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.
Matthew 7:1-2

Krino: a posturing of oneself above another, often done with self-righteous hypocrisy

Judging distorts our view of God.

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden - except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
Gen 2:15-17

“Our fundamental sin is that we place ourselves in the position of God and divide the world between what we judge to be good and what we judge to be evil.”
- Repenting of Religion, Greg Boyd

Judging distorts our view of ourselves.

Judging distorts our view of others.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:34

"We either live in love, or we live in judgment. The extent to which we do one is the extent to which we do not do the other."
- Repenting of Religion, Greg Boyd

Above all, love each other deeply, for love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:12

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10

Do not be afraid of me. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…
Genesis 50:19-21

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13

Bottom Line

The antidote to judgment is love.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39

Action Steps

Reflect with God this week on the 3 areas of your life: 

1. In your relationship to God: Where are you determining right from wrong on your own?
2. In relationship to yourself: Where are you trying to find your worth by comparing against others vs. finding your identity in God? 
3. In your relationship to others: Where is judgment blocking your love? 

Pray that God would help you see these 3 clearly, and ask him to replace your judgment with his transforming love.