You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
Romans 2:1-4

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

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Judging others and then being judged for the same thing… I experienced this firsthand in a powerful way. Over 30 years ago, I paused my full-time career for seven years when my kids were little. One of my part-time jobs was to bring huge computer monitors and towers to preschools so the students could work on educational software. This was before computers were commonplace in homes. In this season, as a favor to a neighbor, I babysat her three-year-old son one day. When she came to retrieve him, he didn’t want to leave because he was playing on these novelty computers. He said “no” multiple times until she persuaded him to leave. As I watched their interaction and the little boy’s disobedience, I was flooded with judgemental thoughts in my mind and spirit.

The very next day, I went to pick up my three-year-old son from a playdate at a different neighbor’s house. My sweet boy threw himself down on the ground, screaming and shouting that he wanted to stay and play. I picked him up, kicking and fighting. He grabbed the sides of the door jams on the way out. I pried off one set of tiny fingers while holding his writhing body in my other arm. He quickly clutched the door jam again when I moved to break his grip on the other hand. To make matters worse, my neighbor’s husband came home from work and walked up the driveway. I had a full audience. I drove two blocks home, and he was sound asleep in the carseat. I dropped my head on the steering wheel and said a prayer of confession with a very, very contrite heart. My son had never done this before and never did it again, so I firmly believe God used this as a correction in my judgmental spirit.

In our sinful nature, it is easy to judge someone else. There are so many warnings in the Bible not to fall into this temptation. I believe it is only by constantly leaning into the Holy Spirit we can overcome this all-too-natural of a response.

Next Steps

Honestly search your heart.  Who do you judge? Do you feel superior to an individual or a whole group you have stereotyped? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need to repent and change.