We live in a time when tolerance is a chief virtue – not tolerance in the way the Bible defines it, but tolerance for almost any sort of sin or error that may be practiced or promoted by man. As a result, our society is most intolerant of what could be seen as one person judging another. After all, what business do we have judging anyone else?
This is a good question to consider. We certainly must not judge when it is not our place to do so. James wrote, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12). Paul wrote, “Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions” (Romans 14:1). A little bit later he asked: “But you, why do you judge your brother: Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God” (Romans 14:10). One of the most quoted statements by Jesus was spoken in His Sermon on the Mount: “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1).
Do these passages teach that all judgments we might make are wrong? Conversely, is it possible to be wrongly accused of judging others?
Not All Judging Is Wrong
The above passages are often represented as condemning one who passes judgment against another under any circumstances. Yet that last phrase – under any circumstances – is not implied in any of those verses. If it were, how would we harmonize Jesus’ statement: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24)? Making judgments is not wrong in every circumstance. We must make righteous judgments, recognizing that final and perfect judgment belongs exclusively to the Lord.
Even Jesus’ famous command – “Do not judge” (Matthew 7:1) – does not condemn all judging, only a certain type – judging others hypocritically. Notice Jesus’ instruction in its context:
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at 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,’ and behold, the log is 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” (Matthew 7:1-5).
Jesus did not instruct us to ignore the speck in our brother’s eye because then we would be guilty of judging him and, after all, we have a log in our own eye to worry about. Instead, Jesus instructed us to deal with our own shortcoming so that we can then help others with theirs. To tell someone he needs to change when we ourselves are unwilling to make similar corrections is hypocritical. This is what Jesus condemned, not the “righteous judgement” that we noticed earlier (John 7:24).
The passage in Romans 14 is quite clear, yet sorely abused by those who promote a “grace-unity” philosophy with regard to fellowship. Some will teach that the instruction to “not judge one another anymore” (Romans 14:13) allows us to have fellowship with those practicing any type of sin or promoting any type of error. Yet the text is clear. This chapter is not dealing with differences in matters of faith, but matters of “opinions” (Romans 14:1). These are matters in which, regardless of the different convictions, “God has accepted” each one involved (Romans 14:3). This cannot be talking about anything that would be sinful or erroneous, for “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). This chapter does not condemn making judgments on matters of faith, but matters of opinion.
Being Incorrectly Accused of Judging Others
It is not uncommon to teach the gospel and have someone disagree with the message. Paul told Timothy of those who “will not endure sound doctrine,” but would “turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Many people in religion want something that soothes their conscience rather than pricks their heart (Acts 2:37); so they find preachers who will give them the message they seek, just as Paul said would happen.
Knowing that the truth would be unpopular, what was Timothy to do? Was he to change the message? Of course not! Rather than conform to the desires of man and become the kind of teacher the crowds were seeking, Paul told Timothy, “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).
Preaching “the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27) will include things that many will find objectionable – whether it is people in the world objecting to teaching on issues like homosexuality or brethren who object to the exposing of false teachers or teachings on certain matters of godliness and righteous living. A common attack by those who disagree with the ones who teach the truth is that the truth teacher is guilty of judging others. We have already noticed that not all judging is wrong. But is this accusation even accurate?
Notice how the word of God is described: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). There is a reason why those who teach the Scriptures are accused of judging others. It is not because they really are passing judgment – after all, they are simply teaching the word. Yet judging is being done. However, the judging is not being done by the teacher, but by the word.
God’s word is the standard by which we will all be judged (John 12:48). It is described now as judging “the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). When someone hears the word presented in its simplicity and purity and his life does not measure up to God’s standard, he will feel as though he is being judged. But the teacher is not to be blamed for this. After all, the teacher is simply presenting the Scriptures. The word is doing the judging. If we do not measure up to the standard, rather than becoming angry with the teacher, we should use the opportunity to correct our lives instead of ignoring our shortcomings until the final judgment when it will be too late.
Conclusion
We must certainly guard against judging others hypocritically (Matthew 7:1-5) or according to our personal opinions (Romans 14:1). Yet we must also be sure that we judge righteously (John 7:24).
With regard to our teaching, though it may not be popular and we may be wrongly accused of judging others, we must never shy away from teaching “the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27).
With regard to being taught, if someone is delivering a message from the word of God – whether it is in a public setting or a private study – and you feel as though you are being judged, pause for a moment. Before getting upset at the teacher for “judging” you, you must determine whether the teacher or the word of God was passing judgment against you. The only way you can do this is to examine “the Scriptures daily to see whether these things are so” (Acts 17:11). If it is the word judging you, then you must repent and conform your life to that standard.
Gal 4:16 – Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Good thoughts, brother!
Thanks, Devin. Good verse.
Thanks Devin. Hope you can visit my blog which indirectly teaches people about God.
Regards
G.L
Are there not several translations of the Bible that use the phrase “judge only judgement” instead of “judge righteously” or “judge correctly” in John7:24?
Wouldn’t this translation change the sentiment shared above that we should judge at all (unless it was to stop others from passing judgement)?
And doesn’t a belief that God wants us to pass judgement (righteous or otherwise) contradict other passages that instruct us to accept those who are weak of faith and sinful, without quarreling over their indiscretions?
“Concerned,” I checked several translations for the wording of the last phrase of John 7:24. This is what I found:
“Judge with righteous judgment” (New American Standard)
“Judge righteous judgment” (King James Version)
“Judge with righteous judgment” (New King James Version)
“Judge righteous judgment” (American Standard Version)
“Judge with right judgment” (Revised Standard Version)
“But instead judge correctly” (New International Version)
“Judge with right judgment” (English Standard Version)
I didn’t find any translation that used the phrase “judge only judgment,” let alone several. What translation have you found that uses that phrase? If there is one, it’s an inaccurate translation of the phrase. Merely claiming that it ought to be “judge only judgment,” doesn’t change anything. Jesus tells us, “Judge with righteous judgment.”
In your last question, you seem to be reaching for Romans 14:1 – “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.” We are to accept those who differ with us on matters of OPINION (that is what Romans 14 is about). But we are not to accept those who stubbornly remain in their sin (2 Thessalonians 3:6; Ephesians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 5:11). Rather than accept one in sin, we are to try to turn them from sin (James 5:19-20).