Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? (Matthew 7: 1-3)
When Jesus calls us not to judge others, what Jesus is NOT saying is that making decisions about others behavior, actions, or words is always wrong. Indeed, part of living a faithful life is making decisions for ourselves about behavior and how we interact with others.
What Jesus IS saying, however, is that when we do make such decisions we have to be conscious as well of our own foibles and missteps. Judging others without first putting the mirror up to our own life and actions is a recipe for condemning the guiltless.
The 8th commandment challenges: Do not bear false witness against your neighbor. Martin Luther's explanation of this commandment invites us to put the actions of others in the best possible light. We may not be correct, but at least this will allow us to first assume that another's actions are not as sinister as our sin and/or our natural inclination may initially presume. This can also reduce a lot of unnecessary heartache in our lives.
I see this commandment speaking directly to Jesus' call not to judge others. If we can first consider our own struggles and brokenness and then make an initial assumption that another is actually NOT out to get us, then our lives will more closely resemble the life of Jesus.
Not judging is based, first and foremost, on a willingness to accept others as children of God too. If we can do this, even pray for them, then we can judge less and love more. And I believe this is what the world needs a whole lot more of these days.
God of grace, as you have given mercy to us, may be share mercy with others. Amen.
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