Thou Shalt Not Judge … Never, Ever, Ever!

READ: Matthew 7:1-5

1Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

Very popular, very acceptable. I’ll do what I want. You’ll do what you want. Neither of us will dare correct the other or insinuate that one (or both) of us is a sinner. 

2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

So if I ignore everyone else’s sin, then they’ll have to ignore my sin. Or else … the judgment of God! 

3Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Huh? My brother is perfect the way he is. I do not judge him. And what is this plank of which you speak, Jesus?

4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 

What speck? What plank? We’re perfect the way we are. Where are you going with this, Jesus?!

5You 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.

And there’s the issue! We were never called to ignore sin in our own lives or each other’s lives. Quite to the contrary, the Scriptures read: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received,” (Eph 4:1) and, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.” (Gal 6:1)

We are called to soberly evaluate our sin, repent, and gently restore our brothers and sisters in Christ. Are you doing this?

Do not judge

15 March 

Read Matthew 7:1-5 and reflect on the passage.

In 1963, my family was transferred by the U.S. air force to Pakistan. We lived on the Air Base surrounded by walls and in the middle of tribal territory. In 1985, India and Pakistan went to war, a common occurrence then. It was not safe on the base, so the wives and children spent every night in foxholes. Finally, they decided it was too dangerous for the women and children, so we were evacuated.

U.S. Embassy families housed us until we could get to Turkey where we stayed for three months.

We were all frightened, sick, and mad. Many of the senior officers’ wives told us that to be uncooperative and upset was unacceptable; if we didn’t follow the rules, we would be a detriment to our husbands who were still working in Pakistan.

It’s hard enough to keep a pleasant demeanor in good times let alone under the scrutiny of the ranking wives. I can say I was miserable and afraid most of the time, but then I realized that if I could forgive them and understand what they were going through, “the planks would be removed from all of our eyes.” As a result, the three months in Turkey became easier for us all, and eventually, we returned to Pakistan.

I slip back into those attitudes and find myself judging others, because they are in my way, or want to do something different, and then I remember Jesus’ admonition—don’t judge or I will judge you.

Questions

1. Do you ever wish that certain people in your life would quit irritating you with their incessant demands, thoughtlessness, bossiness, etc? Do you feel the need to let others know how upset you are and why?

2. Are you ready to give people grace and kindness in the hope that their unhappiness diminishes?

Prayer

Oh Lord, help me please to overcome my negative reactions to others’ difficulties. Please help me take away my plank and be kinder to others.

—Mary Clark