Are You Perfect?
if not, why are you judging others…
S - Scripture
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 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. ~matthew 7:1-5~
O - Observations
it would be a bold, big fat lie if i said this one was easy and that i haven’t done it - a little or a lot. i may not do it openly as i try not to be obvious about it, and have done so in my head and under my breath enough times to know it can be an issue for me. this happens when i see people who doesn’t look “normal”.
the following insights and commentaries have been very helpful to understand what the scripture verses we are covering is actually teaching us.
from our daily bread - to judge or not to judge:
Jesus’ point here wasn’t that we are not to make any kind of judgements; He is saying that we are not to be hypocritical about it. Our natural instinct is to see the faults and problems of other people whilst ignoring our own issues and shortcomings. Jesus wasn’t saying “Don’t judge”, He was warning us against pointing the finger. This was part of a section of teaching all about the hypocrisy of the religious teachers of the time—part of their faulty thinking was how they looked down on others whilst being impressed with themselves. They were judgemental.
from gotquestions.org - what does the Bible mean when it says, “do not judge”:
The Bible’s command that we not judge others does not mean we cannot show discernment. Immediately after Jesus says, “Do not judge,” He says, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs” (Matthew 7:6). A little later in the same sermon, He says, “Watch out for false prophets. . . . By their fruit you will recognize them” (verses 15–16). How are we to discern who are the “dogs” and “pigs” and “false prophets” unless we have the ability to make a judgment call on doctrines and deeds? Jesus is giving us permission to tell right from wrong.
from life church - avoid being a judgmental Chrisitan:
Jesus knew this when He said the words captured in Matthew 7:1-2. However, His words have been twisted by both Christians and non-Christians alike. Either we like to twist this verse because we don’t want others telling us what to do, or because we can tell others what to do—to stop being so judgmental! Either way, we’re adding our intentions into the Scripture, not drawing His truth out of it.
from crossway - what did Jesus teach about judgment?
believers are enjoined to judge one another and to remove from the church those who are blatantly disobedient and unrepentant (1 Cor. 5:12–13). Such cases call for gentleness and the recognition that we are liable to fall into the same sins (Gal. 6:1) so that there is no room for being supercilious and superior. Having said all this, God has the prerogative to judge—something we as human beings don’t possess. As the Creator, as the sovereign Lord and King, he evaluates and assesses our lives (cf. James 4:11–12). Thus, judging others isn’t so much wrong as it is blind—we fail to see that we indict ourselves by our very words of judgment. Our critical evaluation of others should, instead, cast us upon the mercy of God and lead us to be more merciful in our interactions with others because the day when we will be judged by the Creator of the universe is coming.
as Christ followers, is it ok to judge others? i believe it should start with who is the only one who is able to judge: fairly, rightly, and justly - our Lord and Savior Jesus; do we receive that and allow His judgment of us with our lives? what Jesus did was identify and show the hypocrisy of the pharisess, perhaps even each of us, that we follow the law. who are we to be all high and mighty when non-believers don’t live by the same values we espouse. can we really assume that people who don’t know Christ will know how to live as a Christian should? even when we see brothers and sisters-in-Christ who are failing, we should build them up - bless not blast, and pour out love.
A - Application
don’t be in a rush to figure out each and every person’s faults and failures. before i open my big mouth and say stuff about people, look at myself in the mirror to see my errant ways.
P - Prayer
dear Heavenly Father, please help me to hold my tongue in judgement of others. when i feel like opening my mouth when i want to say something negative, correct my steps and help me to shut those thoughts out of my mind and heart. may you be glorified in my treating of others properly. in Jesus’ name i pray, amen!