“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment that you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2 ESV

There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:12 ESV

Today we are talking about judging others. Some people are elected or assigned to be judges and it is their job to listen to all the information or evidence and form an opinion or make a decision. Is someone guilty or innocent? Should they be punished or not? Early in the Old Testament even God called people as judges for Israel; they had to make right decisions and guide the people in God’s way. You can read about them in the book of Judges!

But we have not been made judges and our verses today say that we are not to judge other people. To judge someone means to look at someone and form an opinion about them. For example, let’s imagine a new kid comes to school but won’t climb up on the monkey bars with you. You decide he must be afraid. And you call him a scaredy cat. You have already formed an opinion and judged him without really knowing why he didn’t want to climb up.

That is the kind of judging that our two verses are talking about. When we decide something about someone without all the information, we are judging others. Our first verse is from the sermon on the mount in Matthew when Jesus is teaching His disciples. Jesus gives all kinds of advice for living like God wants us to. Jesus warns that if we judge other people we will be judged in the same way.

Our second verse is from the book of James. He tells us that there is really only one lawgiver and true judge for all people. Can you guess who that is? If you said God, you are right! Only God knows our hearts and why we do things. And because He is the only One who can judge rightly, we are not to judge anyone. It’s not our job, it’s God’s.

Talk with your parents. Think of a time when you may have judged someone; maybe before you really knew them, or maybe by how they looked or dressed, or maybe by where they lived. Did you change your opinion when you got to know them better? Have you ever been judged? How did it feel? Ask your parents if they ever judged or misjudged (judged wrongly) someone. What happened?

This week let’s all work to not judge others. Let’s follow Jesus’ teaching and “judge not.” Instead, like Jesus, let’s shine love and kindness for others. Let’s help and care for people and not judge them.

Blessings and love as you choose not to judge others!