Can we judge?

Social media has become an inseparable part of our daily lives. We spend many hours browsing through other people’s Instagram profiles, TikTok videos, YouTube videos, Facebook updates, Twitter updates etc. It is because we are very much interested to know what is happening in other people’s lives, the reason why we watch their profiles even when we don’t like them much. We would then criticize their actions and gestures, gossip about them and even post hatred messages for their posts. We are too quick in doing so. Is it right to judge others and speak ill of them?

Let us open the treasure book and see what it says.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Romans 14:10

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Revelation 20:12-13

All of us will have to stand before a judgement seat one day. The judge on the judgement seat is JESUS, who will judge everyone of us in righteousness and truth. There is no room for any kind of partiality. Whoever we are – great / meek / powerful / influential – will be judged according to our deeds. Every thing that we do in this life will be written down and every soul will have to give account for each of their deeds. As we all know, each deed whether good or bad, will be evaluated based on the intention behind it because God weighs our hearts. Since each individual (including us) will be judged by a very rightful judge, who are we to take-up His job? Let us leave the judging part to the law giver, the rightful judge – Jesus, and concentrate on the better things in life.

Each individual will be judged by JESUS – the righteous & true judge.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 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 7:1‭-‬5

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:37

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Romans 2:1‭-‬3

The first question we should ask ourselves before judging others is “Do I like to be judged? Do I like to be condemned?” If not, don’t judge and don’t condemn others. This is what Jesus Himself taught during His ministry – Judge Not and You will Not be Judged. Condemn Not and You will Not be Condemned. There won’t be any excuse for any one, no matter who you are or what position you are in – unlike the world we live. In this world, influential people come out of their crimes using their power. However, since our judge is righteous and true, there is no excuse for anyone. We will be judged by God with the same measure we judge others. When we judge others, we in fact condemn ourselves because we too practice those things that we judge. Each of us have a lot of flaws and imperfections. Our imperfections is considered to be a plank before the imperfections of others which is insignificant as a spec. Jesus is emphasizing that other’s flaws and limitations might be negligible compared to ours. We have to first concentrate on perfecting our character and behavior before judging others.

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

James 4:11‭-‬12

We should also not speak ill of others. It is considered evil. If we speak evil of others, then we are not only judging them but also judging the law. The law is given by God Almighty and so He is the lawgiver and the rightful judge. Do you have the power to save a soul or destroy it? – this power is only with the law giver. Then who are we to judge one another as we are only doers of the law. So do not judge or speak ill about others.

Do not speak evil of others. Judge Not and You will Not be Judged. Condemn Not and You will Not be Condemned.

One day when Jesus was teaching in the temple, the scribes and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They set her in the midst and said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery. The law commands us to stone her, but what do You say?” They said this to test Him, so as to find something to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. When they continued asking Him, He rose and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Those who heard it being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one – the oldest even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus rose, He saw no one but the woman. He said, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

As per the law, a woman caught in adultery should be stoned to death. However, when this woman was brought to Jesus, He remained silent. When people insisted that He should tell His judgement, Jesus reminded everyone of the accusers that each of them is a sinner, just like the adulterous woman. Each of them deserved punishment just like her. How can a sinner condemn another, who is just like him? With a very simple sentence, Jesus made each of them realize that they could not judge anyone as they themselves were also imperfect like her. Each of them were convicted by their own conscience and left the scene immediately. All human beings whether small or big, meek or powerful, are imperfect. So how can we judge others?

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.

John 8:15‭-‬16

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

John 7:24

JESUS do not judge according to appearances as flesh does, He judges in truth and in righteousness as He proved in this example.

Treasures uncovered

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for being our righteous judge who judges us in truth and righteousness without any partiality. We thank you for reminding us that we two are imperfect like others and do not have any authority to judge others. Help us to remember this when our hearts rise to judge others. Thank you for loving us and caring for us even through our imperfections. In Jesus name, Amen.

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