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Romans 2:3: You Who Judge Those Who Practice Such Things And Yet Do Them Yourself


Romans 2:3
[3] Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? (ESV)

No one likes a phony. Perhaps you have met a few in your lifetime. Consider the crusader against smoking that secretly smokes a pack a day in his private life. Or the preacher who rails against the immorality of his day while keeping several mistresses. Or the squeaky clean Sunday School teacher who gossips about everyone in the town.

Phonies are people who judge others for doing the things that they claim to be against. They bring condemnation to others while ignoring the sin in their own lives that God has condemned. We are not called to be judges. There is only one judge, God himself. He will judge all people. He has not hired us out to do his job for him.

God is looking for sincere hearts. As we look at those who have committed various sins we should be reminded of our own sin. We should humbly ask the Lord to give us compassion for the one who struggles in some area. A sincere heart begins by judging oneself. If we start with judging our self we will have no interest in condemning someone else.

Paul makes it very clear that those who make a practice of judging others while ignoring their own sin can expect real judgment to come upon them. As Scripture says, it is a fearful  thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). No matter how good you think you are, you are not as good as God requires. Leave the judging to him. Instead, seek mercy.

The world does not need any more phonies. Be sincere. Allow God to evaluate your sinful condition. Ask him for mercy and forgiveness. It will set you free from looking at others with self-righteous judgment.

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