Description
Today’s meditation is on something Jesus says in Matthew 7:1.
Matthew 7:1
Judge not, that you be not judged.
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Transcript
Jesus, may his name be praised, gets right to the heart of the problem in the hearts of some of his listeners. Matthew chapter 7 verse 1 says: Judge not that you be not judged.
Why should we not judge others around us? Because we wouldn’t want to be judged in the way that we judge others.
Many of us hold ourselves to higher standards than we would hold others, and the same principle applies. Don’t judge yourself so harshly in a way that you wouldn’t want God to judge you.
We need to extend forgiveness, but more than that, grace to everyone, to those around us, because God has extended vast, infinite grace towards us. So why would we harshly judge those around us?
Now, in some cases the Bible does say that we are to make judgment and there is a right and appropriate place for that. So we hold that in tension though because Jesus is saying, if you are to judge, beware, be fair, err on the side of mercy because that is what we are to receive from God himself.
Jesus, I think, floored his critics with phrases like this, and they resound throughout time. They remain as relevant today as they were 2000 years ago.
Lord God, please help us to be cautious in our judgments, not to be judgmental. Certainly to know right from wrong and to require justice as you do. But also to exercise mercy and grace and compassion, because you are a God of mercy and grace and compassion.
We thank you for that. Amen.
