Did God really say I will be judged based on how I judge others?

Yes … yes he did.

Sort of.

Here is what Jesus said, “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 7:2

The seeds of hypocrisy are planted in judgement. This is but one reason we should be slow to judge. The sin we see in others may (and often is) the sin others see in us.

Later Jesus said that when we pray we should say, “Father, forgive us our trespasses, as we also forgive those who trespass against us.”

The key word here is judge. Which is to conclude, decide, determine a matter. When we pass judgement we are saying, “This is the end of the matter. There will be no further consideration or appeal.” In other words, our verdict and sentencing is final.

But we are not the judge. God is.“We will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” Romans 14:12.

Jesus said, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

In this instance bound in heaven is to agree with God that the individuals behavior is sinful. That’s all, nothing more. As jury, we have found the individual guilty of a sin. It is up to the Judge to render punishment.

This difference may seem slight but it is important. Juries declare guilt, but the judge is the one who has the final say in court. We can never say, “You are going to hell.” because we do not know where an individual will end up. That’s for God to decide.

Our job is to reach, teach, and guide, not judge. Leave that task to the one who wrote the laws.

Image by Augusto Ordonez from Pixabay