I previously posted about the Sodom and Gomorrah reading to distinguish between the kind of judging that is good (when Lot called on the evil men of Sodom to repent) and the kind of judging that Jesus condemns (hypocritically pretending to be "holier than thou"). Judah in today's reading is a good example of the latter when he sleeps with his daughter-in-law, thinking she's a prostitute, and then because she bears signs of the adultery he is able to call for her to be burned while he would be able to smugly walk away. Fortunately Tamar is able to call him on it as well as his sin of not giving his youngest son to her as he had promised, and Judah repents saying "She is more righteous than I."
It's worth saying this again because our society is so confused about it. Judging is a good thing when we point out sin with the intent to spiritually help somebody (and to do it in a loving way realizing we all are sinners deserving hell who are saved only by Jesus). It's a bad thing when you unlovingly hope to build yourself up by humiliating another, all the while treading on the dangerous premise that you are too good for a Savior.
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