Judge not

 Matthew 7:1–6 (ESV): 

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, 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. 

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. 

None of us likes to think that we are hypocrites or judgemental. Yet, so often we are. When people do things different to us, have alternative views, different cultural expectations or behaviours, speak differently, or just seem odd to us, we judge them. It is often not intentional, and we don’t like to think that we do, but if you really think about it, you know that you tend to have prejudices, biases and these are all elements of judging people - having expectations about someone or a group of people because of your limited understanding, experience or common ideas. 

You have expectations of how people should behave and talk. This is borne out of a combination of the culture, background and values that you have and the belief system that you follow. These ideals that you have for your own life are often unknowingly put onto those around you. You are used to certain mannerisms and patterns of behaviour, and this influences your acceptance and view of other people. It often causes you to see the ‘specks’ in them that are different, maybe because you do not have them or show them as obviously. Instead you have logs in your eyes which prevent you from seeing those people clearly. 

I grew up with a cockney accent, dropping all my ‘hs’ ‘ts’ and any other letter that i could. When i moved to another area no-one could understand me, and regarded me as somewhat common. I decided to change the way i spoke to be understood and integrate better. When i moved back to the area i had grown up in my accent had changed. I got a job and my new colleagues told me after a while that they did not expect to get along with me because i spoke “too posh”. Sometimes you can’t win! I was judged by the way i spoke in both places. In one i was too common and regarded initially as not very intelligent, in the other i was too posh and seemed above the place i was living in simply because of the way i spoke. It may seem a silly thing, but this is what it is like to see specks in people. Assumptions are made based on common ideas, expectations, beliefs and experience. I had been judged by those around me and they made assumptions about my intellect, personality and character based upon the way i spoke. In all actuality, the way we speak has very little to do with those things or the character we have. The same is true for the 'specks' we see in others. They do not make up the whole person, there is more to them than the difference or awkwardness that you seem to see so easily.

It is often the small things that we judge people for; how they speak, move, look, habits they have, routines they keep. decisions they make, or even where they come from. It is not right or fair, yet you probably do it. We all do. So, before you make a decision about someone else, take time to consider your own quirks, behaviours, manner of speaking and values that you have. Would some of those seem odd to others? I am not saying that you should change, but you need to recognise that you too will make different decisions and say different things to those around you. You will have mannerisms, routines and patterns of behaviour that others will probably look at and think odd. These are specks or maybe even logs that others could see in you, you have just got used to living with them, other people haven’t. So take this into consideration when you come into contact with others. Make every effort not to judge them because you would do things or say things differently. You too have specks that you do not even realise are there and i am sure you would not want to be excluded or treated differently because of them.

Jesus is the only one who never had any specks or logs which blinded him. Yet he learnt not to judge those around him. He recognised that this was not his job. His job was to be human and display the grace, love, hope and forgiveness of God to those he encountered, no matter the logs or specks he could see in their lives. That is your job too. If you are someone who loves God, you need to be loving in thought, deed and word to the people you come into contact with, not judgemental. Remember that each person is made in the image of God just like you are. Jesus loves people, God created them wonderfully and fearfully just like He made you. So do not let any specks or logs blind you to these truths. People may be difficult for you to understand, but don’t let that prevent you from trying to develop a rapport with someone. Do not try to fix the ‘problems’ you see in the lives of others without first checking if it is actually a problem that needs solving, and that they actually want help with it. Even then you may not be the right person to help. They might have a speck in their eye and you may have a log! It could be that what you see in them is just a difference that doesn’t even require a solution. Some times you can step into the lives of others and see what they ‘need’ to do according to your own values, beliefs and experience. Yet that is not something you should impose upon them. You can help, guide and suggest things, but only if you are invited to. Be aware that the difference and oddness you see in others, they probably see in you too!

Remember, Jesus came, lived and died for other people just as he did for you. He had every right to point out everyone’s logs and offer to help remove them, but he didn’t. Instead he showed love and acceptance, and he waited for people to approach him. Jesus invites us in, hangs out with us, and points us to the Loving Father in Heaven, not to the specks or logs in our eyes. Can you do the same for those in your life?