Judge Not, that you be Not Judged
Introduction. Jesus wanted His disciples to be very cautious regarding the manner in which they assess and form opinions about others. While God is very clear that everyone will be judged on the final day, He is equally clear that He doesn’t need or want any help from us. Through the centuries many have set themselves up as judges of others, yet the test of time has proven their judgments were false. Sadly, just as it is “not in man to direct his own steps,” it is not in man to assess and pass judgement on the steps of others. So those disciples of Jesus who want to do everything exactly as Jesus has revealed are strongly warned about judging and assessing others:
Clearly Jesus worded this command in this manner for an important reason and each of us must struggle to find the narrow path. While many seek creative ways to explain these words, some are mere clichés that only lessen the impact of the command itself leading to its violation. Once we understand that on the final day of judgment, our own judgment by God will be impacted by the way we have judged others, we are better prepared to be cautious.
Based on Jesus’ words, James gave us a similar warning. As we consider our time before God’s judgment, we all long for mercy, compassion and understanding from God. We want to be able to explain our circumstances and have him patiently listen and then be merciful. James warned that these things will be meted out exactly as we gave them. If we did not choose mercy in our judgment of others, then God will not use any mercy when it comes to our own judgment.
What a powerful warning. I have total control over my own judgement by carefully choosing how I will judge others.
The fact that we want to be judged mercifully and fairly should lead us to understand that Jesus’ command must be strictly followed. James returned again to this subject and gave an additional warning that further restricts us. This command was not given to be judged and assessed; it was given only to be obeyed:
If we stray across this line and pass our own judgment, or by expressing this assessment to another speak evil of another, we have placed ourselves above the law Jesus gave. This is an important concern that we must all carefully consider in all our interactions with others. Since we have been given a clear line, the wisest method to not cross it is to stay as far away as possible from it!
Paul also had some things to say about judging. He approaches it from the fact that there are so many things we don’t know about each other that we would be foolish indeed to pass judgment.
We can see what is done, but we can never know why they did it. Our judgment may be completely false because some critical fact that only God knows was unavailable to us. Things done in a moment of weakness are not a good basis for making permanent assessments of people’s character. For this reason alone, we should never cross this line and are always prepared to modify our opinions.
The simplest and most logical method of understanding Jesus words is something multitudes of doctors must do today. In an age of lawsuits and close scrutiny over difficult decisions that doctors must make, Jesus’ words take on a special significance. Doctors treating patients must make assessments with life and death consequences. Yet they must never forget that someone will be looking over that decision and if things went wrong, there must be facts to back up why they made that judgment.
In court, it is never safe to have an undocumented opinion. Huge damages are assessed against human error. If the only things a doctor has is his own judgment, it will be impossible to justify in court. Good doctors recognize the danger they will face trying to justify a wrong decision, so they rely on instruments, computers, and specified tests to draw their conclusions. By simply passing on what the accurate instruments revealed, they avoid any risk of human error. Basing a diagnosis on X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and lab results is much safer than basing a judgment on symptoms alone.
This is what every Christian must learn. We are in no better position than these doctors. Human judgments are often flawed or even outright wrong. No matter how convinced we might be regarding an opinion or assessment we have made, we may find out later we were dead wrong.
No one is exempt from this “human error.” Even the most careful among us, who always “measure twice and cut once” still find occasionally that it seemed right, but moments or even years later found it was wrong. Such experiences lead to humility, caution, and prayers for wisdom. Even Paul for a time “thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus” (Acts 20:28; 26:9) and sought to influence others to his way of thinking. Think of the young prophet who was killed for believing the lies of the older prophet. Remember the Jews who rejected God’s prophets and the most amazing of all, those who rejected the words of Jesus because of their own faulty judgment.
Therefore, the parallel between the doctor and a devout disciple is very important. Doctors carefully document assessments based on sound evidence and instruments to prove their conclusions are sound.
Jesus demanded exactly the same thing from His disciples. We should not be comfortable passing either judgments or assessments unless Scripture is doing the judging for us. We do not judge; we allow Scripture to judge and if there is no Scripture, then it is not even right for us to have an opinion for “the secret things belong to God” (Deut. 29:29). How else could we all fulfill Paul’s command to the Corinthians?
We can’t be joined together in the same mind and judgement unless we perfectly follow Jesus’ words. When we all have the same facts (Scripture) and the same opinions (judgments based only on facts), there will be no divisions among us. Only when we start forming judgments beyond what is written, does it become impossible to be perfectly joined together.
With this in mind, the solution to the dilemma is clearer. Just as a doctor who simply applies the results and follows those results is not guilty of judging, so also the Christian who take the judgments of the Lord and apply them is not judging. We have to be certain we are not interjecting our own judgment or opinion, but only acting on what God said. Jesus said that even He did this!
If we follow Jesus’ example, we will never violate His command. Jesus never judged! He did not come to judge! He came to save! In all His preaching and teaching in the gospels, He never violated the command He gave. So, when we follow his example, we will never violate His command. What Jesus did on earth is what He now commands us to do. He worked the same way doctors do. He did not judge alone. He used the Father as His absolute standard of judgment.
This is exactly what Jesus wanted us to do with His words (Jn 12:48). We never have to judge just as He never had to judge! All we have to do is apply His words to the lives of others. If we do this without adding our own opinions or emotions to it, then we have fulfilled His command.
Conclusion Those who are wise and spiritual minded have taken these things deeply into their heart. Regardless of the “trespass”, it is not our role to judge. It is only our role to restore in a spirit of gentleness.
- Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Mt. 7:1-2).
Clearly Jesus worded this command in this manner for an important reason and each of us must struggle to find the narrow path. While many seek creative ways to explain these words, some are mere clichés that only lessen the impact of the command itself leading to its violation. Once we understand that on the final day of judgment, our own judgment by God will be impacted by the way we have judged others, we are better prepared to be cautious.
Based on Jesus’ words, James gave us a similar warning. As we consider our time before God’s judgment, we all long for mercy, compassion and understanding from God. We want to be able to explain our circumstances and have him patiently listen and then be merciful. James warned that these things will be meted out exactly as we gave them. If we did not choose mercy in our judgment of others, then God will not use any mercy when it comes to our own judgment.
What a powerful warning. I have total control over my own judgement by carefully choosing how I will judge others.
- So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (Jas. 2:12-13)
The fact that we want to be judged mercifully and fairly should lead us to understand that Jesus’ command must be strictly followed. James returned again to this subject and gave an additional warning that further restricts us. This command was not given to be judged and assessed; it was given only to be obeyed:
- He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (Jas. 4:11)
If we stray across this line and pass our own judgment, or by expressing this assessment to another speak evil of another, we have placed ourselves above the law Jesus gave. This is an important concern that we must all carefully consider in all our interactions with others. Since we have been given a clear line, the wisest method to not cross it is to stay as far away as possible from it!
Paul also had some things to say about judging. He approaches it from the fact that there are so many things we don’t know about each other that we would be foolish indeed to pass judgment.
- Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God. (1Cor. 4:5).
We can see what is done, but we can never know why they did it. Our judgment may be completely false because some critical fact that only God knows was unavailable to us. Things done in a moment of weakness are not a good basis for making permanent assessments of people’s character. For this reason alone, we should never cross this line and are always prepared to modify our opinions.
The simplest and most logical method of understanding Jesus words is something multitudes of doctors must do today. In an age of lawsuits and close scrutiny over difficult decisions that doctors must make, Jesus’ words take on a special significance. Doctors treating patients must make assessments with life and death consequences. Yet they must never forget that someone will be looking over that decision and if things went wrong, there must be facts to back up why they made that judgment.
In court, it is never safe to have an undocumented opinion. Huge damages are assessed against human error. If the only things a doctor has is his own judgment, it will be impossible to justify in court. Good doctors recognize the danger they will face trying to justify a wrong decision, so they rely on instruments, computers, and specified tests to draw their conclusions. By simply passing on what the accurate instruments revealed, they avoid any risk of human error. Basing a diagnosis on X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and lab results is much safer than basing a judgment on symptoms alone.
This is what every Christian must learn. We are in no better position than these doctors. Human judgments are often flawed or even outright wrong. No matter how convinced we might be regarding an opinion or assessment we have made, we may find out later we were dead wrong.
- 12 There is a way which seems right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death. ... 17 The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him. (Pr. 14:12; 18:17)
No one is exempt from this “human error.” Even the most careful among us, who always “measure twice and cut once” still find occasionally that it seemed right, but moments or even years later found it was wrong. Such experiences lead to humility, caution, and prayers for wisdom. Even Paul for a time “thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus” (Acts 20:28; 26:9) and sought to influence others to his way of thinking. Think of the young prophet who was killed for believing the lies of the older prophet. Remember the Jews who rejected God’s prophets and the most amazing of all, those who rejected the words of Jesus because of their own faulty judgment.
Therefore, the parallel between the doctor and a devout disciple is very important. Doctors carefully document assessments based on sound evidence and instruments to prove their conclusions are sound.
Jesus demanded exactly the same thing from His disciples. We should not be comfortable passing either judgments or assessments unless Scripture is doing the judging for us. We do not judge; we allow Scripture to judge and if there is no Scripture, then it is not even right for us to have an opinion for “the secret things belong to God” (Deut. 29:29). How else could we all fulfill Paul’s command to the Corinthians?
- Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1Cor. 1:10).
We can’t be joined together in the same mind and judgement unless we perfectly follow Jesus’ words. When we all have the same facts (Scripture) and the same opinions (judgments based only on facts), there will be no divisions among us. Only when we start forming judgments beyond what is written, does it become impossible to be perfectly joined together.
With this in mind, the solution to the dilemma is clearer. Just as a doctor who simply applies the results and follows those results is not guilty of judging, so also the Christian who take the judgments of the Lord and apply them is not judging. We have to be certain we are not interjecting our own judgment or opinion, but only acting on what God said. Jesus said that even He did this!
- And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. (Jn. 12:47-49)
If we follow Jesus’ example, we will never violate His command. Jesus never judged! He did not come to judge! He came to save! In all His preaching and teaching in the gospels, He never violated the command He gave. So, when we follow his example, we will never violate His command. What Jesus did on earth is what He now commands us to do. He worked the same way doctors do. He did not judge alone. He used the Father as His absolute standard of judgment.
- You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. (Jn. 8:15-16)
This is exactly what Jesus wanted us to do with His words (Jn 12:48). We never have to judge just as He never had to judge! All we have to do is apply His words to the lives of others. If we do this without adding our own opinions or emotions to it, then we have fulfilled His command.
Conclusion Those who are wise and spiritual minded have taken these things deeply into their heart. Regardless of the “trespass”, it is not our role to judge. It is only our role to restore in a spirit of gentleness.
- Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:1-2)