Before I Judge, Listen in Love

In John 7:51 I read, “According to our Law we cannot condemn people before hearing them and finding out what they have done.” (GNT)

It’s hard to be judgmental when I’m trying to listen with compassion, honesty, sincerity, and fairness. James 1:19 says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (NIV). Listen first before I judge.

One time the Pharisees were trying to judge Jesus without letting him have a say or explain himself. They didn’t want to hear his side of the story. But Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees, spoke up and said, “According to our Law we cannot condemn people before hearing them and finding out what they have done” (John 7:51 GNT).

How many times have I judged someone, my child, my spouse, my neighbor, my enemy, without listening to their story first? Have I treated someone the same way the Pharisees treated Jesus?

When I feel the urge to judge someone, stop and take a breath. Hold that breath if I need to, if that’s what it takes for me to listen before I speak! If I don’t listen first, I am committing the sin of judging others.

Do I think something needs to come to light in someone’s life? That thing probably is not mine to expose. Let God take care of it. My job is to listen first. Try to understand before judging someone’s struggle.

Jesus said, “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” (Matthew 7:1-2 NIV).

Do to others as I would have them do to me. Listen in love, and let God be the judge.

In summary, I should not condemn people before hearing them and finding out what they have done. It will be hard to be judgmental when I’m trying to listen with compassion, honesty, sincerity, and fairness. So I need to listen first before judging. Have I treated someone the same way the Pharisees treated Jesus? When I feel the urge to judge, stop and take a breath. Then listen before I speak! If I don’t, I am committing the sin of judging others. My job is to listen first. Try to understand before judging someone’s struggle. Do to others as I would have them do to me. Listen in love, and let God be the judge.