“Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1).

That right there is one of the most misunderstood and misused Bible passages in all of scripture. Even people who are not believers know this verse and they know exactly when to use it. It’s when people feel like their choices, preferences, and lifestyles are being confronted.

Almost ever single time I have heard this verse quoted, it’s been misquoted. Let me explain. Let’s take a look at what Jesus does not mean and then look at what Jesus meant.

What Jesus did not mean:

• Jesus is not telling his disciples to stop making distinctions between what is right and wrong.
• Jesus is not saying don’t distinguish between good and evil.
• Jesus is not telling his followers to disregard the teachings and the commandments of God

If Jesus were saying those things that would be ludicrous! Jesus himself tells us, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).

It is the responsibility of the disciple to “Present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

So what did Jesus mean? Jesus is talking about a blind judgmental spirit. Look at how Jesus expounds on our verse – “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye'” (Matthew 7:3-6).

We are all sinners in need of a Savior. We never put ourselves in a situation where we are better than or above another sinner. We are all sinners and as a fellow sinner, we can lead one another to the truths of God’s teachings and commandments. Not as one who is better, but a fellow sinner in need of a Savior.

Jesus is not telling us to cease making judgments about right and wrong. Jesus is telling his disciples to deal with sin as fellow sinners in need of a Savior.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said (Mark 1:17).

“Come, follow me,” was the invitation to the disciples. The first question I would have asked is, “Where?” But Jesus never tells them. The invitation to follow wasn’t to a location, but a person.

Jesus never elaborated where they were going. And that was precisely the point. Following Jesus is less about where, what will happen, how will we pay for the journey. Following Jesus is all about Who we are following.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Jesus is the Savior and Master.
Jesus is our Creator and Sustainer.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
And this Jesus loves us, forgives us, sustains us, protects us.

When we know who Jesus is we won’t be demanding answers to our questions because we will have discovered Jesus is all the answer we need.

“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him (Mark 1:16-18).

We have been studying the gospel according to Luke for the past year as a church. One of the things that I have come to learn this year is how clueless the disciples were. To the very end, the disciples don’t get it. They don’t know who Jesus is. They don’t know what his ministry is all about.

• Peter is always saying and doing things to put his foot in his mouth
• Levi was a tax collector!
• Thomas was a doubter
• They argue amongst themselves about who will be the second in command to Jesus when Jesus restores Israel’s greatness
• They rebuke the children when they come to Jesus
• They could not cast out the demon throwing a young man into the fire
• They could not stay awake when Jesus needed them the most on the Mount of Olives
• Judas ends up selling Jesus for thirty pieces of silver

Sheesh.

What was it about these guys that made Jesus choose them? Two things.

First, when Jesus came to them with the invitation, “Come follow me,” they followed him. Don’t miss this. They took steps to follow him. You can’t stay where you are if you are going to follow. They followed him. You can’t stay where you are if you are following him. You have to leave. You have to take steps. You have to take action to follow where Jesus goes.

Second, they left their nets and followed him. Simon and Andrew were fishermen. For them to leave their nets was to leave their previous life, identity, and livelihood behind. There needs to be a letting go of your previous life, identity, and security if you are to follow Jesus.

What did the disciples have that others did not have that made Jesus choose them?

1. They followed. They had a willingness to obey and take steps to follow Jesus
2. They left their previous identities, lives, and security to locate them in Jesus.

Are you ready to follow Jesus? Jesus beckons to all, “Follow me.”