Introduction

The title of this article was a question recently posed to me by a co-worker. He told me that this was based on a comment made by someone whom he was trying to discuss the scriptures with.

My co-worker was told by the other individual that since Jesus didn’t sin, He couldn’t have experienced guilt and shame. By that logic, then, Jesus couldn’t judge that individual. We will examine all of these in this article.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

When he asked me that question, Matthew 23:37 immediately came to mind. Jesus stated, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” (Matthew 23:37-39)

To me, this sounds very much like shame. The context of this passage is the end of a verbal thrashing that Jesus had just done towards the scribes and pharisees. In the first twelve verses, Jesus condemns the use of titles and the preeminence of the pharisees while they attempted to “hold sway” over people because of their “importance”.

The rest of the chapter begins a series of woes, towards them, calling them hypocrites. This chapter is the perfect example of shame and guilt brought about by these religious leaders who were to set the standard.

They Didn’t have to Sin

Going back to the garden of Eden, neither Adam nor Eve had to commit sin in order to understand that it was wrong. God told them, specifically, which tree (Gen. 2:16-17) that they couldn’t eat from (nor touch it) and yet, they disobeyed God by listening to the serpent.

As children, we are taught right from wrong by our parents and know that we are forbidden to do certain things to protect us from harm. However, when we see an opportunity (and, therefore, think we can get away with it), we’ll do what is forbidden because we feel left out or we’d prefer to rebel against our parents.

Tempted in All Points

The reason that Jesus is the perfect judge is that he experienced temptation like we do. In Mt. 4:1-11, Jesus was tempted by the devil three times which covers every form of sin. Much like Adam and Eve, He was tempted by the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (Heb. 4:15; 1 Jn. 2:16). Jesus understands what we are going through because He was tempted. We don’t have to commit sin!

As James writes, But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:14-15) It’s not sin until you give in to the temptation. Jesus didn’t give in to temptation and left us that example to follow in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21).

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

At the cross, God laid the sins of humanity (past, present, and future) on His only begotten son. The apostle Paul wrote of this, For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21). Although he never committed sin, Himself, he experienced both guilt and shame of our sins.

If Jesus didn’t experience these things, then why did He cry out to The Father? As Matthew writes, And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)

Conclusion

An individual doesn’t have to commit sin to know that it’s wrong. And there are plenty of people who sin on a regular basis, who know no shame or guilt in what they are doing. Any individual who claims that Jesus doesn’t understand what they are going through, and therefore can’t be judged by Him, are constantly looking for the “almighty loophole” which just isn’t there. As the writer of Hebrews stated, And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).