Do not judge lest you be judged.

Matthew 7:1

I am sure you have heard many people say “Judge not” when their sin is exposed and brought into the light. Many will quote Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge lest you be judged.” They will not quote the entire passage to keep verse one in the correct context. If you read the rest of the passage, you will see that Jesus is talking about hypocritical judgment.

One source defines the word “judge” as “form an opinion or conclusion about.” It is very important that we discern between right and wrong. We make judgments and form opinions every day. Every few years we make a choice in an election to elect secular leaders in our nation. Without making judgments we would not be able to live a productive life. In verse 2 Jesus says, “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” We ought to judge ourselves first to see if our judgment of others is not hypocritical. An example of this would be to condemn one person’s sin and be guilty of that very sin ourselves.

Jesus said in John 7:24, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” We are not to judge according to appearance alone but to judge with righteousness in mind. I am sure you have heard, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” as appearance can be deceptive. Things are not always as they seem. Jesus said we are to expose false teachers in Matthew 7:15-23. Paul taught that we are to exercise discipline in the assembly in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2. So, how do we deal with false teachers in the assembly? Firstly, we test them. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Secondly, we are to rebuke them. Titus 1:13 says, “This testimony is true. For this cause reprove them severely that they may be sound in the faith.” Lastly, we are to have no fellowship with them if they continue. Ephesians 5:11 says, “And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.” Titus 3:10-11 says, ” Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.”

One of the greatest forms of love you can show someone is to inform them of the Day of Judgement. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” We are to preach the truth in love. We are to tell people about God’s view of sin and the penalty of sin. We are to do this by sharing the Gospel with them. What a great Saviour we have. A Saviour and God that loves us enough to lay down his life for unholy people. Let us now judge ourselves before God who knows all things and to whom no secrets are hidden.

Consider these questions.

1. Are you a hypocrite?
2. Do you judge righteously or unrighteous?
3. Do you encourage believers to repent and give glory to God?

One of the grave sins God detests is a hypocritical person. Be careful not to fall into the vice of Satan here. So many have fallen into hypocrisy. May this not be said of you.

Remember, as Christians, we are called to judge, but to do it righteously. A hypocritical judge is harsh and unloving. A.W. Tozer once said, “A Pharisee is hard on others, but easy on himself. A spiritual man is easy on others but hard on himself.” This quote is worth bearing in mind when addressing this topic of judgment. May we be a people that judge rightly by first judging ourselves by the standards of Christ.