Judge Not, Condemn Not… Forgive

This week’s Lesson-Sermon, “God the Preserver of Men”, includes Christ Jesus admonition to “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). Let’s explore this idea more.

Ethel Munro Goss writes in “The Sweet Amenities of Love” (Sentinel August 9, 1958):

“The Master said to his disciples (Luke 6:31), ‘As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.’ He further illustrated this point in these words: ‘Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.’

To material sense, it seems easy for us to condemn, but difficult to forgive. But as spiritual sense, not personal sense, governs our motives and acts, what a change takes place in our judgment of our fellow men! We learn to regard the faults and foibles of our neighbors more charitably and to look for the good in each one, seeing that in reality he is the perfect child of perfect God.

Learning more humility and teachableness, we also see more clearly our own faults and failures and overcome them through the understanding of the infinite love of God, who has made man in His own image and likeness.”

“Jesus, what precept is like thine:

Forgive, as ye would be forgiven;

If heeded, O what power divine

Would then transform our earth to heaven.”
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 163:1)

Kenneth Foster, CS