Monday, June 23, 2014

Here comes the judge

Matthew 7:1         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.


Today the term “judge” brings to mind the courtroom arguments of attorneys, plaintiffs and defendants in view of a jury. A courtroom judge’s role is to administer the law and prescribe its punishments. A judge has the final authority for the cases presented to him.

Also, the judge is accountable to the same laws and punishments as others. When a judge, or law enforcement officer, is himself found guilty of a violation, he would suffer the same, and often times, harsher punishment. Because he was given the responsibility to enforce the laws, he should have known better the consequences for its violation.

In Jesus’ time the word "to judge" meant to sift or separate.  It refers to an attitude of discernment, distinguishing or assessing. It did not mean to condemn or punish. It was not a legal or judicial term. Judging was more a matter of trying to understand the situation, not to find fault. Understood this way, we are better able to see our Christian responsibility in terms of repentance, not punishment. We should do more to distinguish facts, evaluate motives, assess intentions and discern moral standards. We are not judges empowered by God to render a final sentence. We are called by Jesus to forgive and help lead others not into temptation.

 As sinners we are not above the law. If we pronounce judgment on others, we are setting ourselves up to the same standard by which we will be judged. We are no more perfect than those we expect to be perfect. In the end, we will be judged by the same standard we hold them to.  

We are to be loving, concerned and responsible brothers in Christ. We are to repent of our own sins and to discipline ourselves in order to help our brothers through their sins. We are to seek God's will in the lives of all believers. We cannot do this unless we are free of the sins that cloud and darken our minds and hearts. We must have good eyes to enlighten our body to see our own way and then the way for others.

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