Today's readings are Deuteronomy 3.1-29 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Deut.+3.1-29 ) and Matthew 7.1-12 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Matt.+7.1-12 ).
Matthew 7.1 seems to be the most popular verse of the entire Bible these days. Sadly it is pulled completely out of its natural habitat and used in a way quite differently from what Jesus seemed to intend. "Don't judge!" But what is Jesus talking about here? He is not saying that we do not call sin sin or that we do not try to distinguish between truth and error. Our Lord himself is the truth. How dare we pursue something else? No, we must pursue truth and that involves making judgments.
How then do we look at this verse? See from the surrounding context how we receive judgment with the same measure we use. Do we say humans are fallen? Then we ourselves are fallen. Do we say someone enters into logical error? Then we must confess that we are likely to do the same. Do we say someone has sin in his heart which is hindering him in his Christian walk? Then we must confess the same of ourselves. The critical element is that we realize in the very areas the Lord is using us to point out sin in the world, we are guilty ourselves. We are every bit as much in need of a life of repentance and forgiveness as anyone else.
There's our critical issue. Are we walking in repentance? Then we may judge. Do we realize that we are offensive to God? Then we may point that out in someone else as well. We do judge but we realize the judgment of God. And in our judgment of other people we proclaim Christ's forgiveness as well. That's the way our Lord and Savior addresses us.
Our Father, let us see your judgment in our lives, that judgment against our sin and the conviction of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, your son, in our stead. Let us proclaim that judgment to our world.
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