Unlimited: Passing Judgment
May 5, 2022 1540
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things (Romans 2:1).
To understand the first chapters of Paul’s letter to the Romans, you have to imagine that he is speaking in a large hall to two different groups of people: the Gentiles are on one side and the Jews are on the other. The Jews think that the Gentiles are lost without hope.
You have to imagine that in chapter 1, Paul is speaking to the Jews. The whole point of Paul’s opening argument (chapter 1) was that the Gentiles are without excuse before God. As he condemns the Gentiles for their wickedness and evil, you can imagine the Jews murmuring their approval and thinking, “Yes! You tell them, Paul! Stick it to them!” The Jews believe themselves to be the ones who are more right before God, while the Gentiles are condemned and lost.
Be very careful when you pass judgment on another.
Now, from the beginning of chapter 2, Paul turns his attention to the Jews. Imagine their shock and surprise as he now points his accusing finger at them and tells them that they, who are so quick to judge the Gentiles, stand equally condemned before God for their own sins. In fact, they are in an even worse position than the Gentiles, because they had more opportunity to know and to do right than the Gentiles had ever had.
Spiritual Application
Paul is also speaking to you today. Be very careful when you pass judgment on another. You had better make sure that in your words, actions and even in your thoughts, you are pure and blameless before him. Otherwise when you judge another, you are automatically condemning yourself. Perhaps it’s time to search your own heart?
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