Judging Others

When We Stand on the Hill

Over a decade ago, I read a book titled, In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado, and it still resurfaces in my mind. It’s connected to Paul’s message to the Roman Church in Romans 2:1–11, highlighting the trap of judging others that I’ve found myself falling into more times than I’d like to admit.

Lucado tells of five brothers who lived in their father’s castle. Only the eldest obeyed their father’s wishes. The youngest four disobeyed and were swept away by a rushing river, lost and far from home. One built a mud hut and refused to return when the eldest came searching for him.

That brother reminds me of those Paul described in Romans 1:21–32: those who live apart from God, settling for a life of sin instead of returning to the Father.

Then comes another brother (standing high on a hillside) mocking the one in the mud hut below. When the eldest comes near, the hillside brother scoffs.

“How disgusting,” one brother said. “Our brother is an utter failure… Can you imagine a more despicable deed? Building a hut and forgetting our father?” — Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace (ch. 1)

But the eldest replies.

“We need to deal with your sins first.” — Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace (ch. 1)

That’s when it hits me. The hillside brother is every one of us when we start judging others, looking down at them, with pride and arrogance.

The “Therefore” That Changes Everything

Now, let’s dig into the Scriptural text, from which this narrative is created. Paul begins Romans 2 with a sharp reminder:

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man…” — Romans 2:1a

That “therefore” connects directly to the long list of sins in chapter 1: envy, deceit, malice, and sexual immorality. It’s almost as if Paul can hear us cheering from the sidelines: “Preach it, Paul! Tell those sinners off!”

But then he turns the spotlight. He’s not talking about them anymore. He’s talking about us.

…every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. – Romans 2:1b-2

When I read that, I can’t help but think of how quickly we become the brother looking down from the hillside at someone else’s “mud hut.” It’s easier to notice their sin than my own. But Paul reminds us that when we judge, we reveal our own hypocrisy.

The Secret Sins We Hide

We all have things we hide deep in our hearts: envy, deceit, lust, anger. The problem isn’t that we sin; it’s that we pretend we don’t.

As a pastor, I’ve seen both the public shame and private pain that sin brings. Churches sometimes condemn people struggling with one kind of sin, while quietly tolerating another. But Paul continues to reveal the bigger picture:

“There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil.” – Romans 2:9

Sin hurts everyone, no matter what form it takes.

Years ago, my senior pastor taught me a phrase I’ll never forget: “Hurt people, hurt people.” He’d seen how pain (always caused by sin) spills over into the lives of others. And when we judge instead of caring, we only add to that hurt.

Coming Down from the Hill

Jump back up to verse 5:

“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself.” — Romans 2:5

Pointing fingers never helps. It only hardens our hearts. We build our own hilltops of pride, looking down while carrying hurt we refuse to face. The longer we stay there, the lonelier it gets. But the gospel changes everything.

“Glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good… For God shows no partiality.” – Romans 2:10–11

God invites us to come down from the hill; to stop judging, start repenting, and walk back toward His grace. When we do, He meets us halfway, just like the father in the story.

If there’s someone you’ve judged or cut off, maybe it’s time to ask forgiveness from them, and from God. You don’t need a perfect speech. Just start walking. He’ll guide your words and heal your heart.

It’s time to end the hurt.

Join the Conversation; Answer This Question

Who might you need to stop judging and start caring for this week?