Knowing The Word in Luke 6:37-42

Judging Others

6:37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.”

Comments

In the verses above, Jesus gave a series of pithy sayings. Regarding judging, he did not reject legal judgments; rather, he condemned the practice of assuming the right to criticize and disparage one's neighbors. He noted that we set the standard of forgiveness for ourselves in how we forgive others, which aligns with forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer. The follower with a forgiving spirit bears the fruit of having been forgiven.

Jesus used a giving metaphor from measuring out wheat so that there was full volume in the container, unlike a store-bought bag of potato chips that is half empty when opened. He declared that we get back what we put into life.

He warned those who followed the Pharisees, whom he considered blind guides. He encouraged his disciples to make more disciples with the aim of a follower to become like Jesus, who made disciples. He also employed humor to make his point on criticizing others. The point is that the slight imperfections in others is often more apparent to us than our own imperfections. Jesus encouraged self-examination. It is impossible to put another straight before we put ourselves straight.

Application

Is there someone in your life that you either find easy to criticize or someone you enjoy criticizing? Why is this? Ask God to help you not to criticize them, to put this practice to an end, and to help you begin to encourage them and build them up.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you that you are an encourager and not a criticizer, a forgiver and not a blamer, a giver and not a taker, a lover of truth and not a hypocrite. Help me today to be more like you.