As a Follower of Christ ... How does the Bible say we are to judge others?

Question

The Bible says Followers of Christ are to judge others, but HOW does it say we are to judge? "Judge lest ye be judged", is also for all believers and non-believers alike. So, where does that fit in, if it also tells us to judge?

I see a LOT of people asking questions about WHY believers judge when the Bible tells people not to, or they will be judged with the same judgement they judge with.

How would you explain this to a non-believer?

Scripture CORRECTION:
St. 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. Mk. 4.24

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?

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.

6 ¶ Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Answer 1

Matthew 7:1; most likely the most misinterpreted verse in the Bible. One of the major rules of Biblical interpretation is to understand the context. A text without a context is a pretext.
If we read Matthew 7:1 in it's context, we will get a better understanding of what Jesus is trying to say here.
In verse 2, Jesus says plainly that if we judge someone for a certain thing, we can expect the same type of judgment against ourselves. Then in verse 3 and 4 He gives an illustration involving a man with a plank in his own eye picking at a speck in another believer's eye. Jesus then says in verse 5, "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (ESV).
Clearly Jesus is condemning hypocritical judging, not the act of judging itself.
In John 7:24, Jesus instructs us with these words: "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment" (ESV). Did Jesus just contradict Himself? Clearly not, for that is impossible beings He is the perfect, sinless Son of God (2Cor 5:21).
We are to oppose, abhor, resist, and judge sin, but not hypocritically. God is calling us to rid ourselves of our sin that we may be a better witness and a better help to our fellow believers.

Answer 2

It means that we are not to judge the hearts of others. Only God knows the hearts of men. Judas went to Jesus and greeted Him with a kiss while Peter denied Christ three times.
As a casual observation most would think that Judas was a true follower of the Lord by his action toward Jesus and that Peter in denying Him was a big talker but wasn't really walking after Jesus when the chips were down. Yet Peter continued forward to become a great leader of faith while Judas ended up loosing all faith, so this shows us that we can't go around judging others whether they are believers or not, whether they will make it to heaven or not. Only God knows who has a true heart for Him.
It is only our job to point the way to Jesus. The bible gives us clear instructions on what to do with people in the church that stray away from the truth. We just remind them of the Word and point the way to Jesus.

Answer 3

According to Paul, in Second Corinthians it is OK to Judge Christians who are breaking The Commandments. It is not OK to judge heathens. ( God will do that.) And we must stay away from people who extort money from good people under the guise of carrying God's work. This would in today's world include all TV evangelist , Most preachers and a good many of the so called faithful. Yes Paul said that. However, Paul killed Christians before conversion. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Answer 4

Hate evil.

Psa 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Spiritual discernment has to be exercised by studying God's Word.

1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Wayne Murray

Answer 5

You are are quoting Matthew 7:1, which actually says, "STOP judging that you may not be judged." By acting as the judge of people, we are placing ourselves in the position of God. We can assess a person's character to determine if he or she is good association for ourselves, but, as far as judging, that alone belongs to God, and his son.

Answer 6

The Bible says to rebuke one who sins, but do not condemn them. Remember that all will be judged, and none are justified apart from the work of Christ on the cross.

Answer 7

No human is fit to judge others. Who has the right to say what is and what isn't right? Only GOD has that right. It is egotistical or just plain ignorant for people to judge others.

As long as no harm physical, emotional or mental comes to people, why judge?

Answer 8

"Judge not , that you be not judged" is forbidding hypocritical, self righteous, censorious, or other kinds of unfair judgments, as revealed by the context.
There is a righteous type of judgment that Christians are supposed to exercise with careful discernment as stated in John7:24-
"Do not judge according to appearance , but judge with righteous judgment."
i.e. good from evil, truth from error etc.

Answer 9

Umm....you forgot a vital word in that bible verse..."Judge NOT lest ye be judged." Nobody has a right, as per the bible, to judge anyone else....NOT even the christians....

Answer 10

God, not man, judges.

In response to you question about human activity, there is no place in the bible that says man has any input for the judgment of others. This is reserve to God and God alone.

God's people listen to God, so don't worry about the others..