior. When perceiving a fault in others it’s very likely that our first impulse is to confront or reject that person. What we need to do “FIRST” is ask ourselves if our awareness of this fault mirrors anything in our own life. Our effort to help will be in vain if the person can point out the same fault in us. Practice your own remedy before you ask others to do. Jesus tells us to examine our motives and conduct instead of judging others. The things that bother us in others are often the things we dislike in ourselves. Our untamed bad habits and behaviors are the very ones that we most want to change in others. • Do you find it easy to magnify others’ faults while excusing your own? • If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism. • Judge yourself first – and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 21:29:54 +0000
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