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 NIV
This scripture is often misused and misapplied. With these words, Jesus warns of the danger of judging other people. We read in Romans 3:10, “As it is written, ‘There is no one righteous; no, not one.’ WEB” Without the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we are all worthy of condemnation. And so, Jesus cautions that there are consequences to judging others. He is warning us against hypocrisy in our judgment.
Jesus does not mean that we should not use sound judgment. The Lord says in John 7:24, “Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment. WEB” With these words, Christ teaches that we are to judge fairy and by the word of God rather than hypocritically for the arrogant purpose of making ourselves look better than others.
The religious leaders of the time of Jesus’ ministry built themselves up by doing good deeds in public. They judged people harshly, tearing down others in efforts to promote themselves. Rather than humble lives of service to God, the religious leaders of the day practiced self-righteousness to gain the approval of men.
God Is Righteous
There is a clear difference between right and wrong, but we should be careful not to put ourselves in the position of God. When we judge as though we ourselves are righteous, we are being arrogant and forgetting our own sins. Jesus warns that those who judge as though they are God will receive judgment from God in the same way and to the same degree in which they judge others.
We should use good judgment, but we should also be humble and realize that all people need forgiveness. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. WEB” We reap what we sow. Therefore, let us not judge others unfairly and let us always remember that our forgiveness from God requires that we ourselves have humble forgiving hearts ourselves.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for forgiving my sins. Forgive me for the times I have judged others in error. I humble myself before you and submit to your will. Give me a heart of compassion and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: In My Kingdom
