Jesus promises believers the Holy Spirit, a presence the world cannot accept. The sermon distinguishes between two kinds of judgment: discernment, which evaluates with wisdom, and condemnation, which harms. Christians are called to live differently by exercising discernment while avoiding destructive criticism.
Jesus tells us in John 14:6, I am the way and the truth and the light. And in verse 14, if you love me, keep my commands, and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. Once more, Jesus is telling us that we are to live differently. And again, I understand that this can be wildly uncomfortable, and it can get complicated when people say we are not to judge. So let's focus on what the word means, because it can either mean to evaluate or to criticize. To evaluate means to determine the significance worth, or condition of, usually by careful appraisal and study. A synonym is to discern. To criticize means to find fault with, to point out the flaw of. The synonym is judge. We're to use discernment, which means evaluating and judging our surroundings, behaviors, and beliefs. That's what helps us to know what we should and shouldn't be doing. But we are not to criticize, which has a more negative intent. Think condemn, gossip, slander. So when the Bible tells us not to judge, it's focusing on the criticism. So part of discerning is knowing our own boundaries. This again is for us to know how we should be living.
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