“THOU SHALT NOT JUDGE!”
Boy, if I had a nickel for every time I heard someone issue this statement in an accusatory manner, I could be having someone else write these blogs for me.
In today’s world, it’s fashionable to feign outrage over the “disadvantages” of every unfortunate situation or perversion that exists – even those that don’t. To that end, people LOVE to batter eachother with this most mis-quoted passage of the Bible. To those people who haven’t actually read the Bible, this passage is supposed to convey that only God, Himself, is supposed to be able to judge others on their actions.
Malarkey.
Let’s start first by reading the ENTIRE actual passage in context, instead of cherry picking here:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:1-5
Now, if you read that IN CONTEXT and in its entirety you see that this is referring to hypocritical judgement. That’s right, take the mote out of your own eye before judging others. So, does that mean you shoud not judge people? Well, let’s see if the Bible further clarifies that (hint, it does).
“So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” – Matthew 8:7
Does Jesus say “don’t judge her”? Or does he say don’t be in hypocritical judgement of her? Don’t take her life for sinning because you, too, have sinned…
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” – John 7:24
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly (did you judge them to be unruly??), comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” – 1 Thes 5:14 – perens mine
“Prove all things (Judge them to not be evil); hold fast that which is good.” – 1 Thes 5:21 – perens mine
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” – 1 Thes 5:22
Wow! stay away from things that even LOOK evil – but how do you do that without somehow judging them?
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.” – Luke 17:3
Here we see that we are supposed to rebuke a brother going awry, but how do you do that without “judging” that the brother is doing wrong?
And there are SO many more examples than these few but I think the point has been made. This is easily the most mis-quoted scripture I have heard and the one that pashaps has the most devestating consequences. You see if you believe it is God’s will that you never judge another person’s wrongdoings, you are really endorsing and encouraging their sin (which God hates). It’s important for you to watch for sinful activity and to rebuke your brother (or sister) when you see it. And that means you *lovingly* but strongly point them back to God.
Remember, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” – John 7:24, and as always, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’.The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31