What does the Bible mean when it says, “Do not judge”?

A Heart of Grace: What Jesus Truly Meant by “Do Not Judge”

Have you ever felt the sting of it? Perhaps it was a quiet comment in the church foyer, a concerned look from a family member, or a pointed remark from a fellow Christian that left you feeling small, misunderstood, and hurt. You may have an unconventional look, with tattoos and piercings that express who you are, only to be told by a well-meaning believer that if you were a “true Christian,” you would “adapt to be like the rest of us”.¹ Or maybe you grew up as a pastor’s kid, living under a constant magnifying glass where your every move was scrutinized by the congregation, breeding in you a deep-seated passion to never make anyone else feel so judged.² For many, the love they feel from their Christian family can seem painfully conditional; one moment you are cherished, but the next, if you express a doubt or a different belief, you are met with a look of “disgust, IN JUDGEMENT”.³

This experience is tragically common within the family of God. And it often revolves around one of the most famous, yet profoundly misunderstood, commands in all of Scripture: “Do not judge”.⁴

This verse, found in Matthew 7:1, has become a cultural weapon. It is frequently quoted by those outside the faith to silence any Christian who speaks on moral issues, and it is sometimes used by believers to deflect correction or excuse behavior that the Bible calls sin.⁶ The result is a cloud of confusion, hurt, and frustration. We are left asking: What did Jesus really mean? Are we never supposed to make a moral evaluation? How do we reconcile this command with other parts of the Bible that tell us to discern truth from error and hold one another accountable?

If these questions echo in your heart, you are not alone. The purpose of this article is to walk with you, carefully and with grace, through the words of Jesus. Our goal is not to forge a new weapon for arguments or a loophole for sin, but to discover the beautiful, life-giving truth at the heart of this command. Together, we will move past the confusion to uncover a path of radical humility, honest self-examination, and the kind of deep, restorative love that reflects the very heart of our Savior.

What Did Jesus Actually Mean When He Said, “Do Not Judge”?

To understand Jesus’s powerful command, we must first see it in its proper home: the Sermon on the Mount. This sermon, which spans chapters 5 through 7 of Matthew’s Gospel, is the constitution of the Kingdom of God. In it, Jesus is painting a picture of a new kind of righteousness, one that goes far deeper than the external, rule-keeping religion of the Pharisees.⁹ He has already exposed their hypocrisy in acts of giving, prayer, and fasting, showing that God is concerned with the motives of the heart, not just outward performance (Matthew 6).

When Jesus arrives at chapter 7, He turns his attention to one of the most insidious forms of hypocrisy: the practice of judging others. His command, “Do not judge,” is not a blanket prohibition against all forms of evaluation. It is a direct and powerful rebuke of a specific kind of judgment: the censorious, condemning, and self-righteous spirit that had become a hallmark of the religious elite.⁷ The Pharisees had perfected the art of making themselves feel spiritually superior by meticulously pointing out the faults of others, all while being completely blind to their own powerful brokenness.⁴

The Log and the Speck: A Call to Radical Humility

The heart of Jesus’s teaching is found in the unforgettable and intentionally jarring metaphor of the log and the speck. He asks, “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 take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).

The imagery is a form of hyperbole, designed to show the sheer absurdity of the situation. Imagine a person with a massive wooden beam sticking out of their eye trying to perform delicate surgery on a friend to remove a tiny splinter.⁴ It is not only hypocritical; it is dangerous and utterly ineffective.

Crucially, Jesus provides a sequence. He does not say, “Never help your brother with the speck.” He says, “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye”.⁴ This means that honest self-examination and repentance are the absolute prerequisites for offering any kind of helpful correction to another person. Unaddressed sin in our own lives doesn’t just make us hypocrites; it literally blinds us. The log in our eye obstructs our vision, making us functionally unqualified and incapable of offering the clear-sighted, gentle help our brother or sister needs.¹⁴ Before we can even think of helping another, we must first come before God in humility, acknowledging our own desperate need for His grace.

This command is also a foundational principle for protecting the health of the Christian community. A culture of harsh, censorious judgment is toxic. It breeds fear, encourages pride, and destroys the trust necessary for genuine fellowship and vulnerability.⁹ By demanding self-judgment Jesus institutes a vital safeguard that makes authentic Christian community possible, preventing it from collapsing into the very Pharisaism He so strongly condemned.

The Mirror of Judgment

Within this teaching, Jesus issues a powerful spiritual law: “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Matthew 7:2). This is not merely a threat of future punishment from God, but a description of a present spiritual reality. The standard we use to measure others becomes the standard that is applied to us, both by God and by other people.¹⁵

Jesus brings this principle to life in his interaction with Simon the Pharisee, recorded in Luke 7. A woman with a sinful reputation enters Simon’s house and begins to anoint Jesus’s feet with expensive perfume and her own tears. Simon immediately judges her in his heart, thinking, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching him, that she is a sinner”.¹⁴

Jesus, knowing Simon’s thoughts, tells a short parable about two debtors, one who owed a great deal and one who owed little. When the lender cancels both debts, Jesus asks which debtor will love the lender more. Simon correctly replies, “The one, I suppose, for whom he canceled the larger debt.” Jesus then turns Simon’s own judgmental standard back on him like a mirror. He points out that Simon, the host, offered none of the common courtesies—a kiss, water for his feet, or oil for his head. In contrast, this “sinful” woman had lavished all these things on Him with extravagant love. Simon was so busy counting the woman’s flaws that he was utterly blind to his own lack of love and his own need for forgiveness.¹⁴ The measure he used for her—a measure of cold condemnation—was measured back to him, revealing the poverty of his own heart. This is precisely the kind of hypocritical judgment Jesus warns against.

What Does the Original Greek Word for “Judge” Reveal?

Part of the confusion surrounding this topic comes from the limitations of translation. The single English word “judge” fails to capture the full, rich meaning of the original Greek word Jesus used in Matthew 7:1, which is krinō (κρίνω).⁶ This word appears 114 times in the New Testament, and its meaning changes depending on the context in which it is used.⁶

To understand what Jesus meant, it helps to see the broad spectrum of meaning this one word can carry. Krinō can mean:

• To evaluate or form an opinion. When Jesus told Simon the Pharisee, “You have judged correctly” (Luke 7:43), He was affirming Simon’s correct evaluation of his parable.
• To make a decision or resolve. When the Roman governor Festus decided to send Paul to Italy, the book of Acts uses the word krinō (Acts 27:1).
• To prefer or esteem. In his letter to the Romans, Paul discusses how one person might esteem (krinō) one day as more sacred than another, while someone else esteems every day alike (Romans 14:5).
• To rule or govern. Jesus promised his disciples that they would one day sit on thrones to judge (krinō) the twelve tribes of Israel, meaning to rule over them (Matthew 19:28).
• To condemn or sentence. In one of the most beloved verses, John 3:17, we are told that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn (krinō) the world, but to save it.⁶

This variety shows us that the word itself is not inherently negative. The crucial lesson is that context is king.¹⁶ When we look at Matthew 7, where the word

krinō is surrounded by warnings against hypocrisy, pride, and the self-righteousness of the Pharisees, it becomes clear that Jesus is using it in its negative sense. He is forbidding a condemning, fault-finding, and arrogant type of judgment.¹⁰ He is not commanding us to turn off our brains, but to shut down our pride.

It is possible that this intentional use of a broad term is a pastoral strategy on Jesus’s part. A legalistic mind craves a precise list of rules—”You can judge this, but you can’t judge that.” Jesus, But is always concerned with the posture of the heart. By using a word like krinō, He forces us to look inward and ask ourselves difficult questions. Why am I evaluating this person? Is my heart filled with a desire to condemn, or a humble desire to help? Am I acting out of pride or out of love? The ambiguity of the word itself pushes us toward the very self-reflection that the log and speck analogy demands. It prevents us from creating a comfortable checklist of “permissible judgments” and instead calls us to a lifelong posture of humility and grace.

If We Shouldn’t Judge, Why Does the Bible Tell Us to “Judge Righteously”?

Here we arrive at the heart of the confusion for many believers. In one breath, Jesus says, “Do not judge” (Matthew 7:1). Yet in another, He commands, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24). How can both of these statements be true?.⁵ The answer is that Jesus is speaking about two entirely different kinds of judgment, flowing from two entirely different kinds of hearts.

The Bible forbids one and commands the other. The key to a life of wisdom and grace is learning to tell the difference.

Defining Righteous Judgment (Discernment)

The “right judgment” Jesus commands is what the Bible often calls discernment. This is not a human skill but a Spirit-given ability to distinguish between truth and error, right and wrong, and good and evil.²¹ It is an essential part of spiritual maturity.

The standard for this kind of judgment is never our own personal opinion, our feelings, or the shifting sands of culture. The only true standard for righteous judgment is the unchanging, authoritative Word of God.¹¹ We are not inventing the rules; we are humbly applying the standard that God has already revealed.

The motivation for righteous discernment is always love. It is a love for God that desires to see His truth honored, a love for the church that desires to see it protected from error, and a love for our brother or sister that desires to see them restored and walking in freedom.¹⁶ This kind of discernment is impossible in our own strength; it requires a mind that is being continually renewed by Scripture and a heart that is sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.²⁴

Defining Condemning Judgment

This is the kind of judgment Jesus strictly forbids in Matthew 7. It is hypocritical, rooted in pride, and dripping with self-righteousness.⁴ It is the act of someone with a log in their own eye trying to perform surgery on another’s speck.

This forbidden judgment often operates on the basis of outward appearances, making snap conclusions without knowing the facts or understanding a person’s heart.¹⁷ It frequently focuses on non-essential matters or areas of Christian freedom where the Bible allows for differences of opinion, such as the issues of food and special days discussed in Romans 14.²³

The goal of this kind of judgment is not to restore, but to condemn, punish, or elevate oneself by putting someone else down.¹⁴ it is the creature attempting to take the place of the Creator. It is playing God.⁴

To help clarify this vital distinction, the following table provides a side-by-side comparison.

When Does the Bible Command Christians to Make Judgments?

The idea that Christians should be unthinking and uncritical is completely foreign to the Bible. In fact, a healthy Christian life requires constant evaluation and discernment. The misinterpretation of “do not judge” as a command for total moral indifference falls apart when we see the clear instances where Scripture commands believers to make discerning judgments.

Part A: Identifying False Teachers (Matthew 7:15-20)

Just a few verses after He says, “Do not judge,” Jesus gives another command that is impossible to obey without making a judgment. He warns, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves”.⁷

How are we to “beware” of them if we cannot identify them? Jesus provides a clear diagnostic tool: “You will know them by their fruits”.³² This is a direct call to observe, evaluate, and make a judgment. We are to look at the “fruit” of a teacher’s life and doctrine. Does their teaching align with the whole counsel of God’s Word? Does their life reflect the character of Christ? Do they call people to repentance and holiness?.³⁵

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. To obey Jesus’s command to protect ourselves and the church from false teachers, we must use our God-given ability to discern. He expects us to be wise and discerning, not naive simpletons who accept every teaching that comes along.¹²

Part B: Upholding Purity in the Church (1 Corinthians 5)

Perhaps the most direct and undeniable command to judge is found in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church. Paul was horrified to learn that the church was not only tolerating but was actually “proud” of the fact that a man in their congregation was engaged in a blatant, ongoing sexual relationship with his stepmother—a sin that shocked even the pagan culture around them.²⁸

In this context, Paul draws a sharp and crucial distinction. He asks the “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. But you must remove the evil person from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).³⁷

The instruction could not be clearer. Christians are not called to act as the moral police of the world at large. God is the judge of those outside the faith. But we are absolutely responsible for judging the conduct of those inside the church—those who call themselves brothers and sisters in Christ. This process is known as church discipline.³⁸

Even here, the purpose of this judgment is not vindictive punishment. It is profoundly redemptive and protective. It is for the sake of the sinner. Paul says to hand the man over to Satan “so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 5:5). The hope is that the painful experience of being removed from the fellowship and protection of the church will bring the man to his senses and lead him to repentance.²⁸ it is for the health of the church. Paul uses the metaphor of yeast: “Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?” (1 Corinthians 5:6). Tolerating blatant, unrepentant sin is like allowing poison to spread through the entire community, harming everyone.⁴⁰

This distinction between our posture toward those “inside” and “outside” the church is a key that unlocks much of the tension Christians feel about engaging with the world. Our primary sphere of accountability-based judgment is within the family of God, where we lovingly hold one another to the standards of the gospel we all profess. Toward the world, our posture is not one of a judge, but of a witness. We do not pretend that sin is not sin, but we share the truth with a love and humility that invites people to the Savior, rather than a condemnation that drives them away. This frees us from both the trap of harsh, aggressive judgment and the paralysis of fearful silence.⁵

What is the Catholic Church’s Stance on Judging Others?

For centuries, Christians have wrestled with how to apply Jesus’s teaching on judgment in a way that is both faithful and loving. The Catholic with its long history of theological reflection, offers a structured and insightful perspective that can enrich the understanding of all believers.

At the forefront of Catholic teaching is a strong prohibition against what is called “rash judgment.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines this as the sin of assuming, “without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor” (CCC 2477).⁴¹ This is a direct warning against jumping to conclusions, judging by appearances, or attributing evil motives to someone without clear evidence.

To counteract this tendency, the Church proposes a posture of powerful charity. The Catechism advises that “everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way” (CCC 2478).⁴¹ This means giving others the benefit of the doubt and choosing the most generous interpretation of their actions unless proven otherwise. It is a practical application of the command to love our neighbors as ourselves.

But Catholic teaching does not end with a passive refusal to judge. It actively promotes a practice known as “fraternal correction,” which is considered one of the spiritual works of mercy—a powerful act of love for one’s neighbor.⁴³ This practice is rooted directly in Jesus’s instructions in Matthew 18:15: “If your brother sins, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother”.⁴⁵

Great theologians like St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Thomas Aquinas taught that to see a brother or sister in serious spiritual danger and to remain silent is not an act of kindness, but a failure of charity.⁴³ St. Augustine famously warned, “You do worse by keeping silent than he does by sinning”.⁴⁶

This duty, But is not a license for meddling. It comes with clear and careful conditions. The sin in question should be a serious matter, not a trivial offense. The correction should be offered with great love and humility, always beginning in private to protect the person’s dignity. And there should be a reasonable hope that the correction will be received and be effective.⁴³ The goal is never to condemn or shame, but always to seek the salvation and restoration of the sinner.⁴⁴

This formal doctrine of fraternal correction provides a helpful, positive framework for a duty that many Christians find difficult. By naming it a “work of mercy,” it elevates the act from a potentially negative confrontation into a positive, grace-filled responsibility. It provides believers with a rich theological tradition to draw upon, giving them the courage and clarity to act not as self-appointed critics, but as instruments of God’s restorative love.

Why is a Judgmental Spirit So Spiritually Dangerous?

Moving from the “what” of Jesus’s command to the “why,” we discover that a judgmental spirit is not just a minor character flaw; it is a profoundly dangerous spiritual condition that strikes at the very heart of our relationship with God and others.

Usurping God’s Throne

The most fundamental danger of a condemning spirit is that it involves usurping an authority that belongs to God alone. The apostle James puts it starkly: “There is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12).⁴ When we set ourselves up as the final judge of another person’s heart, motives, or eternal state, we are attempting to sit on God’s throne. We are acting as if we possess the omniscience and righteousness that belong only to Him, a dangerous act of spiritual pride.⁴⁹

The Poison of Pride

A judgmental attitude is both born from and feeds the poison of pride. It is a subtle way of making ourselves feel better, more righteous, and more secure by focusing on and often exaggerating the faults of others.⁴ The Pharisee in Jesus’s parable who prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector,” is the timeless portrait of this spiritual disease (Luke 18:11).¹³ His prayer was not directed toward God in humility, but toward himself in pride, using the perceived sin of another to build his own pedestal of self-righteousness.

The Pain It Causes: Voices from the Community

The theological dangers of judgmentalism become painfully real in the lives of those who have been wounded by it. The damage is not abstract; it is deeply personal and can have devastating consequences for a person’s faith and well-being.

Consider the heartfelt cry of a young adult who feels their family’s love is tied to their religious performance: “Your mother will go from loving you, but as soon as you even say you ‘might not believe’ then she looks at you in disgust, IN JUDGEMENT”.³ This kind of conditional acceptance can make a person feel that they are a “puppet” and that their individuality is a threat, pulling them farther away from the very faith their family wants them to embrace.³

Others share the pain of being judged on purely external things. One Christian with tattoos and piercings described the heartbreak of being told by another believer that they couldn’t be a “true Christian” because of their appearance.¹ This superficial judgment ignores the heart, where true faith resides, and inflicts deep wounds.

This pain can lead to powerful spiritual confusion. One person, wrestling with the guilt they felt from the constant pressure of other Christians, asked a gut-wrenching question: “How do I know if the guilt I feel is a conviction from God or just a social pressure to be a Christian?”.⁵¹ This reveals one of the most subtle dangers of a judgmental church culture: it can warp a believer’s ability to hear the true voice of the Holy Spirit. The shaming, condemning voices of people can become confused with the gentle, convicting voice of God, leading to a faith built on fear and performance rather than grace and love.

It Boomerangs

Finally, a judgmental spirit is dangerous because it is self-destructive. As Jesus warned, the measure we use on others will be measured back to us.¹⁵ A critical, unforgiving heart invites criticism and hardness in return, creating toxic cycles of judgment and bitterness that poison relationships and communities. By refusing to show mercy, we position ourselves outside the flow of God’s mercy.

How Can We Lovingly Correct a Friend Without Being Judgmental?

If we are called to avoid hypocritical condemnation but also to lovingly help our brothers and sisters, how do we navigate this delicate path in our actual relationships? The Bible provides intensely practical wisdom for this process, which begins with a radical shift in our own hearts—a shift from a desire to “be right” to a desire to “be loving”.⁵²

A Pre-Confrontation Checklist (The “Log” Removal)

Before you ever speak a word to someone else, the most important work happens within your own heart. This is the process of removing the log from your own eye.

1. Confront Yourself First. Prayerfully examine your own heart before God. What are your motives? Are you acting out of pride, frustration, or a sense of superiority? Or is your heart filled with genuine, humble love for this person? Have you confessed and repented of your own sins, especially in the area you are about to address?.²⁷
2. Pray Fervently. This is not a task to be undertaken in your own strength. Ask God to fill you with His wisdom, to grant you a spirit of gentleness and humility, and to give you His own supernatural love for the person you plan to speak with.⁵²
3. Check Your Standard. Is your concern based on a clear command or principle from Scripture, or is it based on your personal preference, opinion, or cultural tradition? Loving correction must be grounded in the truth of God’s Word, not our own rulebook. If you cannot point to a biblical principle, you may be trying to remove a speck that isn’t actually there.²⁷
4. Check Your Relationship. Have you earned the right to speak into this person’s life? Correction is a function of love, and it is almost always best received from a trusted friend who has already demonstrated their care and commitment. As one pastor noted, “Confronting sin never works with a troubled relationship”.⁵² If you don’t have a foundation of love and trust, your words, no matter how true, may do more harm than good.

The Gentle Conversation

Once your heart is prepared, the conversation itself should be handled with immense care and grace.

• Go Privately. Jesus’s instruction in Matthew 18:15 is the gold standard. The conversation should be one-on-one, in a confidential setting. This protects your friend’s dignity and prevents them from feeling publicly shamed.¹⁷
• Be Gentle and Humble. Galatians 6:1 commands us to restore a brother or sister “in a spirit of gentleness,” immediately adding the warning, “Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted”.¹⁸ This humility recognizes that we are all fallible and in need of grace. Your tone of voice and body language will communicate as much as your words.⁵⁸
• Lead with Affirmation and Questions. Do not begin with an accusation. Start by affirming your love and care for the person. You might say something like, “I value our friendship so much, and because of that, I wanted to talk about something I’ve noticed. I’m concerned about you. How are you doing?”.⁵³ Leading with gentle questions rather than harsh statements opens the door for conversation instead of defensiveness.
• Be Redemptive, Not Punitive. The goal is always restoration. This means you don’t just drop a “truth bomb” and walk away. Part of loving correction is being willing to walk with the person through their struggle. The command in Galatians 6:2 to “bear one another’s burdens” means offering your support, your prayers, and your friendship as they seek to change. It’s about saying, “I am with you in this,” not “You are wrong”.⁵²

What Should I Do When I Feel Unfairly Judged by Other Christians?

Even as we learn to judge rightly, we will inevitably find ourselves on the receiving end of judgment that feels unfair, harsh, and hypocritical. Navigating this pain is one of the most difficult challenges of life in a broken world, even within the church.

It is vital to acknowledge the hurt. Being judged by those who are supposed to be your family in Christ, especially your own biological family, is a deep and legitimate wound.² It is okay to grieve this pain and bring it honestly before God in prayer. He sees your heart and understands your sorrow.

You must consciously find your identity in Christ, not in the opinions of others. Your worth, your standing, and your belovedness are not determined by whether you meet another person’s expectations. They are sealed by the grace of God through the work of Jesus. Remind yourself daily that you are a beloved child of God, and His opinion is the only one that ultimately matters.¹

In a quiet moment, try to consider the source. Was the criticism offered with the humble, loving spirit of the prophet Nathan confronting King David? Or was it delivered with the harsh, self-righteous spirit of the Pharisees?.³⁰ A pastor shared a powerful testimony of how a friend lovingly pointed out a blind spot in his life—that he was constantly correcting his wife in public. Though it was hard to hear, he received it as a kindness from a trusted and it saved his marriage from further hurt.⁶¹ This is loving correction. In contrast, the stories of being condemned for one’s appearance are examples of unrighteous judgment.¹ Learning to distinguish between the two can help you process the criticism.

Pray for the grace to walk the path of forgiveness. Holding onto bitterness and resentment over being judged will ultimately poison your own soul. It is a heavy burden that you were never meant to carry. This is incredibly difficult, but it is the path to freedom. Ask God to help you forgive those who have wounded you, remembering Jesus’s own prayer from the cross for those who judged Him most cruelly: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).⁵⁸

Finally, in great humility, ask God if there is any “speck” of truth in the criticism, even if it was delivered as a “log” of condemnation.⁶⁰ Sometimes, God in His mysterious wisdom can use even a flawed messenger to reveal a blind spot we need to see. If you can receive that small grain of truth and discard the rest of the hurtful baggage, you can grow in wisdom and holiness even through a painful experience.

Conclusion: Becoming an Agent of Grace

Jesus’s command to “not judge” is not a call to moral apathy or a life without convictions. It is a radical, life-altering call to a posture of powerful humility, relentless self-examination, and deep, restorative love. It is a call to focus so intently on the massive log of our own sin and our desperate need for God’s grace that we are rendered incapable of looking at our brother or sister with anything but compassion.

It is only after we have allowed God to perform surgery on our own hearts that we can “see clearly” enough to offer help to anyone else. And when we do, we will do so not as clumsy butchers with a critical spirit, but as skilled, gentle surgeons with a heart of mercy.

The world does not need more Christians known for their harsh criticism and self-righteous condemnation. It is groaning for a church that looks, sounds, and loves like Jesus. Let us commit to being agents of His grace in our homes, our churches, and our communities. Let us be people who are quick to slow to speak, and abounding in love. Let us ask God for a heart that mirrors His own—a heart that grieves over sin but rejoices in restoration, a heart that always uses the measure of mercy that it so desperately desires to receive.