Romans 14 Lesson

Judging Others

JUDGING OTHERS

Question: What do the following four scriptures have in common?

  1. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” – Romans 14:4,  
  2. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.” – Romans 14:13
  3. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.” – Luke 6:37,
  4. “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?” – James 4:12.

Answer: They all tell us not to judge others.

Despite what the scriptures say, many of us still find ourselves casting judgment when we should be showing people compassion

As we read the above scriptures, and scriptures like them, we need to get back to the basics of Christianity and remember that these are the inspired words of God! 

When the Bible says, “Let us not judge one another anymore,” there is only one way to interpret that. 

We are not to judge others, period. 

STOP | CHALLENGE | AND CHOOSE

There is a practical application called “Stop | Challenge | And Choose that we can use to train ourselves to be compassionate instead of judgmental.

STOP

If we find ourselves being judgmental instead of compassionate, the first thing we need to do is recognize that we are not doing what God tells us to do in the Bible. Unless we are serving as an Elder, and have the responsibility of shepherding the flock, we are not to judge anyone.

We are, however, supposed to show others compassion, just as Jesus showed us compassion.

CHALLENGE

Showing compassion to others takes thought.

It takes time.

And it takes energy.

By taking the focus off ourselves, we can spend our time in a more Christ-like manner.

Remember, we were created to do two things while we are on Earth:

  1. Glorify God,
  2. Serve others.

Jesus said:

  • “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:41-45.

Jesus was kind, selfless, and loving.

We need to challenge ourselves to be the same way.

CHOOSE

Once we challenge ourselves to show others compassion and not judgment, the next thing we need to do is choose to act.

We can have all the compassion in the world, but if we do not act on it, what good is it?

That point is beautifully articulated in the following scripture from the Book of James:

  • “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” - James 2:14-17.

After we pause to reflect on the scripture and challenge ourselves to respond with love and compassion, the next thing that we need to do is act! 

We can have all the Bible knowledge in the world and ponder situations all day long, but if we do not act on our faith, we have accomplished nothing. 

In the Book of James, we read the following:

  • “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” – James 2:14-17.

Choosing a path of compassion and following through is a fantastic way to love our neighbor

CONCLUSION 

We understand that the Bible tells us not to judge others.

Instead of passing judgment, God wants us to show compassion.

That is the example that Jesus gave us, and that is what the Bible teaches us to do.

Life is hard, make no mistake!

There is nothing in the Bible that says life is going to be easy.

When we see somebody struggling, we need to stop for a moment and challenge ourselves to be compassionate, and not judgmental.

Then we need to challenge ourselves to turn our compassion into action, following the example of Jesus and the teachings of the Bible.

We will conclude today’s lesson with the following words spoken by Jesus during His Sermon on the Mount:

  • “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.  Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?  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.” – Mathew 7:1-5.

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1) What did today’s Bible study make you think or feel?
2) What questions do you have?
3) How can you apply what you have learned to something specific in your life?

***PLEASE POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE***

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Pat Dermody

Our world would be such a better place if we did not judge one another so harshly. If we could just love a person as he /she is. When we look for what’s best in one another, we are doing what God does all the time. Love is what can connect us during this holy season when many of us will be separated from our families. Take a moment to think of someone you love very deeply. How does it feel... Warm , peaceful, happy. During this holy season we can try to extend this love to someone with whom we are struggling to love. God did.

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John

Jesus really let's the Pharisees have it in Mathew 23:13-29 in what is referred to as the "Eight Woes". We do not want to be like the Pharisees:

Eight Woes

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.]

15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ 17 You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’ 19 You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? 20 Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

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