How to Judge People (II)

Now that we have the all-clear to judge (but not condemn!) people, what’s the best way to go about it?

“Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV)

The above verses are something of a warning, a caveat emptor (if you may) to the would-be judger. What it means: attempting to correct/judge someone on a particular matter is opening yourself to judgment too.

And Jesus is saying, if your personal affairs won’t survive the scrutiny of judgment, it’s best to not get involved. In essence, it makes no sense for you to correct someone whose hands were caught in the cookie jar if your hands are also in the cookie jar.

“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 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 (NKJV)

I really think there’s a lot to learn about the human condition – humanity – if you’re learning from yourself. In the above verses, Jesus essentially said that before you act as a judge over someone or correct them, you must first place yourself in the dock for cross-examination. You must first judge yourself.

So, the first step to judging people is to judge yourself first. This might well be the summary of the two-part discussion we’ve had; Judge yourself first before judging others, otherwise you will be judged. You doing any other thing would render you a hypocrite and a hazard to God’s people.

Judging yourself first ensures you’re able to judge/correct people the way Jesus would have done: with candor and forthrightness, but with love.

So, before you play the role of judge and jury next time, remember to play the role of the defendant first.