Who Are We To Judge?

Have you ever misjudged the behavior or character of someone only to discover later that you were wrong? Or have others misjudge you? 

Whether we are the victim or the perpetrator of such an action the result is the same; an injury to the soul.

Human beings, by our very nature, are incapable of judging others fairly.

We are not omniscient.

We do not have the ability to see all fragments of a person’s life and actions. There could be another side to most things and people which we usually are unable to see, or refuse to because of our own prejudices.

The Pharisees judged JESUS for His fellowship with publicans and sinners and others they considered outcasts and a lesser class of people. While JESUS’ intention was to that he might bring these “unworthy” citizen hope and save them.

We have no way of knowing the true motive or reason for people’s actions.

Only GOD is omniscient and knows all things so GOD alone has the authority to judge all fairly.

We are not without fault.

We have our own imperfections and the very thing we condemn in others often exist in ourselves, and to an even greater measure. 

While we are busy looking at the fault in other people we are neglecting to care for own souls an leaving ourselves vulnerable to the work of the enemy.

“We have few excuses for others, many for ourselves; evils that seem monstrous in others are trifles in us. When looking at others, we use a microscope; at ourselves, we either shut our eyes or put on a veil. This dishonest dealing is very pernicious; this ‘covering of sin’ is destructive both of peace and progress.” Horatius Bonar (1808 – 1889)

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” Matthew 7:1

The Bible has much to impart to us about judging others and we ought to pay close attention – for our own sake as much as for that of our fellow man:

• “…with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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?....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
• “…condemn not, and you will not be condemned…”Luke 6:37
• You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. Romans 14:10
• You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1-3
• If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Galatians 6:1-6
• If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. James 4:11-12

“We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others.” – John Wesley (1703-1791)

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD and our Father in Heaven. We thank YOU our LORD that though YOUR eyes are too pure to look on evil and cannot tolerate wrongdoing, yet YOU forgive us for our sin and arrogance in judging others. We thank and praise YOU that in YOUR omniscience by which YOU know EVERYTHING about us, YOU choose to be long-suffering and patient with our many shortcomings; YOU do not judge us as we ourselves deserve but instead extend abundant grace and mercy to us. Teach us, O LORD, to do onto others as we desire for ourselves; to see the gravity of our flaws and the magnitude of YOUR mercy so we understand grace for others. Thank you that your faithfulness remains great and YOUR mercy is new every morning. We praise YOU, and give honor to YOUR SON, our Redeemer whom YOU sent to save us, not to judge and condemn us! In HIS NAME we pray.  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile