“Judge not lest ye be judged!” – “Only God can judge me!” – “Who are you to judge?“
Such responses are often used by those who’ve been called out for sinful behavior. And oftentimes, it is these exact remarks that leave us Christians stopped in our tracks, speechless, and unable to continue in our admonishment.
In such cases, the defender walks away feeling justified in that he was able to silence his accuser. The Christian walks away feeling defeated. It seems as though the sinner had the upper hand; he knew just enough Scripture (although used unbiblically) to get his reprover off his back while the Christian knew too little to overcome his defenses.
Matthew 7:1 (judge not, that ye be not judged) is one of the most misused, abused, and taken out of context verses in the Bible. Often used to defend ones sinful behavior, its manipulation has been taken to the extreme and the verse now acts as a shield for those who wish to remain in sin. The sinner knows he can use this verse to hide behind and the Christian knows that he will. The result? The sinner keeps indulging in sin while the Christian feels powerless to help.
When we, as Christians, have this verse quoted back to us in defense of sin, we often resort to thinking, “He’s right. That IS in the Bible. Jesus did say, ‘Judge not.’ Who am I to judge?“
If “judge not” was all that Jesus had said then maybe we would be right in thinking that. However, there is more to what Jesus said and putting his words together, in the proper context, is key to understanding what he meant.
The Great Misinterpretation
Taken out of context, any verse of Scripture can be manipulated and used to fit ones own views, opinion, or agenda (How do you think cults are started?).
Take, for instance, Psalm 14:1 which states: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Taken out of context one could say “The Bible says ‘there is no God” and use this to support his atheist worldview.
Another verse taken out of context, from which a whole denomination was formed, is Mark 16:18 which states in part “They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them…”. Some have taken this to mean that we are to literally handle venomous snakes as part of our relationship with Jesus. I guess Jesus wants us to literally eat his flesh and drink his blood too. (John 6:51-56) Give me a break!
For this reason, when interpreting Scripture, its important that we look at not only the verse in question, but those surrounding it as well. This is crucial to obtaining the most accurate understanding of Scripture and, in this case, the words of Jesus himself.
For believers and nonbelievers alike who wish to live in sin, Matthew 7:1 provides the perfect barrier against those who would correct them. But this is only possible because 1) they use the verse out of context and 2) most of us dont know how to combat it.
When Jesus said “Judge not“, he followed up with “that ye be not judged“. Put in modern English it would read something like this: Do not judge others unless you are willing to subject yourself to judgement. That distinction alone changes everything. This was not a command forbidding us from using judgement, but a warning to use proper judgement, and in full knowledge of the consequences; the consequence being that we will be judged by the same standard with which we judge others, which is what Jesus said in the following verse.
“For you will be treated as you treat others.The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”
Matthew 7:2
This statement was essentially a warning against hypocritical judgement and not a forbearance on judgement itself. For Jesus goes on to say in verses 3-5:
“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
Matthew 7:3-5
Jesus is warning us not to be hypocritical in our actions, something he despises as made known when dealing so harshly (but justly) with the Pharisees and religious leaders of his day (Matthew 23). When it comes to admonishing someone whose behavior is sinful or wrong, we as Christians have the complete authority to do so, but only if in so doing we’re not proved to be hypocrites ourselves and only under the right conditions and circumstances. (More on that to come)
You Shall Know Them By Their Fruits
A few short verses after the widely misused “you cant judge me” text, Jesus goes on to show us the only means whereby we can judge people: their actions.
Why their actions? Because actions spring forth from what one believes and it is what one believes and acts upon that ultimately shows the integrity, or lack thereof, of a mans character. Jesus said “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37) But it is by your actions that you shall be known for what you truly are.
“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
Matthew 7:15-20
It is the very last sentence of that passage that gives us insight into how we are to judge the character of others. I am not implying that Christians have the Divine right to cast judgement upon anyone and everyone they meet. However, in the event a believer needs to use his judgement in discerning the character of others, they are permitted to do so by observing the way they act. It is by our actions, not anything else, that the true color of our character is shown.
Again, Jesus is not forbidding judgement, hes warning against being a hypocrite. If judging others was forbidden, how then could we “Beware of false prophets”? To discern a true prophet from a false one takes an act of judgement. Doesn’t it also take an act of judgement to decide who you want to marry, what career you want to pursue, what church you want to attend, who your friends are, etc.?
Judgement is required for living. Jesus’ only command here is that we use proper judgement and that we take care of our own sinful actions before we point out those of anyone else.
The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of Judging
The whole subject of judging others or being judged is quite sensitive for some people. However, the Scriptures make it clear that Christians have the right (the responsibility even) to judge the character of others and correct sinful behavior under certain circumstances and conditions.
Keep in mind that the judgement Christians have the right to use is not one in which we can pronounce the fate of others. Only God can decide who will spend eternity with Him and who will spend eternity in hell. With that made clear I’d like to now cover the who/what/when/where/why and how of judging others.
Who Are Christians Allowed to Judge?
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 “It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders (nonbelievers), but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”
Paul makes it very clear who Christians are allowed to judge and who they are not. In fact, he takes it a step further by saying it is our responsibility to judge believers who are sinning. But this is as far as our judgement can go. We are forbidden to judge nonbelievers as Paul says “God will judge those on the outside“.
When we witness a fellow believer committing sin, its our responsibility to intervene. To allow a brother or sister in Christ to continue to live in sin is one of the most unloving, uncaring acts we could commit. It not only hurts the one sinning, but the church as a whole as well. How? Because “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump“.
Sin, when unchecked, has the potential to spread like an infectious disease through the entire church. This is why the believer living in sin must be restored or removed.
Tolerance is not a virtue when it comes to sin within the body of Christ; its a vice. I wonder if tolerance and lack of judgement within the church have played any part in the lack of power we experience within Christianity today? Just a thought…
What Are Christians to Judge?
Christians are to judge the actions of other believers. This is evidenced by Matthew 7:20, as previously discussed, when Jesus said, “just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
Further evidence of this can be found in 1 Corinthians 5:11 when Paul tells us “not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.”
Paul is warning us to stay away from believers whose habitual actions contradict what they claim to believe. Why? Because holy and unholy do not mix and it isnt wise for someone who is a true believer to be in the company of a known hypocrite.
The hypocrites within the Christian faith have done more damage to the body of Christ than any attack from the outside. They bring shame to the name of Christ and his teachings by the way they live and in so doing lead the world to believe that depravity, corruption, and hypocrisy go hand in hand with the Christian faith. They take the church, which symbolically is the Bride of Christ, and make her out to be a whore where every type of sinful act may be committed without shame.
Actions, not stated beliefs, are the standard by which believers are to judge one another. They are also the standard by which the church is judged by the world. For this reason its our responsibility as believers to keep the Bride of Christ pure, holy, and separate from the sinful ways of the world. We do this by judging the actions of those who claim to be believers but whose actions prove otherwise. We restore or “remove the evil person from among us“.
When Are Christians to Judge?
Anytime we observe a believer indulging in sin, or saying things or living in a way that is in direct contradiction to Gods Word, we need to step in. This doesnt mean we blast them from the start and immediately write them off as “hell bound”. It means that we go to that person, talk to them, and learn the truth behind their actions. We ask questions, provide Scriptural admonishment, and do all we can to help them see their errors.
The goal is to bring such a person back to a right relationship with God before things get out of control and before they grow indifferent to their sinfulness and become almost impossible to reach.
James 1:15 says “when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death“.
Its for this reason that we need to identify and correct sinful behavior in the lives of our fellow believers as soon as possible. One thing to realize, however, is that not all “believers” want to live as such and any attempt to restore them may not be well received.
Before you go and “shake the dust off your feet” consider what Jesus says in Matthew 18:15-17.
If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
Matthew 18:15-17
In other words, give the believer in question multiple chances to repent. Get other believers and even the church itself involved if needed. And if after all that the person still refuses to listen, refuse to associate with them.
Remember, the objective is to keep the body of Christ holy. This is done through restoration or (unfavorably) removal of those who fall back into habitual sin. You may not have the ability to remove such a person from your church, but you certainly can refuse to associate with them.
Where Are Christians to Judge?
A better rendering of this question would be: In what setting should a Christian judge or correct another believer? After all, we dont want to embarrass anyone or call them out in front of other people, right? Well, it depends.
In the case of Peters hypocrisy recorded in Galatians 2:11-16 Paul says he “opposed him (Peter) to his face…in front of all the others“. Most of us would be opposed to this kind of confrontation, claiming that it wouldn’t feel right to call out another believer this way. And besides, didnt we just read Jesus telling us to confront other believers privately before getting others involved?
Allow me to explain why Paul was justified in his actions toward Peter and why approaching him privately would have been the wrong course of action.
In Matthew 18, when Jesus spoke of confronting another believer privately, it was in response to that believer sinning against you – only you. When a matter concerning two people can be resolved privately, between the two of them, its best that it be done so. Jesus did, however, make provisions for when two opposing believers arent able to come to a resolution.
Compare this to the event Paul observed and you can see why he was justified in his actions. First of all, Peter was a leader of the church (Galatians 2:9) and as such he is held to a higher standard (James 3:1, Luke 12:48). He should have known better and no doubt he did.
Second, his sin was not against a single person but involved other Jewish believers, including Barnabas, who were led away by his hypocrisy.
Third, Peters hypocrisy could have led to the division of the church between Jews and Gentiles – a distinction which was not, and is not, to be made among those whose lives are made new in Christ (Colossians 3:11, Galatians 3:26-29, Ephesians 2:14-16).
As you can see, the stakes were very high. Not only was a prominent church leader behaving sinfully, he led others to do the same and could have caused an early church catastrophe. And Paul, caring more for the integrity of the Gospel than the feelings of Peter, called him out openly, in front of all who were involved, set the record straight, and averted a potential disaster.
With all that being said, the setting in which you should judge or correct another believer is relative to the situation. If a believer sins against only you, go to them privately, at first. If you observe sinful or hypocritical behavior among a group of believers, correct all who are involved.
Why Should Christians Judge?
Again, a better rendering of this question would be useful. Lets ask instead: What is the purpose of judging or correcting other believers?
There are many reasons why a believer may feel compelled to judge another. The most prevalent (in my opinion) and definitely the most wicked is to impose a sense of superiority upon themselves. However, it is exactly this type of hypocritical judgement for which Christianity at large is gazed upon with contempt.
It should go without saying, and yet I feel compelled to say it, that Christians should never judge others in an attempt to make themselves feel important or look good. If this is where your self worth lies – in making yourself look good at the expense of another mans conscience – let me say to you, in the words of Paul, “you’re not that important” (Galatians 6:3).
Let me also say, in the words of John the Baptist, “he (Jesus) must increase and we must decrease” (John 3:30). A true believer knows this and only seeks to lift Jesus higher. Any attempt to elevate oneself while putting another believer down is not of God.
The only reasons why Christians should judge or correct other believers are as follows:
- To restore another believer back to a right relationship with God (Galatians 6:1)
- To expand the believers knowledge (Colossians 3:16, Acts 18:24-26)
- To keep the body of Christ holy (1 Peter 1:16)
- To retain the integrity of the Gospel (As Paul did in Galatians 2:11-16)
Any attempt to judge or correct another believer with self-exaltation as the motive and self righteous judgement as the means is not Biblical. This type of judgement works only towards hurting the body of Christ while doing nothing in its favor.
If your reason for judging or correcting another believer does not share the overall motive of the reasons listed above, its best that you refrain from saying anything at all.
How Are Christians to Judge?
In what manner should we judge or correct another believer is a better way of asking the question. To find the answer, we simply need to observe what Jesus did.
When we look through the Gospels and read about the life and ministry of Jesus we see him, time and time again, teaching the people, correcting the believers, and judging the religious leaders of his day. Depending on what Jesus was set to accomplish, however, determined the manner in which he spoke.
When Jesus reached out to the lost, the unlearned, and the sinner, he did so in a loving manner, fully extending to them an unearned and undeserved grace they never expected to receive. Love was his motive and salvation was his goal.
When Jesus taught or corrected other believers he did so in truth, and with integrity and righteousness. Because there was no “log” in his eye, he could see clearly to remove, dismantle, and overturn the religious misconceptions, false doctrines, and hypocritical traditions of his day. Truth was his motive and proper knowledge of God was his goal.
When Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day, he did so with the full authority of God, pronouncing sever condemnation upon those who were entrusted to lead Gods people in the ways of righteousness but had failed to do so. Justice was his motive and judgement was his goal.
Depending on what was to be said and to whom it was to be said to, largely determined the manner in which Jesus approached a given situation. However, regardless of the situation at hand Jesus never diminished the truth to spare the feelings of those whom he was speaking to. Truth, regardless of anything else, was of utmost importance to the Son of Man and if we are to use proper judgement, it has to be to us as well.
The manner in which we judge or correct other believers may vary depending on the circumstances. What will not vary, however, is the requirement that 1) our motives be pure and 2) we “remove the log from our own eye” before attempting to correct the behavior of anyone else.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, I’d like to say that judging other believers shouldn’t become commonplace for us. Its something that is to be taken seriously and with full knowledge that we will be judged by the same standard we use in judging others. If you find yourself judging others frequently, maybe take a break and spend some time judging yourself.
If you’re one who has, or who does, use the words of Jesus as a defensive barrier concerning your sinful behavior, you now have full knowledge of your error. Instead of hoping no one will call out your sinfulness, maybe consider repentance – which, by the way, is not the same as asking for forgiveness.
My final thoughts concerning the act of human judgement can be summed up in the following statement: Any time you feel the need to judge another believer be sure that the love of God and his people is your motive, that the Word of God is the foundation on which your case is supported, that you admonishment is first backed by your own integrity, that actions are the standard by which you judge, that right standing with God is the center of your focus, and that, above all else, the preservation of the Christian faith and the integrity of the Gospel, your primary concern.