“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.” – Matthew 7:1

After joining the counseling ministry, I came to appreciate how people really dread being judged. 

Technically, the fear of being judged is known as the “fear of negative evaluation.”

Given that humans are social creatures who must be a part of a wider group or ‘tribe’ in order to survive and procreate, experts say that the fear of being judged is a deeply rooted human trait that arises from our innate need to belong.

When we perceive that the social ties on which we depend are threatened, the innate fear of rejection and social exclusion would lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.

In our meditation today, our Lord warns; “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.”

This warning is a continuation of the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ in which the Lord lays out the ethics and values of the Christian life in the community.

The Greek word for ‘judge’ – ‘krino’ – is the root of the English word ‘criterion’ – a basis or standard for determining the quality or suitability of something or an individual.

In that context, Jesus is cautioning that if you set yourself as the custodian of the ‘criteria’ for determining the suitability of others, you face the risk of having a worse standard applied on you.

Here is an example. Recently, a video of a certain Cabinet minister telling off pastors for “building big churches” instead of setting up hospitals went viral on social media.

Today, God is reminding us that it’s not anyone’s responsibility to set the criteria for determining who is qualified, righteous, or accepted by God or not.

However, someone wondered why she had not built a hospital herself instead of the posh hotel she owns in war-torn northern Uganda.

In the verses that follow, Jesus explains why it’s not wise to judge others.

“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

This implies that those who are always quick to judge others for their shortcomings usually forget that they are carrying bigger (and more obvious) issues for which they would be judged even more harshly.

As the saying goes; when you point that accusing finger at someone else, the other three will be pointing at yourself.

Romans 14:4 asks: “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”

Romans 14:10 adds: “Why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.”

James 4:12 adds: “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”

Today, God is reminding us that it’s not anyone’s responsibility to set the criteria for determining who is qualified, righteous, or accepted by God or not.

We’re all terrible sinners who have been accepted through nothing but God’s grace alone!