Judging Others

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  (Matthew 7:1-3 NIV)

Jesus accepted an invitation to dinner from Simon the Pharisee and while at His house a women in that same town, who we are told lived a sinful life, came into the house uninvited and honoured Him.  This woman washed Jesus' feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, proceeded to kiss His feet and poured perfume on them.  Although Jesus was Simon’s guest, Simon did not give Jesus water to refresh His feet or greet Him with a kiss.

In His thoughts Simon judged the woman’s actions towards Jesus as something that was sinful.  He also judged Jesus by surmising that if Jesus was a prophet He would know what kind of woman she was and would not allow her to touch Him.  Jesus, knowing what Simon was thinking, challenged him by asking him to judge as follows:

A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?  (Luke 7:41-42 NIV)

Simon supposed that the one who had been forgiven the bigger debt would have more love for the man who had cancelled the debts.  Jesus told Simon that He had judged correctly and began to explain the reason for Simon’s judgment of the scene he had just witnessed.  Jesus commented on all the things that Simon had not done but which the woman had done.  The woman acknowledged her many sins and knew she had been forgiven much therefore, she had great love for Jesus who cancelled her debt.   Her great love was demonstrated in her actions towards the one who had forgiven her.  Jesus said that whoever has been forgiven little loves little.

Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  (Romans 4:7 NIV)

How many things have you and I been forgiven for up until today?  How will we respond to that amazing gift?

©2015 Partners in Hope