Cautious Judgments

Song: An Evening Prayer

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

"Judge not, that you be not judged" is often quoted but frequently misunderstood. Jesus did not forbid making moral assessments of character. He merely urged caution and forbad the following:

Hypercritical judgments. These are overly harsh judgments, ones based on appearance and without all the facts.They are the product of pride, prejudice, jealousy, or competition where the aim is to drive in the splinter, not remove it. Beware! When you measure with a short stick you invite the Lord to use the same standard on you for "with the measure you use, it will bemeasured back to you."

Hypocritical judgments. If you correct another when you are guilty of the same, a similar, a greater, or a public fault, you condemn yourself. Further, your correction is not likely to be heard. The offender only sees your warts. He can't hear your words. Get the beam out of your own eye first. Then you will see clearly to help your brother. And he will be more willing to let you assist him.

Excessively tolerant judgments. "Don't cast your pearlsbefore swine." There are some folks with whom we should not waste our energy and resources. They have proven themselves unethical and uninterested in truth. Jesus said that it is our task to judge when it is time to let them be.Make wise judgments today for, in the manner you judge,you will be judged.

Jason Moore