Reading With the People of God #12 - the Good Lifeਨਮੂਨਾ

Here Comes the Judge

In I Kings 19:2, we see Jezebel rushing to judgment, fueled by hatred. Her authority and values were trashed by the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel as he powerfully represented the one true God.

In our Matthew passage, Jesus is warning us to be fair and humble when we make our judgments. He is not saying we should not be discerning but rather that we should first self-evaluate, shining a bright light inward on our motives and thoughts. We must first judge ourselves with the same rule and standard we use on others.

In using hyperbolic language, Jesus is saying you may be more at fault than the person you are criticizing because you recognize the fault but do nothing about it in your own life. In that regard, God may turn your judgments back on you. (v 2)

* Primer contributed by Jinet Troost