The Obligation to Testify

After the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus demonstrated His teachings by healing a leper, showing the Kingdom of God in action. While religious leaders avoided those with leprosy as unclean, Jesus compassionately touched the untouchable, restoring both physical health and human dignity. He instructed the healed man to show himself to the priests as testimony, fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah. This powerful encounter teaches us about the importance of our own testimonies - sharing what God has done in our lives to draw others closer to understanding who Jesus is.Jesus' teaching on 'judge not' isn't about avoiding all judgment, but rather avoiding hypocrisy in how we evaluate others. Using the metaphor of a log in our own eye while trying to remove a speck from another's, Jesus challenges us to address our own issues before criticizing others. This teaching confronts our tendencies toward self-centeredness, selfishness, and narcissism. When we align with Jesus' kingdom, we apply the same standards to ourselves that we use for others, approaching everyone with humility rather than superiority.