Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge,

.... for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things (Roman 2:1). The “therefore” of this verse links it with the previous chapter, where Paul describe the slippery slope to reprobation. There is a strong tendency for religious people to look down on those who, in their view, are reprobate. It is a “holier than thou” kind of attitude,  and it is smoke in the Lord's nostrils. To me, the Lord's teaching on judgemental attitudes is among the scariest teachings in Scripture. In particular “with the same measure you judge, will you be judged (Matthew 7:1).  If you or I judge without mercy or compassion we will, unless we repent,  be judged without mercy or compassion.  For me this is particularly scary in light of the second half of this verse “you who judge do the same things.”

We don't see it of course, it's part of the tendency to minimize our own sin,  while maximizing other peoples. It is also part of the phenomenon that the faults of others that annoy us the most,  tend to be those we have ourselves. This verse was brought home to me years ago,  when a new convert, fresh out of the drug scene, was attending our fellowship. She talked without ceasing, sometimes without taking a breath. I was driving her home one time when she stated complaining about another member of the fellowship. When I asked her what  the problem was, she told me “Well, you can't get a word in edgeways!”  It's is kind of subtle really, because we can clearly see things in others that are wrong, and we are also told not to condone evil. Indeed “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).   Jesus' dealing with the woman taken in adultery is a fine example of how to do this.  He told her “neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more” (see John 8:1-11). He did not condemn, but neither did He condone, He did not say it didn't matter!

This distinction is important. May times when we expose the works of darkness, simply by refusing to take part in them (have no fellowship with them). And then we are accused of judging, and “Judge not” is thrown back at us.  And here once again the inadequacy of words is exposed, because we are  also told to judge with righteous judgement (John 7:24).  The judge in a trial will condemn the guilty person, he needs to judge justly of course.  The judge in a competition will seek to discern (determine) who, or what,  is best, and she needs to do that without bias.   If we are not supposed to judge (as in discern) that something is wrong, how on earth would we know to go and gently correct one who is overtaken in a fault (Galatians 6:1)?

Father, it is so very, very easy to slip into judging others, in the sense of condemnation. It is not that long ago that You convicted me of judging (condemning) those who judge. You know those blankety blank judgemental people! It's also hard Lord when we are injured by others, but You tell us to be kind compassionate and forgiving. We need Your Grace, humility and love Lord, and I'm asking for it this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen