01/11/2020

Mat 7 v 1-14; Acts 10 v 1-23; Ps 17 v 1-15; Gen 37 v 1 - 38 v 30
Judge not?

“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.” (Mat 7 v 1)

Is this a commandment not to judge, or a commandment on how to judge righteously? Why would the Lord say that you first have to take the log out of your own eye, in order to see clearly and then be able to take the speck out of your brother’s eye?

Are we called to judge people or their actions? Who is our brother? So many questions regarding this much debated topic. I believe we are to judge the actions of our fellow believers in Christ, should their behaviour clearly contradict the Scriptures, but we have to be absolutely sure that our affairs are in order, for we will be judged by the same standard we judge others.

“Let my judgment come forth from your presence…” (Ps 17 v 2)

The only way we can judge righteously is to look at our brothers through the eyes of Jesus. God is clear that in everything we do and say, we should treat people the same way, we expect to be treated.

Joseph’s brothers treated him harshly, after judging him poorly based on the dreams he had, saying that surely he wouldn’t rule over them. He had done nothing wrong and yet they plotted to kill him, because they were offended by his dreams and their hearts will filled with hatred towards him.

Peter, who was summoned by Cornelius, who obeyed the instruction to have him brought to him, was shown that he should not call any man unholy or unclean and that God does not show partiality (Acts 10 v 28, 34)

Their is a fine line between judging the actions and behavior of a brother and judging a person. Often we cannot make the distinction and therefore we have to seek the Lord’s guidance on this matter.

Allow Him to try your heart and test you, so that you can see if you are in the faith, before being outspoken about others.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, Life Application Study Bible, unless stated otherwise. Copyright by “The Lockman Foundation“