If you have ever open-air preached, or witnessed to someone who has not been saved, more than likely you have heard the convicted sinner say this: "Judge not, that ye be not judged." (Matthew 7:1)
Now based off of this verse in the Bible, it would seem like none of us can judge anyone, but is that really the case? Let's take a look at a few other verses in the Holy Bible that deal with judging.
"The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment." (Psalm 37:30)
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (John 7:24)
"But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But he have the mind of Christ." (1st Corinthians 2:15-16)
"The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace." (Isaiah 59:8)
"Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." (Malachi 3:18)
Okay, so based off of these Bible verses, the word of God makes it clear: we are to judge one another with love and righteousness, not with hate. If we don't judge one another, then people start becoming slaves to sin (John 8:34) because we are not obeying God, and fearing Him.
So going back to Matthew 7:1, what is the meaning behind this? The meaning behind this verse becomes clear: "we are not to judge one another hypocritically, rashly, impartially, uncharitably, unmercifully, unrighteously, with a desire of ill will against our neighbor, with jealously, with a spirit of revenge" (Matthew Henry's Commentary), etc. Basically, we are only to judge, and spiritually discern others according to the Holy Bible. God's word is the ONLY truth, and we should live our lives according to how God commands us to.
Judging is VERY important: when we are absent from the body, and present with the LORD, God's elect shall even judge angels!
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to the 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?" (1st Corinthians 6:1-5)
So most of the previous Bible verses that I have showed you dealt with judgment which was written in the New Testament. If we take a look at the Old Testament, it becomes clear that even in the time of the prophets, God's children were to judge righteously.
"Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour." (Leviticus 19:15)
"And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him." (Deuteronomy 1:16)
Now before someone gets angry and points at verses in the book of Romans about condemning ourselves when we judge, it is because we are not supposed to judge outwardly, or according to the flesh. We are to judge inwardly, according to the heart, as the Lord does. We are to be fair and just with our judgments, because everyone has sinned. We are not to jump to conclusions and judge people rashly because that is when you condemn yourself. Please take CAREFUL consideration when you pass judgment upon others.
0 comments: