December 4, 2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1.27)

“Do not judge or you, too, will be judged. Remember, in the same way you judge others, you will be judged; know that the measure you use will be used to measure you.” (Matthew 7.1-2)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

In today’s culture and climate, the call for “justice” is becoming commonplace. I am not sure authentic justice is understood today: fair and equal administration of the law without corruption avarice, favor or prejudice. It is as if in today’s world, Lady Justice is no longer blindfolded but casts a wary eye on the innocent and the guilty and is swayed by popular opinion. Justice seems to have adopted the sense of “I say unfair and you should compensate me.” I believe Jesus’ teaching on “do not judge” addresses the issue and includes in it the distinction between judgment and discernment. We ought to be wise enough to know the difference ourselves between the two. Judgment entails the meting out of a sentence against the wrongdoer. It may also include compensatory satisfaction for the person wronged. Discernment, simply understood, is making a statement of awareness as to good and evil, right and wrong, without venturing into the arena of guilt or innocence. It should be a singular standard by which all thought and action can hold itself accountable. Discernment does not ask for a “judgment.” Rather, discernment seeks to move a person or people into an awareness of wrong-thinking and ill-action. It addresses the heart and the spirit of a thing as to it being a bane or a blessing. Confession of such ought to be followed by a profession of correction which leads to reconciliation.

The warning issued by Jesus in this teaching speaks to the “heart of the matter” without question. Since the overarching theme of the “Sermon on the Mount[ainside]” is righteousness, it only stands to reason that the view of “intention” is the primary address. “Judge not unless you intend to be judged” would make sense in that case. What is your intention for judging another person, or even yourself? Is it for improving your character, your demeanor or your persona? Is it to condemn, put down or take another person to court because you think they are wrong, bad or guilty? It is no wonder that when Jesus taught about adultery, He addressed also the “lust in one’s heart” as an equal and severe wrong. So if you put yourself as a “judge” over another person, and especially if you lack “legal” qualifications, then expect severe scrutiny to be directed back at you. Watch how the Scribes and Pharisees and the teachers of the Law sought to condemn Jesus. It was not that they actually disagreed with His teachings since they came from the Law and the Prophets in great part. It was because He spoke as “one under authority” and that authority differed legalistically from their own. Jesus wasn’t from the right school of thought, the correct teacher, the best family, the right town or region. They deemed it as a measure of their own descriptors which then were called “blessed by God.” But, Jesus was not from any of those places. He claimed kinship to God as the Son of God whose authority had been given to Him. How could that be questioned unless they were questioning God Himself? Such an assertion without “earthly” qualifications made Him an enemy of “pure” religion. Of course, for them, “pure” religion was their form of Judaism as had been defined and redefined by themselves. They were above being questioned. As we can read, they were often questioned by far more than Jesus. No wonder Jesus was so popular with the people.

The same can be said in understanding the extension of His teaching on “do not judge” with the qualifier of “the measure you use will be the same measure used against you.” The heart of the Golden Rule is this principle: Do to others as you would have it done to you. If you are harsh, unsympathetic, unfeeling, without compassion or out of relationship in any way, then you have set yourself up to be judged/measured by the same token. Of course, we see the anti-thesis of this application in today’s culture and climate. The lack of discipline, the hope of leniency, the expression of liberal applications are displayed with the hope of being granted the same latitude. This is where today’s “enabling and entitlement” come from. One might say it this way, “I will stay out of your back yard, if you will stay out of mine” or “I won’t say anything if you won’t” or “Live and let live.” Such is not the expression of the wideness of God’s mercy. Rather, it is the failure to understand the template of authentic righteousness as a singularity of thought and action ruled by the nature, character and quality of God’s love. This is true righteousness: love one another as you yourself are loved…by God. Sadly, we have too much “love one another as you yourself want to be loved…as yourself.” Again, I will say “There is a wideness in God’s mercy in order to bring in more people to the transforming love of God found on the straight and narrow road.” Those who shun the call promote the lie which evil desires to corrupt the world with. Beware!

PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain this eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.