Judging Others

Ever heard the phrase, "Judge not lest ye be judged"? I am sure that most have. Unfortunately when people toss this phrase into a discussion they rarely include the full context where the phrase comes from (Matthew 5:1-7:27).

The command to "Judge Not" is not a requirement to be blind toward truth telling... but a plea to be discerning, gracious and merciful. The passage where this verse is found is part of a larger sermon Jesus taught called the Sermon on the Mount. The entire sermon is needed for understanding. Chapter 5 emphasizes the Kingdom of God... especially as it relates to the law. Jesus lays out the spiritual "order of opperations" (PEMDAS). Blessed are the poor in Spirit. The person recognizes their fallen nature. Blessed are those who mourn. The person is sorrowful and seeks repentence... and so on. Jesus builds the truth upon a solid rock foundation. Man is evil. God is good. God justifies man. Jesus is the justifier. Chapter 6 emphasizes the Fatherhood of God and the freedom that provides. Chapter 7 emphasizes the Judgment of God and the impact that has on our lives.

With an truthful understanding of Chapter 5 and 6, chapter 7 and the "Judge not" passage makes more sense. Here are some of the misinterpretations of this passage:

1. We should never judge or criticize anyone for anything.
2. We are not to be discerning.
3. Love and Judgment are incompatible.

The first misinterpretation is the one unbelievers usually use. They use this interpretation in the political/social arena to justify actions, attitudes and beliefs.

Here is the irony about judgment. If one judges in your favor then that person is being open minded, progressive, tolerant etc... but if a person judges against you then that person is being close minded, out of date and intollerant.

The thrust of this passage is distinguishing between true and false religions... between truth and hypocrisy. It reveals the natural human tendency to see the faults of our neighbors while blithely overlooking our own. What misinterpreters fail to realize is that their interpretation is blind to a simple truth. Judgment is meant to bring one to repentence and conversion.

But there are many Christians who do not understand this and they use the hammer of justice like the Pharisees and Scribes used it. They were oppressively judgmental. They were unmerciful, unkind, unforgiving, censorious (harshly critical/ inclined to find fault), lacking compassion and lacking grace. The truth be told many non-christians are often censorious as well--and judge all that is wrong with the world to be the fault of Christians, their Bible and whomever the world perceives to be their "political" leaders. These are erroneous views of judgment. Keep the context in mind, "Judge not lest ye be judged" ... "for in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." This is not saying not to judge but to be right in your judgment. God will measure His judgment upon mankind according to the standard of measure mankind uses; may it be a measure of grace and mercy.