Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV)
- "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you
judge others, you will be judged..."
This scripture from Matthew is one of the most commonly used scriptures
in the Bible. It is also one of the most misinterpreted scriptures in the
Bible. Unfortunately, when a scripture has been incorrectly understood,
it will also be incorrectly implemented. The way we incorrectly implement
this scripture is to play off the phrase "don't judge" as an excuse
not to take responsibility for the sin in our own life. We also play off
of this phrase "don't judge" as justification for why we are neglecting
to help our brother take responsibility for the sin in his life. This cop-out
shows up in familiar language, which demonstrates this truth. For the person
who defiantly wants to hang on to their sin, "don't judge" becomes
a convenient excuse to avoid the possibility of being judged by anyone.
When confronted with their sinful behavior this person will quickly retort,
"Well, the Bible says don't judge, so you have no right to judge me!"
On the other hand, the person who wants to live a righteous life, but sees
their brother's life being destroyed by sin, will piously use this same
scripture as an excuse not to confront that brother with his sin, "Well,
the Bible says don't judge, so it would be wrong for me to say anything."
People in society think they have found the perfect win-win situation, because
the sinful person is free to pursue their lifestyle, and the other person
is not put on the spot to say anything about it. In truth, these people
have a lose-lose situation, because the wages of sin is still death (Romans
6:23).
This is the world we live in, a world that has become so desensitized [numb]
to sin, that even within the church and among religious circles, sin has
become so whitewashed that it is no longer recognized as an abomination
to God. The attitude of "people should be free to do their own thing"
(because it is nobody's business but my own) is rooted in a lie of the devil
to keep blind eyes from seeing the truth. Blind eyes do not lead people
to God, but away from God.
Luke 6:39-42 (NIV) - He [Jesus] also told them this parable: "Can
a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student
is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like
his teacher. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's
eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to
your brother, `Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you
yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take
the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck
from your brother's eye.
Jesus was talking to the hypocrites, who only pretended on the surface to
believe, but who had no real authority to lead anyone to Christ. Hypocrites
with logs in their eyes are like blind men trying to lead the blind. They
are all headed for a fall. Speaking directly to the hypocrites, Jesus taught
the righteous way to judge, "First take the plank out of your eye,
and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
When Jesus says in Matthew 7:1-2, "Do not judge", he is
not prohibiting all types of judgment. He is only prohibiting unrighteous
judgment. In the Book of John Jesus speaks about righteous
judgment which we are to exercise with careful discernment.
John 7:24 (KJV) - Judge not according to the appearance, but judge
righteous judgment.
John 7:24 (NIV) - Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right
judgment.
Right judgments are made when we understand the difference between good
and evil behavior. Those who can clearly see evil behavior will no longer
become entrapped by the sin of evil doers. Instead, they will have a golden
opportunity to rescue the evil doer from their sin.
I John 3:7-8 (NIV) - Dear children, do not let anyone lead you
astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning
from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the
devil's work.
Praise God! Jesus came to destroy sin, not to destroy the sinner! The devil's
work (sin) is destroyed through exposure. Sin must be recognized and judged
wherever it is to be found. Looking at the word "judge" in The
American Heritage Dictionary, we find the following definition, "To
form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration." If
you will notice, this definition closely fits the righteous judgment Jesus
spoke about in scripture.
To help us determine if we are judging righteously or unrighteously, we
must ask ourselves the following questions; What is my motive [purpose]
for judging? Am I trying to hurt or help my brother? Am I trying to condemn
or set my brother free?
As followers of Jesus Christ we will never be salt and light to the world
if we cannot or will not, see the evil of this sin infested world. We will
not be capable of converting the sinner from the error of his ways, if we
close our eyes to sin and let our brother perish in darkness.
James 5:19-20 (NIV) - My brothers, if one of you should wander
from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever
turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover
over a multitude of sins.
As Christians we are being summoned by Jesus Christ to get the logs out
of our eyes, so we may see clearly how to lead blind eyes, bringing them
to Jesus for salvation. For this reason it is impossible to go through life
without making judgments. Every person is worthy to be saved. Whether that
person is the wealthiest or most powerful in the land, or someone we see
every day, it is critical to our spiritual growth to make righteous judgments
of sinful actions. We must make right judgments, because the sinner must
be saved before his sin destroys not only himself, but those who are blindly
following him.
I John 3:9-10 (NIV) - No one who is born of God will continue
to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because
he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are
and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right
is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.