When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner!" Luke 7:39
When I checked a bag at the airport that was 8 pounds over the airport's weight limit, I was embarrassed. Suddenly I was transferring pieces of clothing from my oversized suitcase to my already-full backpack. However, the grace I received that day is that the airport employee who was checking my bag was unbelievably kind. As I was apologizing, trying to get my suitcase to weigh 50 pounds instead of 58, she kindly said, "It happens to all of us." She then told me to take my time as I adjusted my luggage. This airport employee understood what we all would do well to understand: we all carry baggage of some kind, and judging someone else's baggage has no benefit.
When a woman who had a sinful past came to Jesus in Luke 7, there was a group of religious leaders who jumped at the opportunity to judge her baggage. While they watched this woman anoint and kiss His feet, one of the Pharisees there thought to himself, "If this man were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman is touching Him. She's a sinner!" (verse 39). In the following verses, Jesus rebuked the Pharisee for this line of thinking. Jesus was not impressed by this Pharisee's judgmental attitude.
Luke 7 is not the only place where Jesus condemned judging others. When teaching in Matthew 7, Jesus taught, "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged" (verses 1-2). This teaching is a reminder that we all carry baggage, and every time we judge someone else, there is something that someone else can judge us for. As a result, we can leave the judgment to God, who does not hold our sin against us if we place our faith in Him.
Nothing good comes from judging others around us. To be clear, judgment is simply not our place. God is the only one qualified to judge because He is perfect and without sin. While God is the only one qualified to judge, He is quick to offer forgiveness and redemption when we turn to Him.
Is there someone in your life who you have been judging because of the baggage they are carrying? Confess that to God today. Tell Him that you are sorry. Ask Him to replace that judgment for humility and compassion, and love for that person.
Read Matthew 7:1-7(NLT)
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
Effective Prayer“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
©2024 Sagebrush Church
