“Don’t Judge Me!”

Context

An elder in a message to the Church argued that we should not judge, that only judgement belonged to God and after defining the legal system and the role it plays, the elder went on to argue that we are flawed and therefore we make wrong judgements. The scripture used to support his premise is taken from:

Matthew 7:1–3 (ESV)

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

The Case

Leaders who avoid, ignore or subvert judgement are not only neglecting an important function of leadership, but in fact are in denial of the significance that judgement plays in leadership.

Meaning

To select

To approve

To determine, to resolve

To compare facts or ideas, and perceive their agreement or disagreement, and thus to distinguish truth from falsehood (NWAD)

Condemnation

Often when people say “don't judge me”, what they actually mean is “don't condemn me.”

Jesus makes it clear that if we condemn others we will be condemned (Luke 6:37) ““Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;”

Matthew 7:1-3

Jesus saying that we should not judge?

Well, if you read further on:

Matthew 7:3–5 ESV

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 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.

It seems to me that the premise of this futher explanation is not whether one should judge or not, but that judgement as everything to do with character and in the spirit in which we judge.

Context

Four Points of Consideration

Avoiding Hypocrisy: Jesus is warning against hypocritical judgment. He uses hyperbolic imagery (a speck vs. a log) to illustrate how people often criticize others while ignoring their own flaws.

Self-Examination: The passage encourages self-examination before attempting to correct others. The "beam in one's own eye" symbolizes a significant issue one should address first.

Judgment Standards: The statement "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged" emphasizes that the standards we use to judge others will be applied to us as well.

Constructive vs. Destructive Criticism: Jesus isn't condemning discernment or constructive criticism but rather judgment that is unkind, hypocritical, or self-righteous.

Be Careful

There is a note of caution that we should not judge by mere appearances:

John 7:24 ESV

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Good Character Makes For Good Judgement

Exodus 18:16–21 ESV

when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

The men were not selected according to tribe but on four prevailing qualities:

Able (Hayil) — valour, strength, ability and resources etc.

Fear God — Conduct themselves to a high standard of morality

Trustworthy — “truth is an abstract concept as well as a way of acting, these people must have a public track record of truthful character as well as conduct”.

They Must Be Haters of Unjust Gain — despise the practice of bribery and all kinds of subversion.

Conclusion

We are to love one another. But we are not to justify a fellow worker whom we see pursuing a wrong course of action. We do not help him by smoothing over the wrong he is doing and encouraging him to justify himself. A wrong is a wrong, by whomever it is done; and the higher the position of the wrongdoer, the great his accountability. Take your stand on the platform of eternal truth. Then take your erring brother by the hand, and help him to stand by your side—18LtMs, Ms 71, 1903, par. 23