"Judging"

Article for October 26, 2025

Luke 18:9–10 9[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

We have many people who think more highly of themselves than they should.  Some of those people even do good deeds.  Some hold what they might think is an important position in life.  Some just think they are better than everyone else.  It happens.  And where it happens makes a negative difference in those around them.

Look down your nose at someone lately?  It is easy as we love to judge one another, too easy.  Non-Christians judge Christians, and Christians judge non-Christians, non-Christians judge non-Christians and Christians judge Christians.  We just love judging one another and as I said, it’s just too easy to do. 

We get caught up in our judging so much that it creates anger within, and anger that lashes out.  When we lash out with our judgements, we say things that are hurtful and harmful and not true.  But we don’t care who we hurt, if we are the ones doing the judging.

Contempt, scorn, disapproval, lashes out like a rusty sword leaving infected wounds, and then we might wonder why we ourselves are being judged.  Some will not care what is being said here.  Some have already justified themselves to enable their right to judge.  They think by justifying themselves it gives them permission to judge.  I have heard it, seen it, and have been guilty of it myself.

Luke 6:37–38 (ESV) ³⁷ “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸ give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Our world has a problem that has been around since Cain and Abel.  This problem stifles growth in our churches because some do not do anything for fear of being judged.  Church people have told me this and I understand their fear.  You see, no one has appointed any of us to be more important than others. No one has given anyone the appointed position to be judge and jury.  Your judging helps no one and in fact becomes part of the problem and has little to do with the solution.

Unfortunately, the judges will not think this passage from the Holy Scriptures is talking about them and to them.  How do I know this?  Because I have been a witness to those who judge time and time again.  But if I have lost respect for the judger have I also judged?

Luke 18:11–12 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

God knows what we give and what we do.  With God you live in a transparent temple where He sees all that you think, do, and say.  And most important to realize, God knows where your heart is and who and what your heart favors.  There is no escape, yet we live our life as if God is in another place far from us.

Why, I ask myself, even when I realize God is always with me.  Why do I continue sinning?  To tell the truth, I think it is worse than it sounds.  I know God is watching and I still think I can hide from Him my thoughts words and deeds.  I have come to realize that I have not learned what it is to truly fear God.

Luke 18:13–14 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

There it is, the tax collector, he got it, he really understands his dilemma.  The tax collector knows his sin has put him far from the God he loves.  Sin separates us from God and that separation is the true death.  This true death is permanent unless you repent of your sin and realize Jesus forgives you.  Jesus has forgiven you.  From the cross Jesus has forgiven you and opens His arms to take you in.  Follow Jesus who leads you to repentance, listen to the Holy Spirit who leans on your heart to help you come to repentance. 

The tax collector has found that he loves God and that he knows he has hurt his relationship with God through his sins.  Not that the tax collector physically hurts God but that the hurt comes to God’s heart which saddens when we separate ourselves from God.  Each time we are led to repent God smiles upon us and is quick to forgive us. 

God wants to keep us for Himself and has found ways to keep us for Himself.  Jesus died on the sinners cross to make God’s action to save us complete.  This is an assurance of our salvation that Jesus took our sins to the cross and died because of them.  But the good news is that Jesus was resurrected for our sake that we should have a living God who will be with us always.

As for those who think they are righteous through their own action, well not so much.  We can boast and brag in many ways, but our boasting and bragging points to our sin.  If we are to truly boast it should be that we boast in our Savior who died for our sins and saves us as He saves the tax collector.  Not for our self-righteousness, but that Jesus clothes us in His righteousness.

The tax collector repented, the one who boasts in themselves are blinded by what they think they have accomplished on their own.  The tax collector glorifies God; the braggart tries to glorify himself.  Remember this, all who repent are forgiven, all who don’t repent are still waiting for their forgiveness to take effect.  So let the Holy Spirit lead you into repentance, beat your chest beg for mercy yes. And then, take a deep and calming breath, thank God for His mercy, and His grace He freely gives to you.

Luke 18:15–17 15Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Whoever accepts God as freely as a child.  Whoever believes in God like a child.  Whoever fears God like a child.  And whoever is truly sorry for their sins like a child (and the tax collector) scorned.  Will receive the kingdom of God.  This is only possible for those who follow Jesus Christ, and following Jesus Christ is only possible through the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  For all of this and our salvation is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Amen.

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May