“Judge not, that you be not judged” Matthew 7:1

In the beloved 80’s film, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, a fun-loving Ferris had to match wits with his nemesis, Principle Ed Rooney. I still laugh at the scenes in the film because I remember well my version of Ed Rooney roaming our school hallways. I can still picture this teacher on patrol looking for violators. His nickname was, “the judge”, and there was no mistaking who was in charge. Just one whisper “here comes the judge” had the very real effect of instantly scattering students. 

No One Wants To Be Judged

We scatter like mice at the thought of being judged! And yet, why is it that we are so good at doing something that we hate others doing to us? Think of all the judgments we make during the day. “Not surprised they’re getting divorced”, or, “they belong to that political party?” or, “they could do a better job raising their kids”, or, “who taught you how to drive?” or, “you really walked out of the house wearing that?” Judgment, it appears, comes naturally. That’s why Jesus words to us in Matthew 7:1 should literally stop us in our tracks and make us think. “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” We can all do better at loving our neighbors. Care to join me in giving it a try?