To Judge or Not to Judge
Dear Father,
You are
the only Law-giver and Judge who is able to save and destroy. You are coming
back to gather Your people, yes, even those who are dead in Christ, and to
exercise final judgment on the wicked. How many will weep in infinite fear and
anguish at their plight? They had deceived themselves into thinking that they
were Yours, but they had no knowledge of Your Son. You do not know them,
Father. Help us; we want assurance Father! Have mercy and confirm our calling and
election. May we know You and abide in You, that we may know that we have
eternal life (1 John). We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling,
and we trust in You to bring us out as blameless on the Day by the blood of our
Redeemer. Jesus Christ is Lord, God, and Savior, and He has come in the Flesh.
In Jesus Christ’s Name,
Amen
Dear Beloved,
This letter is about whether or not we are
to judge our neighbor. May God help us as we discuss several portions of His
Word. We will be going through these Scriptures, one-by-one and drawing out the
key Truths about whether or not we should judge our neighbor. I pray that taking
Scriptures collectively, we will get a clearer sense of what are the
circumstances and heart conditions under which we are to judge and not judge.
1.
“Do not judge so that you
will not be judged. 2 For
in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure,
it will be measured to you. 3 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? 4 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? 5 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. Matt 7
Here, Christ tells us that
we must not judge so that we will not be judged. For in the way we judge, and
by our standard of measure, we will be judged and it will be measured to us. He
goes on to warn us against hypocrisy and to exhort us to deal with our own sin,
which is often of much greater magnitude than the person we judge. Thus, He is commanding us not to judge with
hypocrisy. It is very important to understand what it means that we will be
judged in the way that we judge. Let us consider that our neighbor has offended
us, and our heart has turned against him. We have put off our tender affection
towards him, at least in our hearts, and possibly in our behavior. Let us now
consider that we ourselves have committed the same offense that this neighbor
has committed. If God were to judge us with the measure we used, He would put
us off, and lose His tender affection towards us. How terrible this would be! We would fall under His infinite wrath
for every offense that we made. This example is akin to the parable of the
unmerciful servant. The master was willing to fully forgive the great debt of
his servant, but because the servant showed his refusal to receive his master’s
grace by his act to condemn his fellow servant, the master judged him by his
own severity. And he did not come out of prison until he paid his full debt,
that is, he never came out. Remember that we are to do unto others as we would
have them do unto us. Would we want to be
cast off and disdained for every offense that we committed? Worser yet, would
we want God to cast us off and disdain us for every offense that we committed?
But imagine that we are continuing in sin, and on the verge of drifting away
from the Word of our salvation. If we strayed from the Truth, we would want our
neighbor to turn us back from the error of our way to save our soul from death
and to cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19). And thus, if we see our brother
falling away, and refuse to confront him, it would be as though we were falling
away and God never used His loving discipline to bring us back, but allowed us
to remain estranged from Him unto damnation…we will be discussing more verses
to exemplify the latter.
2.
6 “Do not give what is holy
to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them
under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces…15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you
in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes
are not gathered from thorn bushes nor
figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every
good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot
produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not
bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know
them by their fruits. Matt 7
In the same chapter in
which Christ tells us not to judge (point # 1) He goes on to command us not to
give what is holy to dogs or to throw our pearls before swine. He tells us to
beware of the false prophets, who come to us in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly
are ravenous wolves. He tells us that we WILL know them by their fruits,
because a tree will produce good or bad fruit in accordance with its nature. It
is quite apparent that when Christ commanded us not to judge, He did not mean
that we are never to exercise moral judgment on the fruit of the lives of
others. For He is clearly telling us
here that we can assess the nature of “dogs” and “bad trees” by the nature of
the fruit that is produced. Thus, not only do we have the ability to judge
based on fruit, but Christ tells us that we WILL know them by their fruits.
3.
8 If,
however, you are
fulfilling the royal
law according to the Scripture, “You
shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are
doing well. 9 But
if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are
convicted by the law
as transgressors. 10 For
whoever keeps the whole law
and yet stumbles
in one point, he has
become guilty
of all. 11 For
He who said, “Do not
commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.”
Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a
transgressor of the law. 12 So
speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of
liberty. 13 For judgment will be merciless
to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs
over judgment. James 2…11 Do not speak against one
another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his
brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the
law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.12 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
In these verses, we are
commanded to speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty
and not to “speak against one another” because if we speak and judge our
brother, we speak against the law and judge the Law. According to the New Commandment
of love, Christ has covered over the sins of His children by making atonement
through His blood. Thus, were we to condemn our neighbor in our hearts for
their sin for which Christ has made atonement, we make light of His grace
towards them. In context, the type of judgment mentioned here is one of malice
(which leads to speaking against a brother) accompanied with desires (subtle or
obvious) for the destruction of that person. Thus, we are never to make condemnation charges against a brother with
malice and anger and so make light of the Law of Christ’s love and His grace.
4.
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards
of the mysteries of God. 2 In
this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found
trustworthy. 3 But
to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I
do not even examine myself. 4 For
I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted;
but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment
before the time, but wait until
the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the
darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to
him from God. 1 Cor 4
In the context of these
verses (see latter part of 1 Cor 3), Paul is exhorting the Corinthians not to associate
themselves with Paul, Apollos, or Cephas, but rather to associate themselves
with the Name of Christ. For Godly leaders are to be regarded as servants of
Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. These three were faithful
ministers among the saints, yet the Corinthians were not to go on passing
judgment so as to elevate one of the three over another because it is God who
will disclose the motives of men’s heart; and then each man’s praise will come
to him from God. Paul is exhorting us
not to weigh one servant of God against another with the desire to select one
over the other, rather we should leave such judgment to the Lord at the final
day when He will reward each of His stewards and servants.
5.
9 I
wrote you in my letter not
to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the
immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters,
for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually,
I wrote to you not to associate with any
so-called brother
if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an
idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such
a one. 12 For
what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not
judge those who are within the church? 13 But
those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
1 Cor 5
Paul told the
Corinthians not to associate with immoral people, not meaning the immoral
people of the world, for then they would need to leave the world. But he meant
that we should not associate with professing believes who live in a lifestyle
of continual sin (e.g. immoral person, the covetous, idolaters, revilers,
drunkards, or swindlers). We are not to judge the unconverted people who do not
profess faith in Christ, for until they are convicted of guilt by the Spirit
and are granted repentance and regeneration by the Spirit and Word according to
the will of the Father, we know that they are helpless and dead in trespasses
and sins. However, with regard to those who profess faith in Christ, yet
continue in sin, we are to judge that person. We are to remove such a person,
who is called a wicked man here, and is thus not a true believer, from within
the church to maintain the purity of the people of God that the Name of Christ
and the sanctifying nature of the Gospel may not be maligned. This does not
mean that a weaker brother, or a brother who stumbles in sin is to be expelled
from the body. Rather, a person who
claims to be a Christian, but shows no signs of the fruit of repentance or
growth in Christ, but rather shows only bad fruit, and he has no contrition or
desire to repent, but shamelessly continues on in his rebellion, such a person
may be judged, expelled, or perhaps “given over to Satan”. 20 Those who
continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that
the rest also will be fearful of sinning. 1 Tim
5
6.
A plan in
the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out. Prov 20:5
In one sense, we cannot exhaustively judge
the motives of others, and yet we consider the Spiritual gift of discernment.
Furthermore, we see in this verse that the man of understanding can draw out
the plan in the heart of a man which is as deep water. Thus, our discernment is not comprehensive, but there are times when
God gives understanding and discernment to His people to understand the plans in
the hearts of others.
7.
12 Take care, brethren,
that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become
partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the
beginning of our assurance firm until
the end, 15 while it is said,
“Today if you hear
His voice,
Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.” Heb 13
In these verses, we are
commanded to TAKE CARE that
there not be in any one of us an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from
the living God. Rather we are to encourage one another day after day, so that
no one is hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. It is a fact that we are true
Christians (i.e. “partakers of Christ”) if we hold fast the beginning of our
assurance firm until the end. Thus, out of love and deep concern for our
neighbor, we are to take care that others do not have an evil and unbelieving
heart. Out of love, we must notice signs
of hardness of hearts in our neighbors. This is manifestation of Christ’s
command to do unto others as we would have them do to us: if we were falling
away and becoming hardened unto damnation, we would not want our brothers to
overlook us, but rather for him to snatch us from the fire with mercy mixed
with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh (Jude 22). In the case of a straying believer, it would
be hateful for us to not discern the hardness of heart and not to warn him with
the rationale that we are “not to judge”.
8.
Does any one of you, when he has a case
against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before
the saints? 2 Or do you not
know that the saints
will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you
not competent to constitute the
smallest law courts? 3 Do you not
know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4 So if you
have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as
judges who are of no account in the church? 5 I say this to your
shame. Is
it so, that there is
not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 6 but
brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
1 Cor 6
The
saints must not go to the unbelieving world with their court cases because they
are granted discernment to decide between brothers, judge the matters of this
life, and are competent to judge trivial matters.
9.
7 The end of
all things is near; therefore, be of sound
judgment and sober spirit for the
purpose of prayer. 8 Above all, keep
fervent in your love for one another, because love
covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be
hospitable to one another without complaint. 1 Peter
4
These verses are conclusive. We must not
judge in hypocrisy, malice, pride, comparison of the saints, unforgiveness
(reveals a feeling of personal offense), or so as to make light of Christ’s atonement
and the Law of His love. Rather, we must judge with sober judgment, in love,
the discernment of the Spirit, according to the Word of God, with the intent to
snatch others out of fire, to be used by God to bring back the straying sheep,
to expose false believers, to protect the true saints, and all for the sake of
the glory of His Name and the revelation of the love shown in the Gospel to all.
Above all, we must KEEP
FERVENT IN OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, BECAUSE LOVE COVERS OVER A MULTITUDE OF
SINS.
