Put away judgment and condemnation

Luke 6:27-28; 37 (NLT)
27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. -- 37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

These are the words of Jesus spoken to a multitude of people who had gathered to listen to His teachings. They were not words just for those who would come to believe in Jesus, but universal words that applied to all people. In these verses Jesus is speaking on two topics, love for your enemies and not passing condemning judgment but instead forgiving.



Let’s take a moment to grasp these words Jesus spoke concerning how we treat others -- Love your enemies. The Greek word used for love is agapao which means doing and caring for others in such a way that you express a deep love for them. In John 3:16 the Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The word love used in this verse is the same type of love we are to express. We are to love our enemies, those who are against us, those who we know, and anyone else -- just as God loved us. How did God love us? God showed us love, mercy and grace by giving His Son Jesus as a payment for our sin - that is how God loved us!

What about judgment of others? Are you able to put away judging condemnation and instead provide forgiveness as God provided forgiveness for us? When the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and took Him before Pilate, Pilate said to them, “Take Him away and judge Him by your law.” Pilate was telling the religious leaders to take Jesus to judge and condemn Him by their laws, their beliefs, and their rules. This is exactly what Jesus told us not to do – we are not to judge and we not to condemn.

Jesus associated himself with all types of people. Jesus ate with sinners. Jesus talked with prostitutes. Jesus talked among the poor and the sick Jesus gathered common people as His disciples. Jesus did not hesitate to take up for others who committed a sin, while at the same time lovingly telling them they should sin no more. Jesus protected the adulteress from bodily harm because He knew her sin was no greater that those who wanted to punish her. Jesus spoke to people about sin and how to live, but Jesus never condemned them. Jesus always loved.

Jesus did not go out into the crowds of sinners to point out an individual who was committing sin. Instead He spoke against sin and had His own boundaries against sin. You can have a boundary that says you won’t allow sin into your life, but you cannot impose that boundary upon others. You can speak to people about sin, but you should never judge or condemn them for their sin.

Too many people today whether Christian or non-Christian think because they have an opinion if another person doesn’t agree then they have the right to judge and condemn. Jesus spoke to all people and said this was unacceptable. Put away your judgment and condemnation and instead reach out to others in love just as Jesus did.