Beatitudes Series Part 11: Judge Not
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We are now continuing our Bible Study- The Beatitudes Series, starting in Matthew 7, where we learn about judgment and the warning behind it.
The Beatitude Series Part 11:
Judge Not
Key Verses of Discussion
Matthew 7: 1-5
In the last devotion, we discussed Lilies of the Field. We are reminded that our Heavenly Father takes care of our every need; we need not worry about what we may eat, wear, etc., when we place our faith in God’s Hands, He will care for us when we are living within His will for our lives. If you missed it, I encourage you to check it out: Beatitudes Series Part 10
While we continue to study the Beatitudes, there’s so much to slow down and unpack as we read along, so this may seem like just a few short verses we are studying at a time, but there’s so much to discover, and studying God’s Word is a journey, not a race.
Grab a fresh, hot cup of tea or coffee, grab your Bible and even a notebook, and let’s continue learning what Jesus teaches us on how to Judge Not.
Judge Not
Matthew 7:1-2
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:1-2
Judge Not
How much clearer can Jesus be to us? Let us not judge others so that we may not be judged ourselves. Have you ever caught yourself scrunching your nose at someone or their situation? I have, not proud of it, but then God gently nudged me like He always does to get me out of the fleshly thought path. He reminds me that I was not in a good place with God, I still have my days, I’m nowhere near perfect, but I’m perfectly IMPERFECT! I’m a work in progress, and I can humbly admit this, as we all should!
Pray For One Another
We are to pray for one another, be concerned for others’ well-being, and not judge. We may not be facing the same situation that another individual is, but we have been in a rut before. Think back when you were not your best, did you need grace and understanding from others? We all do at one point in time.
Being Christian
A follower of Christ does not mean we become perfect like Him, but think of it as us trying to follow behind Him to fill the steps He leaves behind, our blueprint of how He would have us to live, talk, walk, and behave. We will stumble, we will say ugly words, but we strive not to, but we are flesh, and the flesh still has a sinful nature to it. Paul writes: “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17
Thy Brother’s Eye
Matthew 7: 3-5
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (4) Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? (5) Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thinge own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7: 3-5
In Thy Brother’s Eye
We all have our own unique weaknesses that we strive to improve to be better Christians. If you have children or have ever observed their behavior, we are not any different from them at times. The behavior they project can often be blatantly obvious at times; they don’t often mask or hide what they feel.
What God Sees
Imagine a mother and her two daughters, Sarah and Olivia, out to visit some friends for lunch, since it’s a nice day, they decide to walk. On the way, they pass a playground. The two girls ask their mother for permission to play before they go to lunch, and the mother agrees and gives strict instructions not to get dirty. The mother finds a comfortable bench to sit and begins visiting with another parent.
When it’s time to go, the mother calls the children, while she notices Sarah is running and Olivia is walking as slowly as possible. Sarah then announces as quickly as she can to tattle on Olivia that she got dirt all over her dress and hair. Sarah thinks she will be rewarded for not getting dirty and quickly informing her mother of the fault of her sister.
The child looks up to her mother, and instead of joy and approval, Sarah sees disappointment projected towards not only her sister but her as well. Sarah didn’t realize that she was not spotless herself. While running to tell on Olivia, Sarah didn’t realize that she had run into a puddle full of water that soaked her shoes and the bottom of her dress.
Let us be cautious as not to judge others, while we become so fixated on others, we fail to neglect our own faults.
Mind Our Own Faults
Our mentality is not that much different than children’s; we may not mean to have a judgmental attitude towards our fellow brethren, but that’s most likely what God sees. He is our Heavenly Father and is not pleased with “tattle-tale” behavior. God reminds us of when we were not at our best behavior; therefore, we have no room to judge others, especially when we have faults of our own.
Christians Walk At A Different Pace
We need to remember that we are not all in the same spiritual place at the same time. Each one of us wakes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ at different times that is unique to each individual. To judge another brethren would not be appropriate for us to do. God guides each one of us in our own time, there may be some more critical spirtitual battles that another individual may be going through and that ugly word or negative action they conduct may be not on God’s prioritized list of things He is working with that individual at the time.
God Sees It All
We are not in a position to judge another individual, because we are not aware of their unique spiritual battles. God may be having another go through the times of trials that may strengthen an individual’s faith, patience, etc. So when we think of it, if we do find ourselves judging another individual, we may be judging God’s plan for their life. Who are we to be in a place of judgment when we have our own spiritual battles we should be prioritizing?
Cast Out The Beam In Your Eye
Jesus teaches us to remove the mote, or small particle, from our own eye so that we may see clearly. I love how Jesus’ Word can be applied figuratively and literally. If you have a small particle in your eye, your vision becomes blurry, and you cannot see clearly. When we remove the foreign object that does not belong in our eye, we may see better. This foreign object is sin in our lives. If we have sinned and are at fault ourselves, we are unable to help another individual. When we confess our sins in humility to God, this restores our relationship with Him.
Instead of the tattle-taler attitude to point out the faults of another individual, one becomes humbled and has compassion instead of a persecuting spirit.
Judge Not
Remember the children analogy from earlier? If Sarah weren’t so eager to tell on her sister, Olivia, she would not have gotten dirty herself. But she was too focused on her sister’s faults, she became careless and blind to her own path she was treading, and ended up getting dirty. If she had been in a more calm, humble manner to approach her mother, to ask what could be done to help Olivia become clean, she would not have stumbled into the mud.
Compassion
When our own life is in line with God, our fellowship and the nature of our heart change; we have a heart full of grace, compassion, and sorrow for those who are not in fellowship with God. Therefore, we desire them to have that same fellowship, and our desire becomes to be more loving, kind, and understanding towards them, to be there as a support in leading them back to God.
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest you also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” Galatians 6: 1-3
Journal Prompts
Do I have a judgmental attitude towards others? What are some reminders that can help change this behavior towards a compassionate and prayerful attitude instead?
What does God say about judging others? How does this attitiude effect our spiritual walk?
Is there a time I can remember when I was judgmental towards someone? How did this make me feel? Have I done the right thing to confess this behavior?
Before you start your day, will you join me in prayer?
Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. I ask that You reveal to me any way that I may have a judgmental attitude towards others. May You guide me to see people in Your perspective, that they are refining their spiritual walk just as I am. Allow me to be compassionate towards others and know that a split second is no indicator of another individual’s heart, but just a glimpse of time. Forgive me where I have fallen short in treating others as You would have me treat them, convict me when I fall into judgments towards others, that I may be reminded I have my own “mote” to remove from my own eye before I can help my brethren. Please continue to guide and refine me each day that You bless me with, forgive me of my sins, and help me to learn from my mistakes so that I may follow in Your footsteps. We ask this in Your precious Holy Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Sources: Fasting - https://www.themanual.com/fitness/benefits-of-fasting/
Fasting Benefits - https://foodrevolution.org/blog/what-is-fasting/
Quick Note:
Some Bible studies may take longer than others, as I am often led to explain certain verses in greater detail. I want you to know that these blog posts are written straight from my heart - they are not created by AI, so if you pay close attention, you may find my little nuggets of imperfections! What you read here are my own thoughts and reflections, guided by where God leads me.
I am not a professional; I’m simply a southern wife and mother of five with a deep desire to share the truth of our loving Heavenly Father. He loves you, and He longs to have a relationship with you. We are not called to be perfect, but we are called to be led by Him.
God has placed so much on my heart to share, and my prayer is that these words bless and encourage you. I’m not here for recognition or fame - only to spread the message of God’s love to you, my new friend, and to many others.
