Should Christians Judge?

Introduction

Presently, we live in a culture where people will angrily tell you to not judge others. They promote that people should do anything that brings them happiness, not matter how contrary to reason that decision or action may be. It is common that parents tell their children that they may become whatever they desire in life—typically referring to the career they desire. With hard work, they may achieve their dreams, but in this day, the children have grown older, and they continue to believe that they can do whatever they desire in some of the most perverse senses.

No longer is it that the child dreams of working hard to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher, carpenter, mechanic, or soldier in the military. Instead, people have decided they may believe themselves to be what they are not—contrary to nature and God. People believe they may have honorable polygamist marriages. They think that they can make immoral decisions, abuse substances, follow cults, or make any terrible decision that their heart desires, but nobody can tell them what they do is wrong.

Even more troubling is that many in the church will tell you that we cannot tell those people, or even each other, that what we do, is wrong. We are being silenced from telling each other what we do is contrary to the nature of God, that we should repent, and do instead the things that bring honor to God. It is cherry-picking of verses that allows many in the church to support their positions. Instead of using the entirety of Scripture to interpret Scripture, the poor understanding of the Bible allows this misinformation. It is not limited to the congregation members, but to many popular pastors of this day.

Let us examine the words of Jesus Christ, from Matthew 7:1-5, so that we may not fall into such a trap.

Matthew 7:1-5

Matthew 7:1–5 (ESV)

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.

2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

3 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?

4 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?

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.

Exposition

When we read this passage, it can appear to be straightforward in the declaration that we are not to judge, but in the grader context of scripture, we realize that it may not be so. In fact, the Scriptures contain numerous occasions in which Jesus or Paul admonished others, or when the prophets called Israel to repent from their wicked ways. I suggest to you that there is more to this passage—that there is something to the nature of judgment that we must avoid, but through discernment according to the teachings of Scripture, we must lovingly correct others, so that they may be conformed to the image of Christ.

Regarding this passage, A.W. Pink states:

“The verses at which we have now arrived begin a new section of our Lord’s Sermon, and that it is by no means one of the simplest appears from the diverse treatment which it has received at the hands of the commentators. They are almost unanimous in allowing that our Lord’s prohibition “Judge not” cannot be understood in its widest possible latitude, yet as to how far and wherein it is to be modified there is little agreement. That Christ’s forbidding us to exercise and pass judgment upon others cannot be taken absolutely, few if any who are acquainted with the general tenor of God’s Word would deny, yet as soon as they attempted to define its limitations a considerable variety of opinions would be expressed. This should at once warn us against coming to any hasty conclusion as to the meaning of Matthew 7:1, and guard us against being misled by the mere sound of its words. Yea, it should drive us to our knees, begging God graciously to subdue the prejudices of our hearts and enlighten our minds, and then diligently search the Scriptures for other passages which throw light upon the one now before us.”

Greek Word Study

Because this passage is incorrectly interpreted, lets establish the meaning of the Word. The keyword that is causing us issue in the interpretation is “judge.” The Greek word that is being translated is κρίνω (krino). In this use, judgment is being used in the sense of an evaluation, but it can have many other senses, or uses, such as: condemned, distinguished, and resolved. If the passage were discussing “divine judgment”, the word would be krima, as found in the passage of Romans 2.

Divine Judgment

With this information, we can be certain that the passage is being used, although with errors, in the proper context. When a person defends their actions, stating in a cavalier attitude, “Only God can judge me!”, they are not incorrect, but their attitude is. God will judge each one of us one day, and we should be filled with fear and trembling because we will stand before the Holy God, and we are sinful people with wicked and deceitful hearts. To state that only “God can judge me,” we have condemned ourselves, for nothing before God’s judgment can pass.

If God’s judgment does not cause you fear, then I worry that you may not understand the plight of man’s fallenness in contrast to God’s Holiness. It is not just that he is so much better than us, wholly perfect, but that His perfection is by the standard that we are judged. But you say, “But I am a good person, and He’ll understand that,” but I tell you, the Scripture says that no person is good, but we have hearts full of wickedness and deceit. We must have faith in Jesus Christ that we are forgiven of our sins, because God is merciful, and we must trust that we will not be judged according to our works but be imputed with the righteousness of Christ. It is only by Christ’s righteousness, that God can give us eternal life with Him.

Divine Judgment (Turn to Romans 2:1-8)

If we synthesize the passages, the meaning becomes clearer. Divine judgment is meant for the one that is perfect, the Holy Lord of all, and we cannot usurp that authority from Him. How can the imperfect judge other’s as imperfect? The Pharisees are likely the ones discussed in this passage. They would walk around thinking of themselves are righteous, looking down upon others, they would chastise, but continue doing the wrong they spoke out against, all while thinking they did not have that sin problem as well.

Romans 2:1–8 (ESV)

1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

6 He will render to each one according to his works:

7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

We cannot read into the passage that a person with a sin problem, which is every single one of us, cannot correct another person with their sin problem. An alcoholic could be very correct in telling a young person that is on that path, that they are becoming an alcoholic themselves. Especially if they say something like, “I am an alcoholic, and I desire to change, but I can see you making some of the same mistakes I made. I wish much better for you, so that you do not go down the path I did.” This is not hypocrisy, but it is an act of love and kindness.

Discernment

In fact, the Scriptures teach us to distinguish right from wrong—righteousness from sinfulness. The law was given to us so that we may live a life according to God’s desire. Romans 2:15 states, “They show that the work of the law is ywritten on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness.” If we are unable to discern, then we can easily be persuaded by false teachers, philosophers, or we may simple make terrible decisions in daily life. Like the grass, we will be blown in any direction of the wind without discernment, but by learning God’s word and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us, we may stand up straight, like a strong oak tree, despite the winds that blow.

Correcting Our Brothers and Sisters

Despite what your surface interpretation may lead you to think, we cannot go without correcting others. Through our use of discernment, we can identify areas where we can help others.

Study the Word:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV): “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Psalm 1:1–6 (ESV): “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

2. We Must Lovingly Correct Others:

We are commanded to love others. If we see another in sin, then we are committing hatred by not correcting them. If we are hating them, then we are committing murder, for:

1 John 3:15 (ESV): “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

Galatians 6:1 (ESV): “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

3. Accept Other’s Correction

Proverbs 12:1 (ESV): “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

Proverbs 15:32 (ESV): “Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.”

Conclusion

While we should not usurp the authority of final judgment from the Lord, we cannot abstain from all judgment and abide by the Scriptures. There may be wisdom in allowing those that are older and wiser to correct others, we all are called to build the body of Christ up. We cannot have one part of the body contrary to the rest, or else the body is not in harmony. If you see a brother or sister sinning, or they hold some theological position outside of orthodoxy, we must lovingly correct the issue, lest they continue to fall away from God, which may become a death sentence. People sometimes make mistakes, so let us not be quick to judgment, or too harsh, but correct others with patience, kindness, and love. Do not act upon rumor or hearsay, but upon solid facts, lest you sin yourself.

We must be unwavering in our commitment to the Lord, both in our knowledge of Scripture and in the actions displayed in our lives. We are called to be the “salt and light” of this darkened world, so let our lives shine through the darkness, and let our teaching preserve the law of the Lord in the lives of others. In all we do, do it out of love, for Christ showed us love. He corrected the Pharisees not because he wanted to win a debate, but so that they could live according to God’s commands because he love them.

Do not pervert loving corrections of others into the unrighteous judgment. Do not be Pharisee saying, “The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’” Correct others in the way that Christ would desire you to.

y Jer. 31:33