Title Do not judge (Matthew 7:1-5)
Just as you can know a person by looking at the structure of a person's language, if you want to know what kind of society a society is, you can tell by looking at the flow of words used by that society. Overall, our country is becoming a society full of conflict, hatred, confrontation, fighting, and criticism. So, the virtues that make society happy, such as love, forgiveness, gentleness, humility, temperance, understanding, and cooperation, are disappearing, and the society is being transformed into a harsh, barren, insecure, and unkind society. It is truly a sad phenomenon. There are six virtues that Jews consider to be virtues. The first virtue is 'study'. The second is 'visiting the patient'. The third is 'treating guests well'. The fourth is 'praying'. The fifth is 'to teach your children the faith well'. The sixth is 'seeing other people's strengths and praising others'. A virtuous person is someone who talks about the strengths of others in their conversations. 'Do not criticize' is what the Lord is teaching through today's text. This is a precious message to us who enjoy criticizing each other and living in an era of criticism.
Why not criticize?
First, because no one can see the whole. We cannot see and criticize anyone else in their entirety. Criticism is partial. Therefore, it would be wrong to look at one part of another and criticize that person as a whole. People criticize what they see. But how inaccurate is seeing other people? What you saw today is wrong and what you saw tomorrow is wrong. So what we saw is that we have seen a part, and this is inaccurate. Also, people criticize what they hear. But how inaccurate are people's words? Even those who listen and talk do not know how inaccurate they are because they speak according to their own opinions. Therefore, it is wrong to criticize what others have told us. We don't see the whole. Therefore, do not criticize.
Second, because no one can make accurate criticism and judgment. Who can accurately criticize and judge? Life is not being able to feel accurately about yourself. As such, humans are limited beings, so we should not criticize others.
Third, because no one has the right to criticize others. A woman caught in adultery meets Jesus. Jesus tells people that the one without sin should first cast a stone at him. At that time, there is a story that people who had gathered there put down stones one by one and went back. No one is in a position to criticize and judge others. This is also taught in today's text. There's a log in your eye, and don't try to pull the speck out of someone else's eye. You can't see the other person right away because you have a beam in your eye. So, I'm telling you to look at yourself first. There is a saying that pinches Christians. 'People who are as sharp as a needle towards others, but as generous as the sea towards themselves' This is a story about people who have a beam in their eyes and try to catch a speck in the eyes of others. We are not worthy to criticize others because we ourselves are not judging others.
Fourth, because of the fact that criticizing creates greater conflict and breaks peace. In the verse of the text, “Judge not, lest you be judged, for with the judgment with which you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure that you measure, you will be measured.” It only creates and does not make peace.
What are the psychological motives of the critic?
First, critics tend to neglect their work. There is a saying, 'If you go to someone's house and go to the house of someone who goesssips about other people, the needle wrapper is broken'. It is that a person who cannot properly keep a needle wrapper in his house and who is very neglectful in his work wanders around openly and gossips about others. Those who are busy with their own work do not interfere with other people's affairs. So, this is the most difficult thing to do in the church. When someone who is inferior in society or inferior in the family comes to church, they will scratch and swear at them. Those who do not have sincerity in their work or who have a sense of inferiority have great difficulties in leading a faithful life in the church.
Second, criticizing others in order to justify one's own faults. When everyone is a sinner, my sins are justified. If I am a sinner, the human heart wants others to be sinners as well. That is why sinners like sinners when they see them. Because of these psychological characteristics, they express and criticize the faults of others in order to justify their own faults. Also, there are people who criticize others for their faults in order to gain vicarious satisfaction that they are righteous and successful. There is an old saying that people are rebuked for rustling pine needles. This describes the psychology of criticizing others in order to hide one's faults and weaknesses.
Third, we criticize others because we have our own mistakes and weaknesses. It is said that when I have such an experience, I criticize others. Here's an example. It is said that Lee Seong-gye met Ambassador Muhak while he was a general before becoming king after a coup. It happened around the time when the two of them became close humanly. It is said that General Lee Seong-gye glanced at the Master Muhak one day and joked, 'Master Muhak, from what you see, the statue is a pig. How is the monk wearing a pig statue?' Then Master Muhak replies, 'You look like a Buddha to me.' Then Seong-gye Lee asked, 'How do you look at me like a Buddha?' It's a really meaningful story.
Fourth, those who try to correct their own faults do not easily evaluate the faults of others. A person who strives to live his life sincerely, endures, manages himself thoroughly, and strives to live according to God's ordinances, ordinances, and ordinances does not try to criticize others. Therefore, a person who talks recklessly about other people is a person who lives his or her life recklessly. A person who speaks rudely about others is criticizing others because they do not know the meaning of life and how difficult it is to live truthfully. You need to be forgiving and understanding toward others. That is the way for us to be blessed.