Matthew 7:1-5

Posted by DJL on Feb 21, 2014 in Daily Bread | 0 comments

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.”

Have you ever wondered why we often experience such a delicious pleasure in judging others?

Look, I know we don’t like to admit that. And when we think about it consciously, of course we don’t seek to judge others. And yet a hundred times a day we’ll make those subtle judgments about others – what they’re doing or not doing, what they’ve said or what they’re wearing, how they’re driving or acting – and each time we do, for some perverse reason it makes us feel better about ourselves.

I have a hunch that this is part of being human. Insecure about our standing in the world, we too often resort to establishing ourselves over and against others, earning a bit of security at the expense of those around us. And so we seize not just on any mistake we may see, but on any difference we may perceive, judging others over and against our own standard.

Which gets to the heart of Jesus’ interpretation of the law. For when we judge others – thereby using the law to judge, instead of help, each other – we fail to understand or use the law as God intended. And then we find ourselves liable to judgment.

But think of it: if we can remember that God loves us completely and fully, we have no need to establish ourselves by judging others. For if God is for us – accepting, forgiving, and loving us – then who can be against us.

So here’s the trick – actually, the command: look at each other in love. Look at each other as companions on the way rather than competitors in a race. Look at each other as fellow children of God, deserving of love, honor, and respect. If we can do that…all the rest falls into place.

Prayer: Dear God, keep us from temptation…the temptation of judging one another instead of loving each other as you intended. In Jesus’ name, Amen.