November 10 — "Judging Rightly"

Today's Reading: John 7:1-24

What if I told you that Jesus did not forbid us from judging others? In fact, He commanded us to do so. But—and here’s the caveat—when you judge, judge righteously.

The world loves to toss around Matthew 7:1—“Judge not, that you be not judged”—as if Jesus banned all moral discernment. But hold up! In John 7:24, the same Jesus says, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” Boom. He’s not condemning judgment—He’s calling out hypocrisy and shallow thinking. What He wants is Spirit-led discernment rooted in truth.

Surprising, isn’t it? Jesus didn’t say, “Don’t judge.” He said, “Judge rightly.” In a culture where “judgment” sounds like a dirty word, Jesus flips the script. He’s not talking about puffed-up pride or harsh condemnation. He’s calling us to moral clarity—discernment that aligns with God’s truth.

In John 7, the religious crowd judged Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. They saw the “appearance” of law-breaking.  The Father, who always judges rightly, saw law-fulfilling. God is a just judge (Psalm 7:11). He is a righteous judge—always fair, never corrupt, and perfectly holy in every verdict. They were tangled in appearances—rules, rituals, reputation. Jesus challenged them: “Judge with right judgment.” That means evaluating through the lens of God’s heart, not human bias.

Right judgment starts with righteous calibration. Scripture—not trends, feelings, or optics—sets the standard. It means calling sin what it is, unapologetically, while still seeing sinners as redeemable. It’s hating the darkness but holding out the light.

The Greek word for “judge” (krino) doesn’t mean “condemn”—it means “separate.” To sift truth from lies, good from evil. That’s our calling. Jesus never blurred the lines. He rebuked hypocrisy, exposed deception, and confronted sin—with eyes full of grace and a heart anchored in truth.

This kind of judgment isn’t cruel—it’s courageous. It’s clarity without arrogance, conviction without harshness. We’re not called to ignore evil or gloat over it. We’re called to discern it, address it, and respond like Jesus—with justice and mercy.

In a world that shouts, “Don’t judge!” Jesus gently whispers, “Judge rightly.” Be a truth-teller wrapped in love. A discerner grounded in Scripture. An ambassador of Gospel clarity in a world drowning in gray.

May His Word steady your convictions, His Spirit soften your tone, and His love guard your heart as you judge rightly in a world that’s forgotten how. And may you always pause and seek your Heavenly Father’s righteous judgment in every situation.