“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.”
—Luke 6:37       

Reflection

Jesus was revealing the way of His kingdom, and this kingdom was full of grace. When someone did evil against you, the response now called for forgiveness instead of bitterness, love instead of hatred, and mercy instead of judgment. Jesus was calling His followers to a higher level, revealing more of Himself and showing them how life in His kingdom was to be lived.

He reminded His followers, ““In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”” (Matthew 7:12).

That poses a problem for us because the truth is that we rarely want an equal return. Too often we live by a double standard. When we do something wrong, we want forgiveness. But when someone does us wrong, our natural, human tendency is to hold that person to the Law. We want the person to be held accountable for what was done, or we may even want vengeance.

This reveals something in us, not just in our relationships with each other but also in our relationship with God. How often do we want God to extend forgiveness and grace to us, yet when our brother or sister does us wrong, we want judgment?

Jesus presents us with a radical challenge: will we be willing to forgive those who hurt us? Will we be willing to release our offenders from the judgment we believe they deserve?

Jesus said that whatever measurement we choose to use on others is the same measurement that will be used with us: “For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38).

Here is the wonderful news. When we are willing to live by Jesus’ kingdom standards, we are walking in grace upon grace and reflecting the very nature of God Himself. The more we do this, the more Christlike we become.

Yeshua is the ultimate fulfillment of both the Law and grace. God has called us into a life of living through the grace of Jesus Christ. When Jesus hung on the cross, He looked upon those who mocked Him, abused Him, and pierced Him, and He said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).

Are we willing to offer that same amazing grace, radical forgiveness, and divine love to those who do wrong to us?

Application

• When someone wrongs you, ask whether you are demanding judgment from them while wanting grace for yourself.
• Choose forgiveness, mercy, and love, treating others with the grace you desire to receive.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the grace You have extended to me through Yeshua. Search my heart and show me where I am holding others to a standard of judgment while asking You for mercy toward me. Give me the strength to forgive those who have hurt me and to release bitterness, hatred, and the desire for vengeance. Teach me to walk in the higher grace of Your kingdom and to reflect Your nature in the way I treat others. Make me more like Yeshua, full of mercy, forgiveness, and divine love. Amen.