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Matthew 7:1-2
Jesus continues His teaching in Matthew 7:1-2 by saying that His disciples should not be judgmental of others with respect to the fact that one day, with the way in which they judge others, they will be held/judged in the same way. The Apostle Paul teaches us in Romans 2:1-3 (NKJV), “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?”
This is a command to not be judgmental of others as the judgment that we convict others of will one day come back to judge ourselves.
We are all filled with the sinful nature which strives to place us in the seat of the judge in which we can claim self-righteousness. But God did not create us to judge one another – He created us out of His great love that we too should love one another. The Bible teaches us in 1 John 4:7-11 (HCSB), “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.” The Apostle Paul teaches us in Romans 14:13, (ESV), “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” We are all created in the love of God, and His desire for us is to live in harmony with one another. This is the tough road of a Christian in a sinful world. Such is the road of salvation in Christ Jesus that leads to everlasting love and peace – in Christ!
Dear LORD,
We are all judgmental of others. Please help us to put on the new life each day and begin anew in Christ Jesus as the sins of the day are many and in need of Your forgiveness. Please help us to see that we cannot gain favor in Your eyes by condemning others, but that the opposite is true – that we love one another as You have first loved us (John 13:34-35). In Jesus name I pray, amen.