Articles
IS IT RIGHT TO JUDGE?
One of the most misused verses in the Bible is, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged" (Matt. 7:1). Every Scripture verse should be read in its context, if we are to properly understand the true meaning. In vs. 2-5 of this same chapter it is evident that v. 1 is referring to hypocritical judgment. A brother who has a log in his own eye should not be judging the brother who may have a speck in his eye. The lesson is plain, you cannot judge another for his sin if you are guilty of the same sin.
Those who cling to "Do not judge so that you will not be judged," to condemn those who expose error should read the entire chapter. Jesus said, " Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing..." (v. 15). How can we know false prophets unless we judge them by the Word of God? If we know the false prophets, how can we fail to exam the sheep of these "ravening wolves?" All through the Bible we find proof that they should be identified and exposed.
“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. " (vs. 16,17). Did the Lord mean that we could not judge the tree (person), by the fruit of their life and doctrine? Certainly not, for you cannot know without judging. All judgment should be on the basis of Bible teaching, not according to whims or prejudices.
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." (John 7:24). Here our Lord commands that we are to "judge righteous judgment, " which is judgment based upon the Word of God. If judgment is made upon any other basis (i.e. opinions), other than the Word of God, it is a violation of Matt. 7: 1. Mounce’s Expository Dictionary says κρίνω (krinō), GK 3212 (S 2919), 114x. krinō essentially means “to consider, decide, judge,” though it has a variety of nuances. In part, it is used in the sense of passing judgment on the lives and actions of people in order to influence or control them. In Mt 7:1, some form of krinō occurs four times. The lesson is not that a person should not judge, because how would a person know who the “dogs” and the “pigs” are without exercising some degree of discretion? But we must not judge self-righteously or hypocritically. Thus, Jesus goes on to instruct the accuser to first remove the beam from his own eye in order to see the speck in his brother’s eye (7:5).
The faithful Christian must discern or judge on the basis of God's inspired law, the Bible.
