Question: "What does the
Bible mean that we are not to judge others?"
Answer: This is an issue that has confused many people. On one hand, we are commanded by the Lord Jesus, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). On the other hand, the Bible also exhorts us to beware of evildoers and false prophets and to avoid those who practice all kinds of evil. How are we to discern right from wrong and who these people are if we do not make some kind of judgment about them?
Answer: This is an issue that has confused many people. On one hand, we are commanded by the Lord Jesus, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). On the other hand, the Bible also exhorts us to beware of evildoers and false prophets and to avoid those who practice all kinds of evil. How are we to discern right from wrong and who these people are if we do not make some kind of judgment about them?
To judge: to pronounce an opinion concerning right &
wrong.
Prov. 31:9 Open your mouth, judge
righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
1 Cor. 6:2-3 Or do you not know that the
saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you
incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that
we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
The first section of chapter 7 (vv. 1-5) is a continuation
of statements Jesus made in chapter 6 as part of the Sermon on the Mount (ch.
5-7). The issues Jesus was addressing were the following: giving to the needy
(ch. 6:2), praying (ch. 6:5&7), fasting (ch. 6:16) and judging (ch. 7:1). In
each of these statements Jesus is making the same comparison – we are supposed
to do these things but not like the hypocrites. He doesn’t say don’t give to
the needy, don’t pray, don’t fast, don’t judge, he says don’t do it for the
wrong reasons. Each should be done out of love for God and others.
Christians are often accused of "judging" whenever they speak out against a sinful activity. However, that is not the meaning of the Scripture verses that state, "Do not judge." There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise—with careful discernment (John 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment). When Jesus told us not to judge (Matthew 7:1), He was telling us not to judge hypocritically. Matthew 7:2-5 declares, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 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 remove the speck from your brother's eye." What Jesus was condemning here was hypocritical, self-righteous judgments of others.
Christians are often accused of "judging" whenever they speak out against a sinful activity. However, that is not the meaning of the Scripture verses that state, "Do not judge." There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise—with careful discernment (John 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment). When Jesus told us not to judge (Matthew 7:1), He was telling us not to judge hypocritically. Matthew 7:2-5 declares, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 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 remove the speck from your brother's eye." What Jesus was condemning here was hypocritical, self-righteous judgments of others.
In Matthew 7:2-5, Jesus warns against judging someone else
for his sin when you yourself are sinning even worse. That is the kind of
judging Jesus commanded us not to do. If a believer sees another believer
sinning, it is his Christian duty to lovingly and respectfully confront the
person with his sin (Matthew 18:15-17). This is not judging, but rather
pointing out the truth in hope—and with the ultimate goal—of bringing
repentance in the other person (James 5:20) and restoration to the fellowship.
We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are to proclaim what
God's Word says about sin. 2 Timothy 4:2 instructs us, "Preach the Word;
be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with
great patience and careful instruction." We are to "judge" sin,
but always with the goal of presenting the solution for sin and its
consequences—the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6 Jesus said to
him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me).
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put
darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
If we don't warn someone in error to turn from evil, we are
partly responsible.
Ezekiel 33:8-9 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you
do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall
die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not
turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have
delivered your soul.
We are not to judge people in an effort to elevate ourselves
or to persecute and condemn them.
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