"Do not judge so that you will not be judged" (Matthew 7:1) What did Jesus mean with these words? Is there ever a time when people should "judge" others? Are there right ways to judge and wrong ways to judge? Just what is the proper application of this passage? That Jesus is not prohibiting judgment across the board can be proven by the passage itself. In verse 5 he tells us what we need to do first so that we can then help another with his problem. Other passages in the Bible make clear that we do have a responsibility to exercise judgment. In John 7:24 Jesus says, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." James 5:19,20 points out the importance of bringing one back who has "strayed from the truth." In Matthew 18:15 Jesus tells us "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother." The Bible simply does not teach this false idea that some have of "not judging".

So what kinds of judgment are prohibited?

1. The Bible prohibits a self-righteous judgment. This was the problem Jesus was here addressing. We judge self-righteously when we magnify the faults of others and minimize or ignore our own. Jesus told of the Pharisee who “standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ (Luke 18:11-12). The Bible says of such people, “when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Because the standard is not me or you but Christ.

2. The Bible prohibits imposing our opinions and preferences on others (Romans 14). God is quite capable in making legislation, thank you very much. If a thing is required or prohibited he made sure to tell us in the Bible. He has not asked for nor does he need your help or mine. The Bible says, “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:11-12).

3. The Bible prohibits a merciless judgment. Even when the matter at hand is sin as pointed out in the Word, where there is repentance there must be forgiveness (Luke 17:3). God promises that if we do not extend mercy and forgiveness to others he will not extend mercy and forgiveness to us (Matthew 6:14,15; James 2:13). Kind of makes you wake up and smell the coffee, doesn't it?

Let's make sure that if a brother or sister has sinned we love them enough to go to them and help them out of it, but doing so with the proper attitude ourselves (Galatians 6:1,2). Let's first apply God's correction to ourselves before we do to others. And let's make sure everything is done in love because "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).

God bless you,

Brad Fry