In Matthew 7:1 Jesus says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged”. Most people stop reading here and come up with this belief that Jesus is teaching that we should never judge.

The truth is we have to make judgments every day. If we read on, Jesus is saying that we need to make rational, fair judgments and should expect to be judged with the same severity in which we judge others. Verse 2 says, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

There was a time in my past where I was sitting at a restaurant and happened to look up and I recognized a person going to the bar. I had knowledge that this person was struggling with an addiction.

My first thought was that this person had relapsed, and I felt a sadness for them and some disappointment. I didn’t stare at them, but quickly was reminded of these verses in Matthew 7. As I thought more about this, the person most likely was going to the bar to pick up a food order not to go backwards in their fight against addiction.

Even if that person had made a bad choice, my response should have been to pray for them and be of any positive support I could be, not to find a reason to look down on them or spread gossip about them.

As we go through life, we will have to make all kinds of judgments, but may we practice judging in a way in which we desire others to judge us.