"You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people."

Acts 23:1-5, And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

No doubt Paul was correct in his assessment of this individual in calling him a hypocrite and in holding him accountable for having him illegally struck. And yet we see Paul’s humility once he knew that the man was the high priest for he was quick to quote the law that he should not speak evil of a ruler of the people. We could all do with more of this attitude for in a land of free speech, we feel compelled to quickly and verbally judge others without all of the facts. Am I willing to consider that I may not know everything unless I have walked a mile in another’s shoes, especially in view of my own failings?

Give me more of your grace, to give others the benefit of the doubt, to quickly admit my own failings and to treat them as you have treated me, with grace and mercy!

ESV Lectionary