Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
The command is threefold: do not judge others, do not condemn others, and forgive others, reflecting mercy like the Father in heaven, with the promise that people will be judged, condemned, and forgiven in the same way they treat others. It lays out the plain duty of every Christian in dealing with one another to be controlled by principles of mercy and love. Mercy and the love of God are to predominate, and non-judgment, non-condemnation, and forgiveness are to be cherished as guiding principles, by which life becomes complete in Christ.
Every opportunity is to be improved to help a brother and fellow beings in distress with real, genuine mercy. Condemning speech endangers both the speaker's salvation and that of others, because those who condemn others place themselves under God's condemnation. Instead of harshly judging others, people are to confess their own unchristian conduct. Those who judge their brethren often cherish evils they would not tolerate in others.
The command not to condemn applies even when wrongs must be pointed out, so correction must not become harsh attacks, especially against people who have less light. Those who have had greater opportunities and failed to use them may be more guilty before God than people who are mistaken about doctrine yet sincerely seek to do good, so people must be cautious not to condemn those who may be less guilty before God than they are. The verse means not being ready to find fault and not being quick to condemn others when objectionable things happen and when they fail in some things, especially those who have lived under disadvantages, and not separating them from the work for some misdoing.
Acting is to be with the wisdom of Christ, where kindness accomplishes more than censure, by showing failing ones that helpers want them to reach the highest standard and are willing to help them. Exact and impartial justice is to be shown to the colored race, with tender compassion for the suffering, sympathy for the unfortunate, and generous consideration for misdemeanors. Brethren are not to be given occasion to hate.
The command is threefold: do not judge others, do not condemn others, and forgive others, reflecting mercy like the Father in heaven, with the promise that people will be judged, condemned, and forgiven in the same way they treat others. It lays out the plain duty of every Christian in dealing with one another to be controlled by principles of mercy and love. Mercy and the love of God are to predominate, and non-judgment, non-condemnation, and forgiveness are to be cherished as guiding principles, by which life becomes complete in Christ.
Every opportunity is to be improved to help a brother and fellow beings in distress with real, genuine mercy. Condemning speech endangers both the speaker's salvation and that of others, because those who condemn others place themselves under God's condemnation. Instead of harshly judging others, people are to confess their own unchristian conduct. Those who judge their brethren often cherish evils they would not tolerate in others.
The command not to condemn applies even when wrongs must be pointed out, so correction must not become harsh attacks, especially against people who have less light. Those who have had greater opportunities and failed to use them may be more guilty before God than people who are mistaken about doctrine yet sincerely seek to do good, so people must be cautious not to condemn those who may be less guilty before God than they are. The verse means not being ready to find fault and not being quick to condemn others when objectionable things happen and when they fail in some things, especially those who have lived under disadvantages, and not separating them from the work for some misdoing.
Acting is to be with the wisdom of Christ, where kindness accomplishes more than censure, by showing failing ones that helpers want them to reach the highest standard and are willing to help them. Exact and impartial justice is to be shown to the colored race, with tender compassion for the suffering, sympathy for the unfortunate, and generous consideration for misdemeanors. Brethren are not to be given occasion to hate.