Why Judging Others Might Be Counterproductive To You

Daily Devotional – Friday, December 10, 2021

Judge not, that you be not judged.

Matthew 7:1-2 (NKJV)

Jesus is in Simon the leper’s house in Bethany. That in itself should raise eyebrows because lepers are pariahs in society. What is about to happen, though, is even more appalling to the guests, the twelve apostles included.

A woman (John identifies her as Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha) breaks a flask of costly alabaster oil and begins to anoint Jesus with it. Some bible scholars say this was Mary Magdalene, the one from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons. Other say she was a reformed prostitute.

Why was this fragrant oil wasted?

What we know, however, is that to the onlookers, Mary’s actions are distasteful and wasteful.

But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply (Mark 14:4-5).

No one bothers to ask Mary to explain her action. Her side of the story is not important. What matters is the money wasted through her insensitive and uneconomical action.  

Is she trying to erase her filthy past by ‘bribing’ Jesus with extravagant anointing? What exactly are her motives, they ask. Surely, Jesus must condemn her actions.

She has done a good work for Me

To their surprise, Jesus says:

“Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. for you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” (Mark 14:6-9).

I visualize them turning away in shame. They have judged her motives, which they do not know. Mary’s past reputation has beclouded their thinking. The disciples have magnified her faults thus losing an opportunity to appreciate her noble act towards Jesus.

Judge not, that you be not judged

How many times do we commit the same sin as the disciples? Jesus warns, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” It is easy to make negative conclusions about the ‘unwelcome’ behaviours of other people without knowing their intentions.

Sometimes, even when we think we have all the evidence to pass judgements on others, it would be best to let God do His will with those we consider sinful. After all, it is likely that we are the ones who are sinning by condemning innocent people.

Lord Jesus, teach me not to judge others, especially when I have no evidence and I do not understand the motives for their actions.