- People love telling others not to judge—almost as much as we love judging others. If we’re being honest, most of us would love our own words and actions to be given a pass, but we still want others to know that we disapprove of what they say and do.
- The word “judgment” here is different from “discernment.” Jesus is not telling us to suspend our discernment between right or wrong, good or bad. He is saying, “Don’t assume people have bad motives, or that will come back to haunt you.”
- Jesus asks us to be more preoccupied with our own shortcomings than about the shortcomings of others. We should rigorously deal with our own issues before we go try to become others’ healers.
- When are you most tempted to judge other people’s motives?
- Why do you think Jesus asks us to sort ourselves out before we go try to fix others?
- For today’s action challenge, think through an area of your life where you often find yourself tempted to judge others. First, ask yourself: are there any areas of your life where you actually have done the same thing, or something very similar to them? Pray through whatever comes up, asking God for forgiveness as needed. Then, consider what these others might be seeking through their actions or words. Is there a way you can turn from judgment to empathy towards them?