The complex topic of judging holds more than a few biblical contradictions when looked at as individual passages. We are going to take a fuller look at both sides of this “do not/ do” dichotomy over the next two weeks.
As we hold the concept of judging let us remember that there is one righteous and just judge, the Lord God Almighty. Therefore judgment in and of itself can not be wrong, lest God himself be found guilty. Paul reminds us if we would judge ourselves we would not be in danger of being judged but,1Corinthians 11:32, when we are judged by the Lord we are disciplined so we may not be condemned along with the the world.
Let’s begin with Jesus’ words from Matthew 7:5 ~
Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
First of all, this is about our perspective and the judgment that we give and the way we give it being the judgment we would receive from the Lord. Jesus says, don’t judge so you won’t be judged. Jesus says there is a way we judge and a standard of measure we use to judge by. It is both the way we judge and our standard of measure that becomes the measurement for judgment to us. So our conclusion would be to not engage in judgment unless we are prepared to be judged.
We must check our motivations. Righteous instead of self righteous, proud and arrogant submitted to meek and humble, are the ways to proceed. The standard of judgment becomes the “how much” we pour out, if you will. Comparing Jesus sermon here from Luke’s recording in chapter six, we read verses 37-38:
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
I’m sure none of us are looking for the good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over when it comes to receiving judgment.
Jesus tells of the self righteous Pharisee in Luke18:11-14 highlighting the injustice in him. We can not overlook the emphasis Jesus places on the hypocrisy in the way that we judge. STRONGS GREEK definition of hypocrite reads,“hupokrinomai; an actor under an assumed character, i.e. a dissembler.” I think we can safely add the word ‘pretender’ too. A potential danger that lies within everyone, even as a believer, is self righteousness, arrogance and pride. With those being our ways, the measure we pour forth would be spiteful and vindictive. We would be quick to heap out unrighteous judgment.
As Romans 2:1-3 reminds us ~
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
The above verses make me mindful of Jesus’ scenario with the woman caught in adultery, “he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone”.
James 2:12 reminds us ~
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
To be continued…..