Judge Not?

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:1-2, 12

Oftentimes, we pass judgement on others without knowing the path they have traveled psychologically as well as physically. The journey taken to our own current disposition has been, no doubt, colored by the choices we have made, so the same is true of others. I propose that not only strangers but family members who we claim to share close relationships are also a mystery pertaining to the emotional path they have traveled. For the most part, regarding what we know about others, we all are limited by what we see and “what we think we know”. Truthfully, unless we are regularly spending time in the presence of God through fellowship, there are things about ourselves have not yet been revealed. In other words, from God’s perspective, we really don’t fully know who we are as individuals. If we don’t know our own selves, how can we make a declaration against another based on partial knowledge? When we operated in limited knowledge, harm is sure to be the outcome in the lives of others as well as our own. However, when we follow Jesus’ example, judgement flows from righteousness (Isaiah 11:4). Not our own righteousness, which the Word of God likens as filthy rages. It’s the righteousness we receive from God through faith in Jesus.

“He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears, But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth.” Isaiah 11:3-4

The omniscience of God deems Him the ultimate judge. Our judgements should never be made without the inspiration of God but rather always under His guidance. Within the realm of God’s counsel, we are capable of judging rightly, and not by sight (John 7:24). Without His direction, we become susceptible to the negative consequences of attempting to walk in shoes never intended for us to wear. Moreover, due to our persistence to wear the robe which needs to be fitted by God, we sow seeds of a judgmental attitude portrayed to others. Instead of mercy and understanding in our time of need, we reap the same judgmental attitude we have sown. The next time we are tempted to judge quickly, let’s practice empathy and allow God’s compassion and wisdom to flow through us for the sake of others as well as ourselves.

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24

“Judgement is only properly served 
in conjunction with the righteousness of God”_ASA