“Do not judge or you will be judged.” Matthew 7:1. This is one of the most frequently misused verses in the Bible, especially by non-Christians. They will say: “Doesn’t your Bible say: ‘Do not judge!’ So, why are you judging me?” But the problem Jesus is addressing is not so much judgment, as the hypocrisy that so often accompanies it. Jesus does not say that we must never point out sin. He warns us against the hypocrisy of ignoring our own sins while we are quick to point out the failings of others. If we are going to correct someone else, then we must do so with love and understanding because we will be held to the same standard, and the reality is that we are all guilty of sin.
As always, context matters.
Let us read Matthew 7:1-4: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 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.“
Do Judge
The command to not judge does not mean we cannot use discernment. Soon after Jesus says, “Do not judge,” He also says, “Watch out for false prophets…by their fruit you will recognize them” (verses 15–16). How are we to recognise false prophets unless we make a judgment call on what they do and say? Elsewhere, Jesus gives a direct command to judge: “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” (John 7:24). So, there is a wrong way to judge, but there is also a right way to judge. Paul told Timothy to ‘correct, rebuke, and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction’ (2 Timothy 4:2). We are also told that: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). To call adultery, murder, gossip, or lying a sin is to pass judgment; but it is also to agree with God. When Jesus said not to judge, He did not mean that no one can ever identify sin for what it is. But there are harmful ways to judge and these must be avoided.
Here are 4 wrong ways to judge:
Superficial judgment is wrong.
Passing judgment on someone based solely on appearances is sinful (John 7:24). It is foolish to jump to conclusions before investigating the facts (Proverbs 18:13). Simon the Pharisee passed judgment on a woman based on her appearance and reputation, but he could not see that she had been forgiven; Jesus rebuked Simon for his unrighteous judgment (Luke 7:36-50).
Hypocritical judgment is wrong.
Jesus’ command not to judge others is preceded by comparisons to hypocrites (Matthew 6: 2, 5 and 16) and followed by a warning against hypocrisy (Matthew 7:3-4). When we point out the sin of others while we ourselves commit the same sin, we end up condemning ourselves (Romans 2:1).
Unforgiving judgment is wrong.
Ephesians 4:2 says: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” It is the merciful who will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7), and, as Jesus warned, “In the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2).
Self-righteous judgment is wrong.
In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax-collector, the Pharisee was confident in his own righteousness and from that proud position, he judged the tax-collector. God, however, sees the heart, and it was the humble tax-collector and not the proud Pharisee who went home justified before God (Luke 18:10-14).
Judgemental Christians
Christians are often accused of being judgemental and intolerant when they speak out against sin. Sadly, this is sometimes true. But opposing sin is not wrong, depending how you do it. Holding up the standard of righteousness exposes unrighteousness and draws the anger of those who choose sin over godliness. John the Baptist incurred the anger of Herodias when he spoke out against her adultery (Mark 6:18-19). She eventually silenced John, but she could not silence the truth.
The Difference Between judging believers and unbelievers
Sometimes it is necessary to deal differently with Christians and non-Christians. When we find an unsaved person sinning, we should remember that they are simply doing what sinners do. That doesn’t make it right, but I think we will do well to temper our judgement with the knowledge that they do not have the same conviction of sin that we have; they are not trying to be like Jesus. Listen to Paul’s enlightening words in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13:
“I wrote to you in my previous letter, telling you not to associate with sexually immoral people — not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
Each situation is unique
I think it is safe to say that every person and every situation is different. Each time we become aware of sin we should humbly ask God for wisdom before we say anything. It appears from Paul’s instructions above, that we should expect a higher level of purity from members of the church than from those outside God’s family. In addition, let us demand an even higher level of godliness from ourselves, so that we will not fall into the trap of judging others too harshly.