A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

GOD JUDGES FAIRLY       

Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 

God judges fairly because He knows all and cares equally for all people. Therefore, His judgment is not biased. In all He does, including His judgements, what He thinks and does is for good. His will is a good and gracious will. That is why Jesus taught you to pray to your heavenly Father, “ . . . Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” 

On the other hand, as you in your sinful human nature appoint yourself as judge and jury when it comes to the behavior of those around you, your judgements are not always like those of God. You do have biases. You are not all-knowing. You often look out for yourself first.   

Remember the parable Jesus taught of the master forgiving his servant a huge debt. That servant in turn dealt harshly with a fellow servant who owed him a small debt. After the ungrateful servant had his fellow servant and family thrown into jail because of the debt not being paid, other servants went to the master reporting the ungrateful servants behavior.   

It was out of grace the master had originally forgiven the ungrateful servant’s huge debt. When that servant chose to judge his fellow servant with the full weight of the law instead of with love and compassion, the master, instead of dealing with him a second time with grace and mercy, used the full weight of the law to send him to prison. 

Throughout the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 & 6), Jesus has held His Christian audience and especially His disciples to a high standard of behavior. Christians, Jesus taught, are to be salt and light, to be patient with others, to be faithful in keeping promises, to show love even to enemies, etc.   

In today’s devotional verses, Jesus is addressing your behavior toward your Christian brothers and sisters. You are not superior to them and you are not their judge. Both they and you are sinners who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ through His saving work on Calvary’s cross. Your sins and their sins are forgiven by God because of His grace and mercy. You and they will not be judged by one another, but by Jesus on the last day. On that day, because of God’s gift to you of faith in Jesus you will be judged sinless and fit for heaven. 

Prayer: Cause me, Heavenly Father, to be salt and light, especially to my Christian sisters and brothers for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

Love in Christ is strong and living,  
Binding faithful hearts in one;  
Love in Christ is true and giving.  
May His will in us be done. 

Love is patient and forbearing,   
Clothed in Christ’s humility,  
Gentle, selfless, kind, and caring,  
Reaching out in charity. 

Love in Christ abides forever,  
Fainting not when ills attend;  
Love, forgiving and forgiven,   
Shall endure until life’s end.

Love in Christ Is Strong and Living - LSB 706