It amuses me when ever some “believers” do things clearly in contradiction to the word of GOD and when others rebuke the negative behavior, they invoke the , “DO not Judge” statement in scripture. This is clearly done out of context. Let’s comprehend scripture within context.
Should believers judge? Emphatically Yes! Is there proof in scripture where believers judged? Emphatically YES! Do you the reader judge? Emphatically Yes! But before I answer this question let’s see the scripture that is always taken out of context by some.
Mat 7:1-4
(1) Judge not, that ye be not judged.
(2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
(3) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
(4) 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?
What does it mean to judge?
The Greek word used is κρίνω and it’s transliterated as krinō and Thayer’s Greek Definitions defines it as:
1) to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose
2) to approve, esteem, to prefer
3) to be of opinion, deem, think, to be of opinion
4) to determine, resolve, decree
5) to judge
5a) to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong
5a1) to be judged, i.e. summoned to trial that one’s case may be examined and judgment passed upon it
5b) to pronounce judgment, to subject to censure
5b1) of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others
6) to rule, govern
6a) to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment
Now from the definition alone, is it possible for you to exist without having an opinion? If that were true then you do not judge. As long as you have an opinion, or you approve, esteem, to prefer something to another, you have judged. Thus judging is something we all do.
What then was Jesus’ referring to?
Jesus’ challenge was not with judging. It was with hypocritical behavior—castigating or condemning someone for something that you yourself do or from which you yourself suffer to a greater degree. This is unrighteous judgment.
Jesus came to restore man to fellowship with GOD. This too is the chief aim of all followers of Christ. If our judging always turns people away from HIM, then maybe we are missing something. Maybe we are not telling the truth in the right spirit which is LOVE.
Did Jesus judge, pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong? Did he select, choose, approve, esteem, to prefer etc? The answer is a resounding YES! The same goes for his Apostles and other writers of scripture. In fact the same goes for you.
The heart of the matter
The issue is not with having an opinion concerning a thing but rather the standard from which that opinion is generated. We must have opinions because daddy GOD gave us a divine will. For our judgments to be righteous instead of UN-righteous, we must make sure our motive is right and that the judgment is based on GOD’s word which contains His will.
Joh 5:30
(30) I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Jesus judged when he called the Pharisees vipers/snakes, whitewashed tombs, children of the devil. Paul judged the man who was sleeping with his mom in 1 Cor and handed the man over to Satan. He further blasted the Corinthians for not judging the man even earlier but rather condoning his actions. He judged John Mark as unfit to follow him in the missionary journeys. He judged Silas as a better assistant. All of the above and more are from scripture to prove that Christians do judge. If you have a will, you judge.
Only thing is let your judgment be righteous. In other words, it must be in line with the will of GOD as expressed through scripture. But this is not enough. The spirit in which it is done also counts. We must always speak the truth but in love and with a heart of honoring those who have done good and restoring those who may have erred.
