Hi and thanks for tuning in this week. Last week we finished chapter 1 of Romans. Today we are going to focus on the first verse of chapter 2 which deals with the subject of being judgmental.
Most, if not all of us have been guilty of judging someone, only to find out we had that person figured out all wrong.
At times we have been on the receiving end of someone’s judgment of us.
People love to judge us on our past and not where we are today in our walk with the Lord. The term hypocrite is applied to us, even though we no longer live that lifestyle. Feeling the sting of such accusations should make us want to be less judgmental ourselves.
So let’s take a look at the first verse of Romans chapter 2.
Romans 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
Why do we judge others? First and foremost we judge others to make us feel better about ourselves.
It’s easier to find fault with someone else, rather than see our own shortcomings.
John 8:3-11 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say? 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? 11 She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.
We may not cast physical stones at someone, but we do cast verbal stones.
When we judge someone and then share our opinion about that person, we have stoned them with malice, hatred, contempt, and our own sense of self-righteousness.
We judge based on appearances.
It’s easy to jump to conclusions because someone is scruffy or dressed poorly. We may judge someone because they have tattoos or piercings. They may live in a rundown shack or in a less than desirable neighborhood. But that doesn’t make them any less in God’s eyes, nor should it in ours.
John 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.
We judge by deflection.
In other words we point fingers at others in order to draw attention away from ourselves.
So many times I’ve seen people lash out at someone’s behavior or crime, only to later find out that they were guilty of the same offense.
I found the following quote by Wayne Dyer to be so true.
When you judge someone else you don’t define them, you define yourself.
Matthew 7:2-5 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
We tend to turn a blind eye so to speak at our own immorality.
It’s hard to give constructive criticism when your own lifestyle is not in sync with Christ’s will for your life.
Mother Teresa was quoted as saying, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
Rather than judge someone, take the time to get to know them.
Everyone has a story. We should not only be willing to hear what they have to say, we need to listen with compassion and love.
When I see someone who is homeless I always ask them to share their story with me.
Most are willing to open up about their circumstances. I use those encounters as an opportunity to share the love of Christ with them. It is not an opportunity to shame them or belittle them. The homeless are an easy target for those who see themselves as superior or that have a better than thou attitude.
John 7:51 Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?
So do we have the right to judge others?
So often we hear who are you to judge? People so often refer to the following scripture,
Matthew 7:1-2 Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
But let’s look again at,
Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Our own affairs need to be in order before we approach someone and judge them. We need to judge in the proper spirit. Pointing fingers or being condescending is not in the proper spirit.
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
A spirit of gentleness comes from a state of humility.
It is only when we are humble that we can judge properly. If you are full of pride it is not your place to judge someone righteously. Because your own self-righteousness gets in the way.
We are going to stop for now. Next week we will look at God’s judgment on those who judge othersThank you for listening and for those of you who are mothers or have been a mother to someone, Happy Mother’s Day.