Romans 14:1-23 The lordship of Jesus Christ is clearly stated in two of our readings today. Psalm 24 declares the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Many, however, will never acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us in our Romans passage that there will be a day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. There will be a day of judgment in which everyone will have to give an account of how they lived their lives on earth. On that day Jesus, the just judge, will reveal the hearts of men. Who am I then to judge my brother today? This is the question Paul addresses in this passage. He says, “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fail in our brother’s way” (v. 13).
I always am reminded of this verse when I am tempted to judge another person. When we resist the temptation to judge another, we not only spare that person much hurt, but we also spare ourselves a lot of trouble. Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matt. 7:1-2, KJV).
Instead of judging others, I have learned the hard way to release all judgment to the Lord. Jesus alone is the only righteous judge, as we see in Psalm 9:7-8: “But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.”
What a relief it is to me not to have to sit on the judgment seat. The next time you are tempted to judge another, picture that judgment throne with a sign on it, “Reserved for the Only Righteous Judge.”
READ: 2 Chronicles 29:1-36; Romans 14:1-23; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 20:12
