Articles
 The Upper Room Discourse 79
 The Upper Room Discourse 78
 The Upper Room Discourse 77
 The Upper Room Discourse 76
 The Upper Room Discourse 75
 The Upper Room Discourse 74
 The Upper Room Discourse 73
 The Upper Room Discourse 72
 The Upper Room Discourse 71
 The Upper Room Discourse 70

Series [All]
 Daniel Juster (61)
 Fruit of the Spirit (8)
 Guy Cohen (56)
 Introduction to Messianic Judaism (24)
 Juster summer trip
 Mark Rantz (2)
 The Mitzvah Book (93)
 Tikkun Articles (5)
 Torah Thoughts
 Zion's Glory (3)

Archive


 

Wednesday, 28 April 2021
Judging

The recent portion portion contains Leviticus 19:15. The last phrase of that verse is this ... Leviticus 19:15b "you are to judge your neighbor with fairness." Wait a minute, I thought we are told not to judge. For example, Matthew 7:1a "Judge not." Let me ask you a question. Do you remember (hint: it was earlier this week) we studied the difference between judgment (the trial) and judgment (the verdict)? We are not to judge (pass down a condemnation verdict) but we are to have good discernment, which is also judgment, to know the difference between right and wrong. In telling us to judge our neighbor with fairness, the context indicates that this means we are not to bear a false witness; don’t lie about your neighbor.

My point here is that at no time are we to lose the value of good sense (and obeying the commandments of God) out of a desire to not judge. Unitarians and secular humanists do that. The result of being all inclusive is frequently an abomination to God and His principles. The command is ... Ephesians 4:14-15 "As a result, we are no longer to be like children, tossed around by the waves and blown all over by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of men with cunning in deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all ways into Messiah, who is the Head."

Anyone can speak the truth, but that’s not the command. Speaking the truth in love requires wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:31 "But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And still I show you a far better way." What follows is the love chapter and the greatest teaching on love in the entire Bible.

Posted By Rabbi Michael Weiner, 10:00am Comment Comments: 0