Judged As We Judge #1865

1 Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Matthew 7:1–2, NKJV)

This is not an unqualified indictment and prohibition of all judgment. Jesus would later expose those who judged Him by appearance by urging them to use “righteous judgment” instead (John 7:24). On another occasion Jesus rebuked as hypocrites those who judged weather signs but would not discern that the Messiah was among them. He said, “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, you do not judge what is right?” (Lk. 12:56-57). Today’s passage warns us not to be hypocritical in our judgments of others. Too easily we succumb to the temptation to condemn others while failing (refusing) to see similar (and other) sins in ourselves (Rom. 2:1-2, 21-24). “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” (Matt. 7:3). By first removing our “plank” (sin) we are able to empathetically and more precisely help our brother remove the speck (sin) from his life. By this we become better adept at avoiding harsh, hurtful, and harmful judgments of one who struggles with or have been overtaken by sin. Truth, wisdom, impartiality, mercy, and gentleness are among the qualities that enable us to judge righteously (Jas. 3:17-18; Gal. 6:1). And, surely these are the qualities by which we want to be judged (aren’t they)?

God’s Measure of a Person #864

9  Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10  but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. (James 1:9–10, NKJV)

A person’s life is not measured or defined in God’s sight by “the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk. 12:15). Yet, so many do this very thing, looking down on those of humble means while giving undue esteem to the wealthy. Power in the material world is often defined by possesses: “He who has the money makes the rules.” It is not so in the kingdom of God. Those of lowly estate are exalted to set in “the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). And, the wealthy saint is transformed in humble faith to value Christ as greater riches than this world’s passing treasures. Life is transitory, fading away like the flowers of the field. Measure yourself by God’s enduring standard of truth, live by faith, and do not measure yourself with the soon to perish values of the world.