Let God Judge You
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Sep 22, 2024
- 2 min read
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Matthew 23:23)
Have you ever heard someone say, “Only God can judge me”? Usually, they say this, meaning they don’t want anyone telling them they are wrong. They want a free pass to do destructive things to their lives and others. The truth is that God does judge. That does not mean that God is against you or attacking you. God wants what is best for you, but He will judge your heart to see if it is sensitive to and following Him. God judges what is wrong in your life to help you correct it, and you can follow Him fully.
In today's passage, Jesus, talking to the Pharisees of His day, used the Greek word barus, meaning heavy, to describe these essential elements of following God: judgment, mercy, and faith. Let’s briefly consider those three topics.
Judgment is the word krisis in Greek and means justice. It infers a tribunal or a judge at a trial. Judgment comes from God; it is all about our heart's motive for doing what we do.Mercy is the act of not giving someone the punishment they deserve. As God has been merciful to us, we are called to extend mercy to others.
Faith involves relying on God’s promises and guidance, even when circumstances are challenging. Faith is not just intellectual assent but a deep, personal trust in God’s character and His Word.
The Pharisees were fine doing small things for God religiously. They were majoring in minor things. It is easy to become preoccupied with the external aspects of our faith—attending church, giving, and following religious rules—all the while neglecting to allow God’s heart to influence ours.
Practical Application
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you extend mercy today. How can you show mercy to someone who doesn’t deserve it? How can you show the love of God through your actions with others today?
