“Don’t Judge Me!” Part 2: A Lesson for Both Sides of the Aisle

“You hypocrite, first take the plank our of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Matthew :5

Last week I shared my thoughts on the much-quoted Bible verse, “Judge not, or you too will be judged,” taken from the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 7:1) and what I believe to be the balanced way for the Christ-follower to live it out.

“Don’t Judge Me!” Part 1: To Judge or not to Judge?

The imagery was of one person trying to remove the speck from another’s eye before dealing with the plank in his own eye. Pretty vivid imagery, but as I often ask after hearing an abstract concept, what does “judge not” look like in real life? How do Christ-followers live out these principles now, when so much of the world seems to have lost its mind and are demanding we join them in their insanity? Are we to be tolerant of the wholesale slaughter of infants? The mutilation of children and the removal of them from their homes if their parents don’t go along with it? Are we to smugly feel “merciful” if we do nothing about the trafficking of human beings and deadly drugs across our border and every other evil that breaks the heart of God?

The Gospel of John gives an account that illustrates the kind of mercy Jesus lived. This story brings up the issue of passing judgment and has been (incompletely) referred to by those who scream, “JUDGE NOT!” in response to those who scream, “REPENT!”

OK, if we can all stop screaming, let’s read the story:

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. (John 8:3-6a)

This was not the only time the religious leaders set a trap for Jesus. They had heard Him preaching love and mercy. They had also heard Him claim to be the fulfillment of the Law of Moses. If Jesus responded by saying, “Yes, she should be stoned,” they could accuse Him of going against His own teaching of mercy. If He answered “No, she shouldn’t be stoned,” they could accuse Him of teaching against the Law of Moses. (There’s also the matter of a double-standard, as the Law required the same penalty for both parties committing adultery, but we’ll set that aside for now.)

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. (John 8:6b-11b)

“AHA!“ declares the “Judge-not” crowd. “Jesus didn’t condemn the woman for being sexually active!”

But wait – what else did He say to the woman?

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now, and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11b – 11c)

No, it isn’t helpful to tell the sinner (s)he’s going to hell, but neither is it OK to say, “Go now, and enjoy your life of sin.” If that’s our message, we will be held accountable and share in that person’s guilt.

The Lord explained this concept to Ezekiel this way:

“When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,” and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.” (Ezekiel 3:18) [Emphasis mine]

According to this passage, we aren’t responsible for other people’s behavior, but we are responsible to warn them about the consequences when that behavior is self-destructive.

So, the child of God will have opportunity to speak up, to offer correction, to be “salt and light,” but the wise will do it acknowledging their own sin, being mindful of the Lord’s mercy toward them, and extending the same mercy to fellow sinners.

So, let’s follow the pattern Jesus practiced – correction and mercy.

But mercy comes first.

Prayer: Lord God, we see how the world today seems to be careening toward a cliff, and in our selfish ease we are slow to issue any warning. But we realize that merely smiling and waving as they go, we will be held responsible for their condemnation. Who are we to stand idly by, waiting for their destruction, when we know we ourselves deserve the same punishment? Show us how to humbly and lovingly show them a better way that will lead from death to life. And prepare their hearts to receive Your gift. Give us courage and help us to obey and leave the results to You, in Jesus’ name. Amen