The question of whether Christians should judge others is an evergreen, multi-generational debate that stems from Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Those whose acts or lifestyles are being judged are quick to quote this verse to fend off their self-righteous accusers.
Those who judge claim that the Bible teaches them to “judge righteously” and that the Apostle Paul himself also judged the Corinthians. They cite Deuteronomy 1:16, Proverbs 31:9, and 1Corinthians 5:3.
Which camp is right?
Let’s take a step back and get the context of Matthew 7:1. It is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount teachings, which begin in Matthew 5. Jesus’ sayings and teachings were very different than the traditional teachings of the Pharisees that the common Jews received in those days. In fact, Jesus’ teachings were radical in comparison. For example:
- Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
- Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
- Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
- Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
- Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Jesus’ teachings not only went beyond the Pharisees’ morals, the messages were crafted against them. Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The Pharisees were members of a powerful Jewish religious party, distinguished by strict observance of tradition and the written law. Together with the Scribes, they corrupted God’s word and common people and were staunch opponents of Jesus. Recalling the movie entitled “The Devil Wears Prada,” the Scribes and Pharisees were devils in robes and phylacteries. In Matthew 23, Jesus called them out for their hypocrisies. Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? (Also read Matthew 23:23-33)
The Pharisees were the classic “do as I say, and not as I do” (Matthew 23:1-7) spiritual police who patrolled synagogues, marketplaces, and towns looking for faults in people. They had authority to put offenders out of the synagogue (John 9:22) and to send officers to arrest them (John 7:32).
Therefore, when Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” we must keep the Pharisees context in mind. The Pharisees loved to judge others’ faults with magisterial judgments, but justified themselves in doing the same things or worse (John 7:22-23 and the list in Matthew 23). It’s like the pot calling the kettle black. They got away with it because they had power and influence.
What can we learn from Jesus’ teaching about judging others in Matthew 7?
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
We are urged not to judge others, because how we judge can backfire. This refers to judging in the sense of censuring and condemning others for their doings, insisting that we are right and they are wrong and that their actions are worthy of punishment. Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
We are not spiritual police. God is the JUDGE. We should rather judge ourselves regarding how we are living out God’s words.
Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Another reason why we shouldn’t judge others is because most of us are unqualified to do so for two reasons. One, we look at others’ faults without considering our own faults. Two, we are unable to see clearly through our self-righteousness. The things that we condemn are motes (twigs) compared to our self-righteousness (the size of a beam).
Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
If we desire to be the judge of others, we must not be self-righteous hypocrites. Until then, we should love our neighbors.
Jesus gave us a great example for not judging others in John 8. It is a story of a woman caught in the act of adultery. The Scribes and Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus to be judged. They informed Jesus that the law of Moses would stone such a sinner to death. Find out how Jesus handled the issue. John 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
No one is perfect. We don’t need to like or agree with the sins of others. But we need to view sinners through Jesus’ heart and with love and compassion, sharing how they can receive forgiveness of sin.
Are you able to in a loving manner share the gospel with lost people?
Richmond
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