A lot of Jesus’ teaching implies to the individual that what one does comes back around in unintended or unexpected ways.
Yes, those who want to be seen praying loudly on street corners…will indeed be seen.
(But that’s the only reward they get.)
Here, as we begin chapter 7, Jesus says that we ourselves are judged with the measure of judgment we put out on others. Often, this can feel like something that’s yet to come (“Judgement Day”). But perhaps he means it for the moment of judgment itself. In the present.
Can you imagine judgy people being harsh to themselves?
This is why grace can be such a salve. Grace works and massages the heart both toward others and toward oneself. Perhaps not all at once or in the same moment, but over time, as God’s grace works on us to soften the edginess that comes with self-judgment and our judgment of others.
Matthew 7:1-6
“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. You’ll receive the same judgment you give. Whatever you deal out will be dealt out to you. Why do you see the splinter that’s in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye? How can you say to your brother or sister, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when there’s a log in your eye? You deceive yourself! First take the log out of your eye, and then you’ll see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s or sister’s eye. Don’t give holy things to dogs, and don’t throw your pearls in front of pigs. They will stomp on the pearls, then turn around and attack you.
Prayer
God,
Soften in me the desire to judge the world, be it others or myself. Help me to see others with eyes of forgiveness, which is to have the grace and compassion that you so freely give. The problem is, Lord, that other people can annoy me, frustrate me, and even anger me. It’s just so natural to tell them what’s up. Frankly, it seems like your justice calls for it. But help me to know the difference between standing up for truth and shutting others down.
Deep inside, I do know that there is stuff in my own life that keeps me from seeing what your justice is more clearly. So help me with my stuff.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
👍 X ♾️.