Is it Wrong to Judge?

Among many of today's professing Christians, it is commonly believed that judging the sins of others violates the teaching of the Bible. “Judge not that ye be not judged” (Mat. 7:1) seems to be one of the most often quoted Scripture verses in modern Evangelicalism. But isolating one verse in the Scriptures and interpreting it not only outside of its immediate context, but also outside of the context of the entirety of the Bible, almost always produces an erroneous doctrine and such is the case here.

In order to determine what God really says about judgment, let's look at Mat. 7:1 in the context in which God has placed it. Then we shall proceed to see what the rest of the Bible has to say about judgment.

“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.” (Mat. 7:1-5)

In this passage, is Christ telling us that we are to make no judgments at all about anyone, or is he telling us not to be self-righteous by judging others without first judging ourselves and not to be hypocritical by judging others with a different standard from that with which we judge ourselves? Obviously, the latter is the case. It is self-righteousness and hypocritical judgment that is being condemned here, not all judgment. We have to judge others with the same judgment and by the same measure that we use to judge ourselves. And we are to first cast the beam out of our own eye before we try to pull the mote (a speck of dust) out of our brother's eye. In other words, we must judge ourselves and purge our own lives of wickedness before we judge and try to correct the lesser faults of our brothers.

Again, hypocritical judgment, not judgment itself, is condemned by the word of God in the Epistle to the Romans. Notice that it is those who condemn others but commit the same sins as them (and even take pleasure in others who commit them), who are the ones being admonished:

“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” (Rom. 1:29-2:3)

There were particular types of judgment that applied to the transition from the Old Testament dispensation to the New, which were forbidden. Christians were not to judge other Christians who were brought up observing the Old Testament dietary laws and holy days, and continued to do so out of a lack of knowledge or a weakness of faith (Rom. 14), nor were they to allow others to judge them for not observing such things (Col. 2:16-17).

But judgment itself is not forbidden, only unrighteous judgment:

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.” (Lev. 19:15)

“It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.” (Pro. 18:5)

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (Jam. 2:1-4)

Judgment of other men is, in fact, required by the word of God.

Christians are to disfellowship other professing Christians who profess godliness but continue in wickedness. This requires not only that a judgment be made, but also that action be taken based on that judgment.

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” (2 The. 3:6)

“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” (2 The. 3:14-15)

In fact, Christ specifically instructed His disciples on the procedure for breaking fellowship with those who are in unrepentant sin. Obeying this principle, of course, requires making judgments about other men:

"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." (Mat. 18:15-17)

The Corinthians were explicitly commanded by Paul the apostle to disfellowship a man who had committed fornication with his father's wife. Paul judged the man worthy of excommunication by the testimony of the Corinthian church, and he also instructed them that they should likewise judge and excommunicate other offenders within the church when necessary:

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (1 Cor. 5:1-13)

God demands that we note and avoid heretics. This requires making judgments of other men.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:17-18)

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” (1 Tim. 6:3-5)

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” (2 Joh. 10-11)

We are specifically told to judge who is, and who is not, a false prophet by the fruit that they bear. This requires judging a man's works and manner of life to determine if he is a sheep or whether he is just a wolf in sheep's clothing.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Mat. 7:15-20)

If a man bears “the fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11), that is, if he does righteously by keeping the commandments of God (though never perfectly), we know that he is of God. And, conversely, if he does not do righteously -- that is habitually, willfully, and unrepentantly breaks the commandments of God -- then we know that he is not of God.

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” (1 John 2:3-5)

“If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” (1 John 2:29)

“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:7-10)

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:2-3)

Discerning the difference, and taking action based upon that difference, requires making judgments about other men.

Christians are also told to judge disputes between fellow Christians rather than take such matters before the ungodly:

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.” (1 Cor. 6:1-6)

So we see that the Lord -- contrary to the belief of many today -- not only permits judgment, He demands it. But it must be asked: Seeing it is quite obvious that the Scriptures require that men make judgments of others, why do so many believe in an anti-judgmental God? Is it only a case of bad theology or a lack of biblical knowledge? Undoubtedly, these are contributing factors to any erroneous view of God. But in this case, it also might be that such a concept of the Almighty serves a purpose for those who adhere to it. Perhaps many of today's Evangelicals need an anti-judgmental Deity because they live selfish, disobedient, and unholy lives. If they were to believe in the God of the Bible -- a God who demands judgment -- they would have to allow themselves to be judged by others according to the word of God. And it may be that such righteous judgment would reveal that many of these professing Christians do not fit the biblical definition of a disciple of Christ.