In the same way you judge
others, you will be judged.
—Matthew 7:2
In Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, Joseph, a stern, judgmental character, throws Bible bombs of condemnation at people. Nelly describes him as “the wearisomest self-righteous Pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself and fling the curses to his neighbors.”
Some of us compare ourselves favorably to others: taking shots at their sins while excusing—or at least justifying—our own. Paul tells us it is inexcusable to pass judgment on someone else’s sins while whitewashing our own: “You judge those who do wrong, but you do wrong yourselves” (Rom 2:3).
God hasn’t appointed us as judges, so let’s take off the robe and lay down the gavel.
When we presume the right to judge, God turns the tables on us, and we become the judged.
God judges self-appointed judges.