The Mirror of Judgment

Romans 2:1-4

Scripture: Romans 2:1-4 (ESV) "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"

The Devotion: Paul's message in Romans 2 serves as a stark mirror to those of us who might be quick to judge others. It's a humbling reminder that when we point out faults in others, we're often guilty of the same or similar missteps. This passage isn't just about the act of judging. Rather this passage reminds us how blind we are to our own sin. This blindness is often only revealed when we judge others, because our hypocrisy condemns us. Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to look in and say “isn’t this just the pot calling the kettle black?” This is what Paul does in our passage.

Is it not true, that we have a tendency to judge others harshly while excusing our own sin? Is this not a trap all of us have fallen into. When the other person sins, it is because they are a bad person, but when we sin there always seems to be some excuse or extenuating circumstance we come up with! Paul holds up a mirror to help us come to terms with our own shortcomings.

So what is the answer?