Here Comes the Judge

Our misunderstood Bible verse today if from Matthew 7:  "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (verses 1 - 2)."

This verse has been used over and over again to defiantly throw sin in the face of others.  "Don't judge me" is really a heart's cry for "don't look at me".  "Don't inspect me."  And what that really means is, I'm afraid for you to look at me.  I'm afraid of what you will see.

Jesus is not telling us to turn our eyes away from sin.  He is not telling us to pretend that truth is not there.  He is not telling us to act as though the ugliness doesn't exist.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Actually, he is telling us just the opposite. 

In fact, further down in the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 7, Jesus tells us to inspect the fruit of others so that we know what is good:   "Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."  

You see, Jesus clearly defines the difference between judging and inspecting:  judging is condemning.  Inspecting is evaluating.  For example, I can say the same thing in two different ways, and mean completely different things.  I can say, "awww, you look tired" in a sympathetic voice, and this shows that I have inspected you and I have evaluated that you are tired.  Or, I can say, "ewww, you look tired!" in a manner that shows you I think you look bad!

It is important as Christians that we judge as evaluation.  That we inspect the works of others - not for the purpose of condemnation, but for the recognition of good or evil.  Jesus didn't say that WE will be the ones who cut down the bad tree and throw it in the fire.  He simply said that we will be able to recognize the heart and intentions of the tree by looking at its fruit. 

So we do have to judge, if you define it as evaluating.  However, judging for the purposes of choosing life or death for others is not our job.  That is only God's job.  Jesus could not have been clearer about the consequences of judging unwisely:  we will be judged in that same way. 

I can be tough and harsh on others sometimes.  And I certainly don't want to be judged that way.  I really want to learn to see others the way God does:  through the lens of Jesus' redemptive blood.  And that is the key, don't you think?

The key is your intent.  Are you looking at someone in order to put them down, to consider yourself better than them, maybe even to make them feel bad?  That's the problem.  On the other hand, are you looking at someone to determine their influence on you?  On your children?  On the world?  Are you looking at someone to see how you can walk beside them, how you can carry their burdens?  

Why is the question:  why are you judging?  What are you trying to gain?  Jesus said that we will not gain heaven by judging others.  And that should be enough of a warning for us to stop dead in our tracks if we are struggling with judging!

To sum it all up:  judgment is God's job.  Inspection is ours.  Know the difference.