Judge Not (Luke 6:37-42)
This sermon is Jesus’ vision of the good, the true, and the beautiful — what life with him looks like. He isn’t saying “do this, and you’ll become my disciples.” He’s saying “you are my disciples, so live this way.”
And right in the center of it all, Jesus gives one of the most difficult commands imaginable:
“Love your enemies… and be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
— Luke 6:35–36
Why? Because mercy is who God is. Mercy is what God does.
God’s heart is not bent toward punishment but toward compassion. As Lamentations says,
“Though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
for he does not afflict from his heart.”
— Lamentations 3:32–33
Mercy lies at the heart of God — and Jesus calls us to make it the heart of our life, too.
The Nature of Judgment
But if mercy is at God’s heart, why does Jesus have to tell us to “be merciful”?
Because mercy doesn’t come naturally to us — judgment does.
We judge constantly: how others parent, dress, vote, worship, or spend their time. We even judge ourselves for doing too much or too little. Jesus’ words are as relevant today as ever:
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned.”
— Luke 6:37
Judgment, at its core, is the refusal to show mercy. It’s acting as if we can see and know what only God can see and know.
And here’s the twist — when we judge others, we end up living in the very world we’ve built: one where mercy is scarce and everyone, including us, is measured and condemned.
Judgment always comes back around. It poisons our hearts and our communities. It’s like, as the saying goes, “drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.”
The False Promises of Judgment
So if judgment hurts us, why do we do it? Because it feels good — at least for a moment.
Jesus shows us that judgment makes false promises:
It promises perfect vision — that we see things clearly, even when we don’t.
It promises superiority — that we’re better than those we judge.
It promises acceptance — that if we point the finger, we’ll belong with others who agree with us.
But these promises are lies. Judgment doesn’t make us wise; it blinds us. It doesn’t lift us up; it isolates us. It doesn’t unite us; it divides us.
As Jesus says, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39).
The Remedy for Judgment
So what’s the cure?
The remedy for judgment is to trust Jesus as the true Judge — the one who sees perfectly, judges rightly, and loves completely.
Our impulse to judge comes from insecurity. But Jesus offers mercy, and mercy brings security.
In John 8, a woman caught in adultery is dragged before Jesus. Her accusers are ready to stone her, but Jesus says:
“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone.”
One by one, they walk away. And then Jesus, the only one who has the right to condemn, says to her:
“Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.”
That’s mercy.
At the cross, Jesus exposes and heals judgment once and for all:
The cross exposes the hypocrisy of our judgment. Before Jesus, no one can pretend to be superior or all-seeing.
The cross heals the wounds that judgment leaves behind — the shame, the rejection, the fear — because Jesus, who could have condemned us, instead takes our condemnation on himself.
As Jesus says in Luke 6:37–38:
“Judge not, and you will not be judged… forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.”
The only one who could rightly condemn you has chosen instead to love you. That’s the mercy that heals.
Reflection Questions
Where are you most tempted to judge — yourself, others, or both?
How does remembering God’s mercy toward you change the way you respond to others?
Who might you need to forgive or show mercy to this week?
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