Let’s take a closer look at Matthew 7 to see what Jesus is really saying to His followers about judging. Peterson gives some insight into the passage with his transliteration of it.
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Matthew 7:1-5 (The Message)
With this insight, have you condemned others? Is the Spirit convicting you of it? We can’t pick on others even when they’re wrong. If you have, deal with it now.
“Lord, I have agreed with others and the enemy by judging another. I now agree with you that it is wrong. Forgive me and help me to love with your love. With this sin covered by Your blood, I close the door to the tormentors assigned to me because of this sin. I renounce the spirit of judgment and spirit of criticism and I say to them ‘no more!’. I welcome the mind of Christ to indwell me and the Holy Spirit to convict me and to teach me. Lord, I thank you and I need you.”
If you can, go and ask for forgiveness. Do this only if they know you’ve unfairly condemned them. If they have no idea what you’ve thought or said, you’re not doing them any favour to bring it up and then ask for forgiveness.
In the next post we’ll deal with how to respond when you’ve been wrongly judged.
Hi Trevor;
Matthew, quoting Jesus above, is joined by Paul (1 Thess. 4:11-12 http://is.gd/1BF1T) and James (3:1 http://is.gd/1BF4w). In these Scriptures, each seems to be enjoining or cautioning Jesus Followers against any and all judging.
Might you agree, however, that our Lord and other New Testament writers left us with many “antinomies”? (Antinomy [Greek αντι-, against, plus νομος, law] literally means the mutual incompatibility, real or apparent, of two laws. It is a term used in logic and epistemology.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antinomy)
I wonder, might the issue of “judging” be an “antinomy”?
You suggest: “Don’t pick on people, even when they’re wrong.” Yours is certainly a loving strategy. It’s in line with the Spirit’s heart. And often it may be the wisest approach.
And in our dealing with other Believers, only, does it not preclude the practise of “tough love”? If it does, can we totally eliminate an equally Biblical strategy as you seem to suggest?
For, Jesus also seems to have used this strategy regularly to correct and mentor His disciples e.g. Matt. 16:23 http://is.gd/1BDnQ. Our Lord used tough love, often, in addition to not condemning someone who was wrong e.g. John 8:3-11 http://is.gd/1BESy).
On the other end of the judging antinomy spectrum, we’ve been left with a number of seemingly paradoxical commands to the one you picked in Matthew 7 e.g. Matt. 18:15-17 http://is.gd/1BG2H, Luke 17:3 http://is.gd/1BGbo, Eph. 5:11-14 http://is.gd/1BE7Q, 1 Tim. 5:20 http://is.gd/1BFsh, Heb. 10:24 http://is.gd/1BFz1, and 1 Jo. 4:1 http://is.gd/1BFFU.
How do you harmonize your counsel above, my Brother, with these latter verses?
Thank you for your wise concluding advice regarding “asking for forgiveness”. You are a wise man who has, like may other Believers, been “beat up” by a request for forgiveness from a so-called humble Brother or Sister who must tell you something you didn’t know!
Blessings all!
@EaglesFlightOne
Gary, thanks for your comments and scripture references. You’ll see my agreement unfold in future posts. It’s not that I’m avoiding that part of the council of God – it’s that I’m building a foundation to unwrap the whole truth. Great to see you’re already fully versed.
@revtrev
You’re welcome, Trev!
If I’m “fully versed” as you suggest, how come I’m always blowing my brains out?
In his grip …always though,
@GaryFPatton