Day 61 – Do not judge
Study Luke 6:37-42
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37
Jesus strictly warns us against passing harsh judgment upon others, reminding us that the measure we use will be measured back to us. Interestingly, among those who know very little of Scripture, this is often the single most popular verse to quote. Yet so many who recite it completely misunderstand what Jesus meant. They mistakenly assume (or hope) that He was commanding a universal acceptance of every lifestyle, choice, or teaching.
However, just a few verses later in this same message (Luke 6:43-45), Jesus commands us to evaluate ourselves and others by the fruit of our lives, which naturally requires discernment. We are called to extend unconditional love, but we are never called to extend unconditional approval. We can truly love people deeply without endorsing actions that run contrary to God’s Word.
While Jesus does not forbid examining the fruit of someone’s life, He strongly prohibits doing so with a self-righteous, hyper-critical spirit. We see a clear example of unjust judgment when the disciples condemned the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive oil (Matthew 26:6-13). Her devotion was viewed as a wasteful scandal, but Jesus declared that she had done a beautiful work that would be remembered forever. They fell into rash, harsh, and unfair judgment.
We violate this command whenever we assume the worst about someone’s character, focus exclusively on their faults, or measure an entire life solely by its darkest moments. We break it when we presume to judge the hidden motives of the heart, or when we condemn others without considering how we might stumble in their exact circumstances, forgetting that we too will one day stand before the ultimate Judge.
Expanding beyond mere judgment, Jesus calls us deeper into Kingdom living by commanding us not to condemn, but instead to freely, lavishly forgive.
Pray with me: Lord Jesus, guard my heart against a judgmental and critical spirit. Give me eyes of grace to see others as You see them, a heart that loves unconditionally, and a quick willingness to extend the same forgiveness I have so freely received from You. Amen. ©
Love, Iriza
