Who Knows Your Heart?

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Judge not, lest you be judged.” It isn’t just a catchy phrase; it is a warning from God. You can find this actual verse in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 1, but that is just the beginning of what I want to say today. I want to focus on the reason we shouldn’t, or at least can’t properly, judge others.

A good example of why we shouldn’t judge is found in today’s Gospel lesson. The lesson is cutting for the Pharisee and for us. In revealing to the Pharisee just how much he didn’t know about the woman, Jesus says, “You gave me no water for my feet…..you gave me no kiss….you did not anoint my head.” All this to show how he had ignored Jesus, but the sinful woman was filled with love for Jesus and was forgiven by Him.

Next time you want to judge, take a step back and check your own heart.

At that time, one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house, and took his place at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “What is it, Teacher?” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7.36-50

Now think of someone you have judged recently and ask yourself, “Is there something I don’t know about the story?” I like to think about Zacchaeus who repented completely in private to Jesus. The crowd outside his house knew absolutely nothing about what took place in the house. If Jesus walked outside arm in arm with Zacchaeus, would you be scandalized, even though you knew nothing about what had just taken place? Check out the whole story.

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Luke 19.1-10

Next time you are tempted to judge what you think you know about someone, remember these two stories. Here’s one more thing to consider before you judge what you think you know. Think about how little other people know about your heart and your relationship with God, and consider you know just as little about their hearts as they know about yours.

Only God knows your heart fully, so only God can and should judge. Next time you want to judge, take a step back and check your own heart. Chances are pretty good, there’s something in your heart that needs more attention that the attention you are giving to the sin of others.