JUDGE NOT...

 

"Judge not" is not even the complete sentence.

The complete sentence, as Jesus uttered it, is "Judge not that you be not judged."

The explanation of the sentence comes next, "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, 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!"

When you don't cherry pick, you soon discover that these words of Christ are actually a stern warning against hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy and self-righteousness are native to sinful human nature. In other words, we readily see faults in others and blame others, whilst failing to clearly see our own faults, or fairly attribute blame to ourselves.

We rush to lay judgement on others. We rush to justify ourselves. Hence, the speck and the log metaphor.

I might add that victim mentality exponentially increases your risk of doing this in an unbalanced way.

For the hypocrite - and there's a hypocrite in all of us - it will be a rude shock when we are held to our own standards, let alone God's.

This is why those who teach are sternly warned in scripture - they will be held to a higher standard. Every word they say will no doubt come back on them.

But does it mean we must not teach? Or measure things according to righteousness? Or discern truth? Or call out evil?

Jesus' very next sentence proves that was never what He meant. He says, "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs..."

Who are the pigs? The dogs? Is that not judgemental to draw such severe conclusions?

Indeed it does require judgement, but so does all wisdom.

Judgement is necessary, but the hypocrite will be exposed.

The true meaning of this statement is far more fearful to me than the false meaning so often attributed to it.

Everything I want to say, I apply first to myself... an exercise which has caused me, many times, to refrain from saying it.

One goal of the Christian life is to judge yourself harshly and others generously... because even when you do, you'll still be wrong about yourself.

 

Source:   MartynLies@martynioydiles