Matthew 7
Judging Others
The
subject of many ill-conceived tattoos, Matthew 7:1 is easily
recognized as the most quoted Bible verse ever, which likely means
most don't understand it. “Only God can judge me” is neither
biblically accurate or logical, for if thou robs a grocery store,
thou shall be judged.
Romans
13:1-7 informs us that all people are to submit themselves to the
authorities put over them.
1
Corinthians 5:9-12 encourages believers to speak out and judge those
in the church.
Jesus
warns against rash and harsh judgment, or condemnation, that, we
don't do.
Dwight
Pentecost puts the verse this way: “Do
not criticize, do not sit as a judge upon another man’s motives, do
not attempt to interpret the desires of his heart”
On this, Charles Spurgeon also wrote, “If
you impute motives, and pretend to read hearts, others will do the
same towards you. A hard and censorious behavior is sure to provoke
reprisals. Those around you will pick up the peck measure you have
been using, and measure your corn with it.”
We
are not God, and to pretend that our view of others is unquestionable
is to make ourselves something of a demon, for Satan was of the same
mind.
Since
we are people, one is as spiritually impoverished as the next. We
need to take that into account the next time someone's
demeanor/behavior sets us off, discourages or displeases us. We all
stink sometimes. We are to look at our own condition before we “help”
others with theirs.
Questions:
- Have you heard these verses misquoted, or misquoted them yourself? Elaborate.
- What is a danger of never judging?
- Have you ever condemned someone or felt condemned? How so?
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