Don’t judge others. Transform yourself by self-examination!

 (Scriptural meditation begins at 5:25.)

I'm meditating through the Gospel of Matthew.

 "Do not judge," Jesus says, "and you too will escape harsh judgement." And so once again, he reiterates a law of human life and of the natural world—sowing and reaping.  

Being an immensely practical human, Jesus realises that we are often most “triggered” when we observe our own faults in other people. And the more we dwell on the horrid traits of people we know in real life, politicians, or the media or internet-famous, the more we risk mirroring their unattractive traits. 

So, Jesus suggests that, whenever we are intensely annoyed by other people to immediately check if we have the very same fault. And to resolve to change that stumbling block in ourselves. Then, instead of wasting time in fruitless judging, we will experience personal change.

And as for us who have been judgey, we still live “under the mercy” in Charles Williams’ phrase. We place the seeds we have sown into the garden of our lives so far into God’s hands, and ask him to let the thistles and thorns wither and the figs and grapes bloom. May it be so!

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Transcript

 And so, Jesus reiterates a law of life: sowing and reaping. “Those

who draw the sword will perish by the sword,” he says. The 

swift to condemn will be judged more harshly. For the seeds we plant 

in the garden of our lives--our secret thoughts, our words, and the

kindness or meanness of our actions determine our flourishing.

We reap what we have sown in unexpected ways and at unexpected

times, since God, the righteous Judge, observes both our generosity

and our unkindness towards those we judged powerless to help

or harm us, and God holds our lives in his hands.

Jesus does not condemn accurately reading character. That 

is an essential life skill—to realise that not everyone is trustworthy,

honest, truthful or decent. Indeed, Jesus warns us about

deceptive, smooth-talking people--“wolves in sheep’s clothing,”

out to devour you. Assess people by the fruit of their lives, 

he says; thornbushes don’t bear figs.

However, dwelling on another’s faults, while ignoring our own,

invites judgement, Jesus says. He recommends using our irritation

with annoying or evil people as a reminder and trigger for

self-examination. When we are bothered by a speck in another’s eyes, 

Jesus recommends checking if we have a whole log of the same

Failing or a greater one in our own eyes. (Interestingly, Freud says

we are most infuriated by our own faults mirrored in other people!). 

Obsessive judging is wasted time and energy. We must train ourselves

to refocus that energy into transforming those blind spots, limps, and

cracks in our characters, which so often destroy the house of people’s lives.  

Besides, fretting over others’ faults leads only to evil, as the Psalmist says. 

We unconsciously imitate speech and character traits we dwell on!

Read a good stylist, and you write better; focus on another’s stinginess,

manipulativeness, or dishonest self-promotion, and you risk mirroring it. 

And what of us who’ve been judgey and critical? When we

repent, we live “under the mercy,” in Charles Williams’ phrase.

Jesus forgave Peter, who betrayed him, and he will forgive us.

God devises a unique calling suited to both the naturally sweet and

the naturally outspoken and no-nonsense. Whatever seeds you

have sown into your life, thistles or grapes, place them in the hands

of the God of redemption. Ask him to make the garden of your life

bloom, and to help you do the work he has given you to do.