Should We Judge?
One of the Bible subjects that are of utmost importance in the
days we are living, and indeed throughout the history of Christianity, is the
subject of judging. Coming to it, there seems a little confusion as to whether
we should or should not judge. Either side, it seems, has scriptures in hand to
support their stand.
But what do the Scriptures, which are our primary and foundational
reference for all matters pertaining to the Christian faith, have to say on
this subject?
In Matthew, we hear Jesus speaking these words:
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.
(Matthew 7:1-2)
Similar
text is found in Luke 6:37.
If we are to rely on this text alone, we would say that we should
never judge; case closed, period! But, hold a minute! Let us hear the same
Jesus, our Saviour, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), speaking about judging once more:
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous
judgment.
(John 7:24)
From these two texts, we learn that Jesus has not forbidden us
from making judgment; otherwise we would say that He made contradictory
statements. From these two passages, He seems to forbid us from judging in one
context (that of Matthew 7:1-2), but
exhorts us to judge righteously in another context (that of John 7:24). As His disciples, we have
to understand the situations in which we are allowed, and actually supposed, to
judge, and situations that we are not supposed to judge.
But before we go any further, let us get a clear understanding of
the meaning of the word “judge” as used in these two scriptures – as well as
other scriptures which we are going to refer shortly.
The
word that has been rendered here as “judge” is a Greek word krino which means:
Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or
judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish: -
avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue
at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
In short, the word “judge” means to
distinguish, try, condemn, punish. The word try has several meanings including: make
an effort or attempt (to do something); put to the test; examine or hear
(evidence or a case) by judicial process, etc. The word condemn
means: pronounce a sentence on, in a court of law; express strong disapproval
of.
We have to be carefully to understand the actual meaning that
applies wherever this word appears. That meaning can be clear when we consider
the context of the scripture, bearing in mind other scripture passages in the
entire Bible, remembering of course that God never contradicts Himself in His
Word.
With the broader meaning of the word “judge” in mind, let us go
back to those two scripture texts and consider them closely.
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)
According to this context, our Lord Jesus was forbidding us to
judge other people while we are doing the same mistakes, and even greater
mistakes than them (verses 1 – 4). Unless we have corrected ourselves and stop
doing those mistakes, we have no right to judge (verse 5). For example, how do
you find it when a court magistrate sentences a thief to two years imprisonment
after stealing someone’s money while himself has just stolen his neighbour’s
music system? As odd as this example may sound to you, if we are not careful,
we may find ourselves judging others for things that we are doing ourselves.
Doing that is sheer hypocrisy.
Thus, here we get the first lesson about judging: We cannot make
any judgment about something if we, ourselves, are doing the very thing.
In John 7:24 Jesus
gives us another lesson about judging: When we judge, we should not do it by
observing the outward appearance of things, but we should make a righteous
judgment.
How do we make a righteous judgment? By judging just as God would
have judge, because He alone is the righteous judge:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:
and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
(2 Timothy 4:8)
How do we know the way God would have judged the matter
at hand? From the Scriptures, because therein we find His law (Isaiah 1:10). From the Scriptures we
learn the kind of judgment we are supposed to make. Even our Lord Jesus, to
whom God has given the authority to judge people in the last day (John 5:22-23, Acts 10:38-42; 17:31, Romans
2:16), will make His judgment according to the Word of God (John 12:48).
So far we have learnt the following regarding
judging:
- We are not allowed to
judge against things that we do ourselves.
- Whenever we make
judgment, we should do so righteously by judging according to the Scriptures,
and not according to external appearance or any other criteria such as popular
opinion.
After learning those basic lessons about judging, we have to
understand, as Christians, the object of our judgment.
What Are We Supposed To Judge?
- In matters
related to our faith, we are supposed to judge (i.e. distinguish) between what
is the right thing to do and what is wrong:
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether
it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge
ye.
(Acts 4:19)
In
the verse above, Peter and John threw a challenge to the council of the
religious Jews to judge for themselves whether it was right in the sight of God
for them (Peter and John) to listen to God or to men. But they (Peter and John)
made their own judgment that they were supposed to obey God alone (read Acts 5:29).
-
We are supposed to judge those brethren among us who turn to
wicked ways:
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among
you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that
one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather
mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present,
concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our
Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the
flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying
is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge
out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.
For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the
feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness;
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an
epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the
fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with
idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written
unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a
fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an
extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge
them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that
are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked
person.
(1 Corinthians 5:1-13,
emphasis mine)
In this scripture passage, Paul was referring to the brethren in
the Corinthian church who slept with his father’s wife. He expressly stated
that he had, though physically absent, already judged that person for his
evildoing. What he meant, according to this passage, was that he had already
passed a ruling of what was to be done to that person: The person was to be
handed over to Satan who would punish his flesh, hoping that he might repent of
his wicked ways and be saved when the Lord Jesus comes; and that the Corinthian
church was to separate itself from that person, not treating him as a believer.
This was the judgment Paul made to the brethren who committed abomination
before the Lord, and exhorted the Corinthian church to make the same judgment.
- We are supposed
to judge any disputes, in daily life, among fellow brethren:
Dare any of you, having a
matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be
judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that
we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then
ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are
least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is
not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his
brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the
unbelievers.
(1 Corinthians 6:1-6)
In this passage, apostle Paul was instructing the Corinthian
brethren to judge disputes between their fellow believers rather than bringing
those matters to unbelievers.
- We are supposed
to judge what other ministers of the gospel teach or preach:
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
(1 Corinthians 10:15)
While knowing that he was an apostle of Jesus Christ (1
Corinthians 1:1), Paul challenged the Corinthian brethren to judge what he was
telling them if it was right. In other words, he was telling them to examine
and put to the test of scriptures everything he was teaching them. Hardly,
if ever, we hear a preacher or teacher on the pulpit urging his audience to
judge and test what he or she is teaching or preaching if it conforms to the
Scriptures.
Most of us Christians take for granted whatever we are taught by
ministers of the gospel, and do not spend time to judge, that is, test, those
teachings and preaching, with reference to the Scriptures. Most of us consider
everything that is being preached or taught by popular ministers to be
true, and never take time to consider those teachings, in the light of the
God-given Scriptures, to see for ourselves if those teachings are correct. It
is high time we learn from the Berean Jews:
And the brethren immediately
sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea:
who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble
than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness
of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
(Acts 17:10-11, emphasis
mine)
This matter is far serious than many of us realize. There is so
much damage that has been inflicted on the faith of many Christians as a result
of failure to test what they are being taught. We cannot afford to ignore or
take lightly the scriptural exhortations to test teachings, prophecies,
spirits, and literally everything that we come across, with the Scripture as
our measuring rod, to see if they conform to the Word of God:
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
(1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world.
(1 John 4:1, emphasis mine)
Actually, our Lord Jesus Christ strongly warned us to be carefully
with false prophets when He likened them with ferocious wolves clothed in
sheepskin, thus bearing a close resemblance to the genuine sheep:
Beware of false prophets, which come to
you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know
them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even
so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth
evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree
that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will
of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out
devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(Matthew 7:15-23, emphasis
mine)
Here Jesus was referring to false prophets who would be doing
everything in the name of Jesus – even performing miracles, signs and
wonders, but whom He never knew! We better heed to this strong warning
from our Savior, that someone can even do miracles in the name of Jesus, and still
not belong to Him. Indeed, we are living in a time when such ministers
abound. The only way to recognize them is by their fruits, that is,
testing their doctrines and life to see if they conform to the Scriptures.
There are ministers today who, despite their performing miracles in the name of
Jesus, are workers of iniquity just as our Lord Jesus Christ said. It is
impossible to know them unless we carefully examine their fruit.
- We are supposed to
judge ourselves:
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
(1 Corinthians 11:31)
In our Christian walk, we have to check our lives, in the light of
the Scriptures, to determine if we are living a life that is pleasing our Lord
God. This is something that no one will do for us, as it is individual
responsibility.
What Are We Not Supposed To Judge?
Having learnt about some of the areas in which the Scriptures
admonish us to make judgment, now we have to take a look at those areas where
we are not allowed to judge.
- We are not
supposed to judge, that is condemn, fellow believers who have different
opinions on matters that God has given us freedom to decide ourselves as we
like:
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to
doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another,
who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not;
and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received
him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he
standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him
stand.
(Romans 14:1-4)
We have to realize that there are matters in daily life that God,
in His sovereign wisdom, has allowed us to make our own decisions. For instance
the way we dress, eat, the type of business to do, etc, are things which we can
decide for ourselves provided we do not violate the written Word of God in
those areas and do not bring shame on the name of our Lord God, whom we bear
His name. It is wrong to try to put strict rules on matters that God has not
done so, and condemn those who do not hold the same opinion as ours as if those
believers are going to eternal damnation! Knowing this, the apostles in Jerusalem decided not to impose numerous restrictions to
the Gentile believers in Antioch,
except that which was necessary:
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay
upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from
meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from
fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
(Acts 15:28-29)
- We are not supposed
to pass judgment regarding the eternal destiny or eternal reward of other
people:
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged
of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know
nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the
Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who
both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
(1 Corinthians 4:3-5, emphasis
mine)
God has given His Son, Jesus, the authority to
make judgment as to the eternal destiny of mankind and reward each one
according to his/her deeds (John
5:22-23,26-27, 2 Timothy 4:8, Revelation 22:12). We, human beings, are not
allowed to assume this sacred duty. God alone can make a righteous judgment in
this regard as He is the only one who can see straight into our hearts and
minds.
