Let’s take a closer look at Matthew 7 to see what Jesus is really saying to His followers about judging. Peterson gives some insight into the passage with his transliteration of it.

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Matthew 7:1-5 (The Message)

With this insight, have you condemned others? Is the Spirit convicting you of it? We can’t pick on others even when they’re wrong. If you have, deal with it now.

“Lord, I have agreed with others and the enemy by judging another. I now agree with you that it is wrong. Forgive me and help me to love with your love. With this sin covered by Your blood, I close the door to the tormentors assigned to me because of this sin. I renounce the spirit of judgment and spirit of criticism and I say to them ‘no more!’. I welcome the mind of Christ to indwell me and the Holy Spirit to convict me and to teach me. Lord, I thank you and I need you.”

If you can, go and ask for forgiveness. Do this only if they know you’ve unfairly condemned them. If they have no idea what you’ve thought or said, you’re not doing them any favour to bring it up and then ask for forgiveness.

In the next post we’ll deal with how to respond when you’ve been wrongly judged.