Matthew 7:1
The scripture for today is Matthew 7:1
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that you be not judged.
Judging others usually stem from preconceptions and prejudices that have been developed over a lifetime of conditioning. Since we cannot see the heart, we are not in a position to pass judgment on the motivation for other people’s actions. It is best to leave such judgment to God.
“Jesus here refers particularly to judging another’s motives, not to judging the right or wrong of his acts. God alone is competent to judge men’s motives, because of the fact that He alone is able to read men’s innermost thoughts. Looking thus on men’s hearts, God loves the sinner the while He hates the sin. Able to discern only the “outward appearance” and not the heart, men inevitably make mistakes. Jesus does not here refer to that fine sense of discrimination by which the Christian is to distinguish between right and wrong, but rather to the habit of censorious, sharp, and usually unjust criticism.” The SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 354-355
“Do not think yourself better than other men, and set yourself up as their judge. Since you cannot discern motive, you are incapable of judging another. In criticizing him, you are passing sentence upon yourself; for you show that you are a participant with Satan, the accuser of the brethren. The Lord says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” This is our work. “If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged, 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 Corinthians 11:31.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 314
Jesus said “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’, and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5
We must prayerfully exercise the wisdom of God and shower each other with love rather than unrighteous judgment. Before we try to correct the eyes of a brother or sister, let us first carefully examine our own.
God bless you as you continue in His service.
Tim