Exploring the Text: Judging others
One of the most well know passages about judging others is Matthew 7. Paul expounds on that here. He addresses two of the most controversial issues, eating food offered to idols and keeping the Sabbath and the other Jewish feast days. Some people believed they should not eat meat offered to idols, while others saw nothing wrong with it. Some people believed that they should observe the Sabbath and the Jewish feast days, while others didn't see the point. None of these viewpoints were necessarily wrong, the problem was that they were condemning those who did not agree with them.
This is the situation Paul is addressing. Paul gives three pieces of advice. First, he encourages his readers to welcome those who don't have the same perspectives and to not argue over differences of opinion. Second, he says that whatever their opinion is and whatever they choose to do, they should do so with the intention of honoring God. Finally, he says that everyone should live according to their convictions (let each be fully convinced).
Paul's advice is based on the foundational principle that every individual is accountable to God. We are not in a position to judge others because they are not accountable to us anyway. They are God's, not ours, so they answer to God, not us. Since each of us in accountable to God, we should be concerned about ourselves, not about others anyway. We need to focus on following Paul's advice for ourselves instead of worry about what other people do or don't do, think or don't think.
David Dalton
One of the most well know passages about judging others is Matthew 7. Paul expounds on that here. He addresses two of the most controversial issues, eating food offered to idols and keeping the Sabbath and the other Jewish feast days. Some people believed they should not eat meat offered to idols, while others saw nothing wrong with it. Some people believed that they should observe the Sabbath and the Jewish feast days, while others didn't see the point. None of these viewpoints were necessarily wrong, the problem was that they were condemning those who did not agree with them.
This is the situation Paul is addressing. Paul gives three pieces of advice. First, he encourages his readers to welcome those who don't have the same perspectives and to not argue over differences of opinion. Second, he says that whatever their opinion is and whatever they choose to do, they should do so with the intention of honoring God. Finally, he says that everyone should live according to their convictions (let each be fully convinced).
Paul's advice is based on the foundational principle that every individual is accountable to God. We are not in a position to judge others because they are not accountable to us anyway. They are God's, not ours, so they answer to God, not us. Since each of us in accountable to God, we should be concerned about ourselves, not about others anyway. We need to focus on following Paul's advice for ourselves instead of worry about what other people do or don't do, think or don't think.
David Dalton