- Own work - Judge Frank Caprio is the Chief Municipal Judge in Providence, Rhode Island.
How do you reconcile Jesus' persistent call to repentance with the blatant command not to judge in Matthew 7?
Pretty easily.
Matthew 7's teaching focuses on the issue of judging, or rather, not judging other people. We can find all sorts of loopholes, lots of wiggle room, and an easy 40 acres for turning our rigs around, but the point remains, Jesus is not calling us to be judgmental sour pusses, but compelling agents of grace.
Folks already know their failings.
The call to repentance is joyful good news that there is a possibility and help for real change.
Listen to Psalm 32!