Judging Others

Illustration and Opening When have I judged others and then been proved totally incorrect or hypocritical

Is judging always wrong? Let’s not. No - not when we’re judging in the light of Jesus’ example and his teaching, with the humility of someone who is aware that they also have many failings.

Don’t Judge until you’ve had a good look at yourself

When Jesus says “do not judge, or you will be judged” here is not saying whether something is right or wrong, it’s that we see someone do one thing wrong and make decisions about the whole character, or worth of someone. As so often with Jesus, what he’s getting at isn’t the outward visible action (to pronounce a judgement on someone) so much as it is a question of the heart - do we in our hearts despise, ridicule, them?

How can we obey the law of love (love others/love your enemy, as yourself) when we making judgements about what kind of a person they are based on their actions?

Remember humility -

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

We are sinners just as much as they are.

Worst of sinners: St Paul writes to Timothy 1 Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” Paul, a hero of the faith, is known to have had what he calls “a thorn in his side”, something from his past which caused him to keep right at the forefront of his mind and his teaching that he is a sinful person.