Judging Others – Sermon on the Mount 15

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway) 1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. 6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. Matthew 7:1–6 NLT) Do you ever wonder why some people just seem to skate along through life and are hardly ever judged or criticized for their faults? “How come he gets away with that, but if I messed up half as much as he does, everyone would be on my case?” According to Jesus, it may be because they skate along through life not criticizing or judging other people! Jesus says we pretty much make our own weather when it comes to criticizing and judging others!

Want to live a life free from criticism and judgment? Don’t criticize and judge other people! You will be treated as you treat others. You set the standard for how you will be judged. Yikes! Am I supposed to take that seriously? It’s a silly but honest picture Jesus paints of me trying to take a speck out of someone’s eye with a big two-by-four sticking out of my own eye. Here’s my repentant resolution, friends! On the road, I won’t be the turn-signal police. In the supermarket, I won’t be the 15 items or less police. The truth is, I need grace, mercy, and someone to cut me a little slack sometimes. And if I want it, the only way I’m going to get it is to give grace, show mercy, and cut others some slack! So here’s what I can do: I can acknowledge my judgmentalism. I can tell God I’m ready to change. I can ask the Holy Spirit to sensitize me to my judgment and criticism of others. Then every time God points it out, I can ask forgiveness, and I can ask God to change my heart. Actually, this may take awhile!

Prayer: Father, Forgive me for being judgmental, cleanse me from being critical, and change my heart to be like yours. As often as needed for as long as it takes! Amen!