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| Share Agape March 16, 2004 |
| Judge Not? "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. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:1-5 "Judge not lest you be judged" is the one Bible verse every atheist seems to know, and non-Christians seem to love throwing it in Christian faces. Hopefully, though, you won't let that quick judgment (yep, it's a judgment to tell others not to be judgmental) give you pause. Start by pointing out the rest of the what Jesus says in this passage. Very clearly, what Jesus is saying is that we shouldn't judge others until we have looked at our own sins. Then, once we've cleansed ourselves through confession to God, we are free to "remove the speck from our brother's eye." So, the oft-quoted "judge not lest you be judged" verse doesn't mean what many people think it means at all. In the same book of the Bible, Jesus very pointedly tells us to show our brother his faults--one on one. And if our brother won't heed, to try taking a few other Christians along with us to talk to him. If he still won't listen, Jesus says, we should involve the church, and if he still won't listen, then we should avoid him, like ancient Jews did pagans and tax collectors. (Matt. 18:15-20) John 7:24 adds "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." Judgment is not an evil thing. We all make judgments every day. Yes, every single one of us. We judge whether or not it's safe to cross the street. We judge whether or not the roast is done cooking. All judgment means is evaluate. Clearly, Jesus isn't telling us not to judge each other. He's just cautioning us to use care when we do so. First, he says, take care of your own sins. Then, help your brother. This week's recommendation is the website of Ravi Zacharias, where his radio program Let My People Think is archived. Here you'll find engaging, thought-provoking apologetics and Bible teaching. I especially recommend "The Inner Ache of Loneliness," "If the Foundations Be Destroyed," and "Jesus As They Saw Him." For these any many other radio programs and articles, go to: http://resources.christianity.com/ministries/rzim/main/searchItems.jhtml?&page=2&JServSessionIdroot= 4mohp18vo1 Questions Q: I've heard that when the Jews' first had Passover, they were instructed by God to paint a cross of blood on their doors. Is this true? If so, was it a direct hint at Jesus? A: I remember hearing the same thing, years ago. But a look at the Bible indicates that the idea a cross was put into play is a myth: In Exodus, the Bible states that the Jews are to "take some of the [Passover lamb's] blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs." (Ex.12:7) Later in Exodus, God tells the Jews, "Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe." (Ex. 12:22) And again, "When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down." (Ex. 12:23) I've looked at the NIV, NASB, MSG, AMP, NLT, KJV, NLV, ESV, CEV, NKJV, ASV, YLT, Darby, and NIRV versions of the Bible, and they all give the same basic description: The blood went on either side of the door, and on the top of the door. Not a cross shape at all. However, it is true that Jesus is often thought of as the new Passover lamb. Just as the blood of an innocent, unblemished lamb saved the Jews from death in the Old Testament, Jesus' blood (also innocent and unblemished) saves us from death today. GOT A QUESTION? I invite you to ask it. What stumps you? I'll do my best to find an answer! To ask a question, email me at [email protected]. (c) 2004 by Kristina Seleshanko. |
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