The Meaning of ‘Judge Not’: Why Assuming Motives Backfires (And How to Stop)
Have you ever been upset at someone or some situation, only to find out later that you had the wrong idea about what was really going on? Then you realize that most of your suffering was caused by your own wrong assumptions. I know I have. In the Bible, Jesus warns us that this will happen if we make assumptions about people’s motives.
Judgment’s Gravity: Jesus’ Wisdom for Self-Protection, Not Punishment
God created our world with certain laws and principles that govern how things work. For example, gravity is in effect on earth. If you attempt to violate the law of gravity by jumping off of a house, you will fall and most likely be injured. The injury is the natural result of an attempt to violate a principle. But it is not punishment. God did not punish you by causing you to fall to the ground and sprain your ankle. You brought this on yourself when you went against the principle or law of gravity.
In Luke 6:37-38, Jesus made the famous statement, “Do not judge, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Many people assume that he said, “Do not judge, and you shall not be judged by God…” But that is not what he said. He did not say that if you judge, then God will judge you as punishment for your behavior. That would contradict what he said in John 3:16-18 and other places.
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