Part Thirteen, Jesus’s teaching continues. Do Not Judge.

Part Thirteen, Jesus’s teaching continues. Do Not Judge.

One of the ways Jesus taught was to use parables [stories] what is interesting is how most are still relevant 2000 years later?

Matthew chapter 7 verses 1 to 6

Do Not Judge

1] “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Luke chapter 6 verse 37 and 38

Do Not Judge Others

37] “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”

We are all guilty of having preconceived views on people, actions of others, even sometimes before we have met them, or have obtained all the facts to come to a reasoned judgement. Would we like to be judged by the standards that we judge them by?

I suppose we are seeing a classic example now between the way our government is dealing with the latest crisis in Salisbury and the more dangerous crisis developing in Syria. Will it won’t it escalate? We condemn the alleged actions by Syria, not proven. A terrible action if it is true by anyone whichever faction is behind it. [it is a proven fact that ISIS/DAESH have this capability]

Yet we ignore the fact we have supplied weapons to other regimes that have used these weapons against civilians [including children]. Are not our leaders being hypocritical?

Luke chapter 6 verses 39 to 42

39] He also told them a parable: “Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

This is a repetition of Mathew but; verse 39 and 40 gives us a different slant.

39] He also told them a parable: “Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher.

We need to learn and be certain of our facts. These facts can be gained from both our own experiences and our teachers. Two things of note we are always learning, my views now are different from when I was in my teens and twenties. Teachers who teach must be willing to continue to learn from their experiences and maybe modify their own teachings if needs be. I have found that in teaching you learn much from the person being taught.

Lastly on a lighter note; Peanuts was a comic character who used to comment on issues, both funny and informative. Https://

Peanuts

In one cartoon strip, Linus asks Lucy, "Why are you so anxious to criticize me?"

Lucy responds, "I just think I have a knack for seeing other people's faults."

To that Linus snaps, "What about your own faults?"

Lucy in her self-righteousness responds, "I have a knack for overlooking them."

In the end we shall all be held to account for our own actions

Comments

How do you combine those sentiments and sayings with the rule of law?

Judgments must be made at some point, even if to discern between right and wrong.

While looking down on others may be a bad thing, judging in itself I dont think is inherently bad.

"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.

Like most things in life, things that appear simple at first sight are not.

How does one interpret Law?

The law the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties. As defined by the English Oxford Dictionary, but and there is always a but.

The Law as to be seen as fair for the majority of people who have to live under it, otherwise it will be ignored, or will require severe punishments to enforce it. All people who live within the jurisdiction of the country must abide by the same rules, these rules to be applied impartially on all people who live within the jurisdiction of the country.

It becomes messy when people of different cultures live within one country, or many countries try to live under the same law [International Law]. Link below for a fuller definition, but it may throw up more questions then answers, hence the need for lawyers who give their opinions? But many lawyers give many opinions?

Yes Judgements have to be made, and another big but.

What is acceptable varies within time, place, people and location.

Two examples;

Homosexuality in the UK was illegal in the 1950’s and condemned, the majority of the people accepted this ruling. Now it considered lawful, whilst there are sections within the population who don’t like this fact and but they have to accept it.

In certain countries the drinking of alcohol is forbidden and is punished. In certain other countries the drinking of alcohol [within certain limits] is deemed acceptable. But if you chose to visit, or live in the countries were these different rules apply, then you have to accept this fact. Or as the saying goes, when in Rome follow the Romans.

Again we are back to using your Judgement, Interesting link below.

Looking down on others? In life [unless you are young] things are rarely black and white.