Matthew 7:1-5 – “Judge not, that you be not judged.  2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  NKJV

If we only consider this passage it would be sufficient to give us a beautiful guide for life regarding JUDGING but the Bible is not silent on this issue and addresses it in the light of the reality that we all do and at times must JUDGE.  If we read John 7:24 we find the words of our Lord, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” NKJV.  Then in Matthew 7:16 we find our Lord addressing this saying, “You will know them by their fruits, grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?” NASB

Just as in giving, the measure we use is the measure we receive.  In this passage, there is a Life Lesson – “If you do not want to be judged, do not judge.”  Then, we see the Lord’s understanding that Judgment is a part of life and we will find ourselves in times of necessity and times of choice, bias, or prejudice practicing Judgment.  Regardless of the motivation for JUDGING Jesus declares, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”  That is arresting or should be.

I began my walk in Christian service in a church which, at that time, was quite judgmental with regard to a number of things.  I acknowledge, it was not the realized motivation of their hearts to be self-righteous but that was the result.  There was a desire to walk in holiness and be pleasing to God but in the process, some fell into the trap of comparing themselves with others and like the publican beat their chests and said, “I thank God, I’m not like them.” 

It is impossible to examine the fruit of a tree and not make a determination as to the quality of the tree.  However, in our examination, we need to be careful that we are not judging a particular tree or its fruit focusing on something minute and incredibly small while overlooking our attitude that is a large impediment.  Jesus even called it hypocritical for someone to self-righteously go to another and offer to help them CLEAN UP THEIR LIFE while we have a log in our own eyes preventing us from clearly seeing their hearts.

There are lifestyles and practices that bother me, as a Christian but before I judge another I want to be sure that my judgment is righteous and has a singular motivation to bring that person to the Light of God’s Love and Grace so they can see the need.  If my motivation is not redemption but rather a demonstration of self-righteousness then my judgment will result in equal and measured judgment from God.

We judge every day, whether we admit it or not.  Therefore, I declare that since you will not go through life free of any attitude or action of judgment, seek to be sure that your heart is pure, your motivation is godly and your judgment is righteous.  I tremble when I read the words of Paul in Romans 14:10-12, “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.   11 For it is written:   “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me,  And every tongue shall confess to God.”   12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” NKJV

May the LORD help each of us to consider our brother and sister and if we find someone “caught in a fault” we seek to restore them.   God bless you as you go through this beautiful day in His Love!