Some of my favorite passages of scripture are Matthew 6-7, because in these chapters, Matthew cuts deep to the issues of the heart. It’s so like the Bible to put such a clean divide between soul and spirit, and as Hebrews 4:12 says, penetrate to the core thoughts and attitudes of a person.

Hitting off chapter 7 with a bang, the words of verse one are pretty familiar to most Christians.

“Judge not, that you be not judged.”

Yep, there it is. The scripture we all forget a lot. It’s a scripture that should keep us balanced and in check at all times. Maybe that’s why we forget it…I mean, who likes to check themselves?! But here, He asks us to do just that. Jesus instantly delineates such a clean divide. He goes on to give us a gory, but important illustration of this commandment:

“³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?  ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Contrary to popular belief, these scriptures are not saying that you can’t ever judge someone. They are saying to judge yourself first. The miraculous thing is, when you take a moment to remove the speck out of your eye, and you realize how painful it was, chances are you will be much more gentle, loving and God-like when you endeavor to help someone else take the log out of theirs.

We are in the eye-rescuing business, because Jesus first came to rescue yours! Jesus did not send us here to ignore the logs in other’s eyes, but the balance that is quickly forgotten is that He did not send us to judge either.

The Message paraphrase of Matthew 7:1-2 is this:

“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.”

Notice in these scriptures, the emphasis is on the attitude you take against a wrong. Judgement has an attitude about it—an attitude void of understanding and love. This attitude has no reflection of the love of Jesus, yet many times, it is all some people know about Him.

I challenge you to take a few moments to examine your heart today, examine your attitude towards other’s sins. Is there anyone you are judging today? If so, take a few moments to adjust the dial of your heart, and pray for them. Add to your faith compassion, grace, and mercy. Then, if God lays it on your heart to help them, you will be able to represent Him in that assignment. It does not eliminate judgement, but it does completely shift the perspective of it to being viewed through love.

If all Christians could learn this balance, the world would have a much different view of Christianity, and a much more accurate picture of our loving Jesus. We’re all in this together!

Blessings, y’all! Have a great week.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18