First Discourse in Matthew: Judging Others

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. ~ Matthew 7:1-5

I didn't bother to find a back up quote for Jesus on this one. I don't think he needs one here.

 I really and truly believe that this is the most broken rule Jesus gives us. I believe it the most universal sin.

 And I believe it is probably the hardest one to reign in.

 I believe it for sure is the one I mess up the most with.

 How many times a day to we do this?

 Sometimes it feels like it comes as often as breathing.

 And we have all kinds of rationalizations for it. Sometimes those rationalizations make sense - when someone's behavior causes harm to others.

 But even then, there is a difference between judging what someone does, and making a judgment about them as a child of God.

 I believe that judgment is the main thing that keeps us from loving our enemies, or even our neighbors, as ourself.

 So, in our addiction to judging, what do we do?

 In AA the first step is admitting when we have a problem. 

 Maybe we just start there...
Meditation: Catch yourself each time you judge someone today. Make note of it. And when the day ends, reflect on it.

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