What better way to tell people to mind their own business than to quote Jesus? People who seldom read the Bible are quick to quote Matthew 7:1 when they want to silence someone whose opinion they dont like. Judge not, that you be not judged seems like the perfect response.
In context, however, the passage indicates that we are indeed to judge; were just supposed to avoid faulty judgments. Furthermore, our judgments are to begin with self: First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye, Jesus said (v.5). He then said, Beware of false prophets (v.15). This too requires judgingwe need to be able to discern truth from falsehood.
Jesus used the metaphor of fruit to give us the proper criteria for judging. By their fruits you will know them (v.20). We are to judge people (including ourselves) by the quality of the fruit they produce. This fruit cannot be judged by earthly values such as how good we look (v.15). It must be judged by heavenly valuesthe fruit of the Spirit produced within uslove, joy, peace (Gal. 5:22).
Our tendency is to judge by appearance. But God judges by what we produce, and so should we.
We all should remember this daily; I try to obey this. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for the lovely Daily Bread. I have missed them every day while computer problems bugged me...LOL! I tried very hard not to have temper tantrums!
Great lesson, Mayor..I am saving this one! Thank you always for Our Daily Bread.