13 October 2021

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, ‘We know that God’s judgement on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.’ Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgement of God?

From Romans 2:1-11 , NRSV

Prior to this stern rebuke to those Jews who were judging others for failings of which they were also guilty, Paul had also chastised those gentiles who were not behaving well. He wants the Jews to realise that they were no better than the gentiles they judged if their behaviour was also immoral. Their reliance of following the Law of Moses was not enough if they were at the same time ignoring those in need or treating others badly. Paul went on to state clearly that God has no favourites and that God’s mercy was available to all – Jew or gentile – who repented of sin and sought to do good.

• • How do you suppose the Jews would have reacted to this rebuke from Paul?
  • What can help us to avoid the temptation to judge others?

Try to live today with the awareness of how your words and actions affect others.