Bible
Study: Romans 2, 1 to 11. And Luke 11, 42 to 46.
Today, our
readings pass across a very strong message regarding the question of judging
others.
You have
no excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge another; for in passing
judgment upon him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the
very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who
do such things. Do you suppose, O man, that when you judge those who do such
things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Romans 2,
1 to 3.
It is very
easy to point fingers at other people without realising that when one finger is
faced to others, four are facing us. It is very easy to talk about the faults and
weaknesses of others. In fact, there is a sense of pleasure we derive by
talking about the limitations of other people, we are drawn to laugh at them
for not trying in this or that aspect because by so doing, by talking about the
faults of others, we become angels in our own eyes. “Judge not, and you will
not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned… Luke 6, 37.
Once upon
a time, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other
a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank
thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even
like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to
heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell
you, says Jesus, this man went down to his house justified rather than the
other… Luke 18, 10 to 14.
Holiness
is not about being better than others. As Jesus says, this Pharisee did not
pray to God, he prayed to himself because he came to pass judgement on others. Whereas
the tax collector did not mention a single word about any other person, he
acknowledged his own sins and prayed for mercy. This is what we are called to
do; to examine our own conscience, to take out the logs of wood in our own eyes
rather than examine the conscience of others or try to take out the specks we
see in their eyes.
Even if we
succeed in being better than others, we do not impress God who alone sees the
heart. This is why Jesus strongly condemns the self-righteous people in the
Gospel passage: “Woe to you! For you are like graves which are not seen, and
men walk over them without knowing it.” Luke 11, 44.
Never try
to present yourself as good before others. Stop looking at others as yardstick
for defining righteousness. Instead judge yourself. Always look inwards. Refrain
from talking about the shortcomings of others because in the end, it is not
about you and them, but about you and God.
Let us
Pray:
Lord
Jesus, help me to live above sin and to judge myself alone rather than any
other person. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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