Is It Right To Judge?

Question

I notice that a lot of people ignorantly misuse Jesus saying concerniing judging. They often like to say "judge not lest ye be judged, judge not lest ye be judged", when they find themselves condemned according to God's Word.

If we look closely at the Words of our Lord, we read:
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 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? 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.” (Matthew 7:1-5).

Read this again carefully. Notice that it is addressed to a hypocrite! – not to those who sincerely want to discern whether a teacher or teaching is true or false to God’s Word. And instead of being a prohibition against honest judgment, it is a solemn warning against hypocritical judgment. In fact, the last statement of this Scripture commands sincere judgment – “Then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” If we take a verse or a part of a verse out of its setting, we can make the Word of God appear to teach the very opposite of what it really does teach. And those who do this cannot escape the judgment of God for twisting His Word (2 Peter 3:16). Let this be a WARNING TO THE HYPOCRITE to never again to take a text of Scripture out of its context.

Prove, Amen. You're right.

Male, Not so for the Christian.
The Lord Jesus Christ commanded, “Judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). He told a man, “Thou hast rightly judged” (Luke 7:43). To others, our Lord asked, “Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?” (Luke 12:57).

Zero, That's right! The Apostle Paul wrote, “I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say” (1 Corinthians 10:15). Again, Paul declared, “He that is spiritual judgeth all things” (1 Corinthians 2:15). It is our positive duty to judge.

Sher, It's a Christians DUTY to Judge RIGHTIOUSLY.
False Teachers & False Teaching “Beware of false prophets!” (Matthew 7:15) is the warning and command of our Lord. But how could we “beware” and how could we know they are “false prophets” if we did not judge?

merman, I don;t insist on "worrying" about you. But I DO intendend on judging according to God's Word.
You probably won't understand this, but for the sake of one who CAN recieve it:
The Apostle Paul admonished believers, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16:17-18).

Mike, I understand where you're coming from. But I'd rather obey God than men.
“Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord” (2 Corinthians 6:17, read verses 14-18). “From such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:5). “Withdraw yourselves” (2 Thessalonians 3:6). “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11). “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9). “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). It would be impossible to obey these injunctions of God’s Word unless it were right to judge! Remember, nothing is “good” in God’s sight that is not true to His Word.

Midge, Indeed. We are here to HELP one another as well.
The Apostle John wrote, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test, judge] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Again, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh [one example of false doctrine]….If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 John 1:7,10-11). This Scripture commands us to judge between those who do, and those who do not bring the true doctrine of Christ. Right?

Sam,
Look, Jesus said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24).

Pops, One folowing the commands of Jesus would disagree with that.
“Judge not” is the prayer of those who want to hide light of God's Word under a basket. The judge not crowd are like salt which no longer seasons nor preserves. As spectators on the sidelines, they only watch the spiritual battle while they are in a comfort zone. “Judge not” is the shirking of responsibility and is sometimes recognized as apathy.

dim, Is your "warning" based on God's Word? Good.

Matt, You're right on track!

Flug,
Jesus repeatedly taught men to judge rightly, insisting they “judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24) and He praised a man who “rightly judged” (Luke 7:43). Paul shamed the Corinthian Christians because no one among them was willing to “judge the smallest matters” (1Co 6:2). As the Apostle wrote, “He who is spiritual judges all things” for “we have the mind of Christ” (1Co 2:15-16).

Karen, PRECISELY why I asked this question. Thank you.

CM, I'm going to AGREE with the Word. And the Word says we MUST judge; and that is, according to God's Word, His judgment, rightiously.
God warned against hypocrisy, commanding men to “abhor what is evil” (Rom 12:9). Yet to abhor evil, someone must first judge evil. Christ repeated this theme against those who would not judge rightly. “Hypocrites,” Jesus said, “why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?” (Luke 12:56-57). Jesus commanded hypocrites to first remove the plank from their own eye, and then they would see clearly to remove the speck out of their brother’s eye” (Mat 7:5). In other words, don't judge against someone for doing the same thing you do! For example, to justly condemn a thief, you shouldn't also be a theif.

Minnetta,
How will one know the "fruits", if one does not judge?

Eagle, Amen.

Jen, Thanks. I I'm more concerned with what GOD "thinks" when it comes to my souls salvation.

Karen, Thank you.

Answer 1

It certainly is OK to judge. In fact we are told to judge in the Bible. We are just not to judge hypocritically as you already mentioned.

Answer 2

We are told to rightly discern the Body of Christ, as well as to rightly judge matters within the Church. We are also told not to associate with any so-called brother who is given to drunkeness and carousing, not to even eat with such a one. When so-called brethren did not repent, they were cast from the Church until true repentance was discerned by the elders, not until they bought enough masses or indulgences. The Word is a double edged Sword, one edge gives life, the other death. I need the cutting egde aimed at my own heart and the livegiving edge towards others, unless I am trully contending for the faith, and again I come short of the mark.

Answer 3

I find it best not to judge. When we judge people, we place ourselves higher than them. When did Jesus ever judge people? No, Jesus washed his disciples' feet! We need to be discerning in our life choices and in how we interact with people... but judging other people based on their actions and life is for God alone. We have a limited perspective.

When Jesus talked to the woman at the well, he did not say,"You are a sinful woman! You sleep around and care nothing for the word of God! You deserve death, and if you continue this way, you are going to hell!" Instead he spoke kindly to her and treated her with gentleness and love. He said simply, "Go and sin no more."

I don't think judging really gets us anywhere - it promotes boundaries, false pride and anger, the things Jesus opposed.

Answer 4

I do not believe it is right to judge others. I understand your quotes to mean that if I judge you harshly for what you do, then I will be judged by God just as harshly for what I have done. However, if I am forgiving to you, then God will be forgiving to me. It's like when Christ told the crowd who were preparing to stone the woman who had committed adultry, "let he who is without sin, cast the first stone" (that may not be exactly what he said, but close enough.) It was basically saying that you have no right to judge others for their wrongdoings as long as you have sin in your own life.

Hope that makes sense.

Answer 5

We are not :
supposed to Judge, Or God says we are Judged for that.
But I was taught some people "FRUIT PICK" which means " You can tell them by their Fruits." That is what God says about His children Or the ones that claim to know Jesus.

Answer 6

So JayDee, are you saying you have removed the beam from your eye and can now see clearly to remove the mote from your brother's eye? (Much like he who is without sin, cast the first stone.)

I would interprete removing the beam from thine own eye to mean attaining Christ-like consciousness. How many have? Are you there?

Answer 7

Barukh ata adonai
Blessed are You, Lord

Eloheinu melekh ha'olam
Our God, Ruler of the universe

Dayan ha'emet.
Who is the true Judge.

Answer 8

Most of the time, people misunderstand the truth about themselves. They do not like to hear the truth and call it judgment. Before I became born again, I felt the same way they do about it. Now, I agree with the writer of the question.

Answer 9

O K but who can truly say they are qualified to pass judgement on others unless they themselves have walked 5 miles in the shoes of others (meaning they have experienced everything exactly as the judged person)?

Answer 10

We are to judge ourselves frequently. We are also to judge our brothers and sisters in Christ, to help them stay on the "straight and narrow." The Bible also tells us that in the end times, we will be the ones to judge everything... even the angels!