Have you ever felt like you're 'judging' when you're just trying to make a decision? Jesus' words here are often misunderstood. Let's explore what He really meant.
Jesus' command 'Judge not' isn't a blanket ban on all forms of assessment. The original language and context show He's targeting a specific kind of judgment:
Rash, Harsh, and Uncharitable Judgment
- It's about attitude: This isn't about being a magistrate or discerning right from wrong. It's about a temperament – a tendency to quickly, harshly, and unfairly condemn others.
- Pharisaical tendency: Jesus was likely addressing the scribes and Pharisees, who often publicly denounced others while ignoring their own deeper flaws.
- Private vs. Public: This often refers more to our private opinions and how we express them about others, rather than official judicial decisions.
So, it's not wrong to form an opinion or even to make a necessary judgment in life (like a judge or a parent). It is wrong to do so with a censorious, severe, and unloving spirit, focusing on minor faults while overlooking greater ones in ourselves and others.
