Did you know the Bible says we can judge? I have a question, “What is the difference between judge and JUDGE?”
What a confusing question! If you have been around long enough or you are in any way keeping up with the times there is much confusion about, “JUDGING.” We all know that confusion comes from our enemy, “Satan” and not from God. I wound like to point out that most of the people using this verse are not Christians! I am not saying this to gloat I am saying this to draw our attention to the schemes of the devil. And to draw our hearts in prayer for their salvation! I would also like to point out that some believers are confused about this as well. We who understand need to be in prayer for the church in hope that God would show them the truth of His Word!
The world and the church are pulling this scripture out of context,”Judge not lest you be judged.”
There is a Biblical truth in this statement because it is Scripture after all. But the problem comes in when this passage is twisted and distorted and used out of its context! It is just like Satan to put enough doubt in our minds to make the believer fall for his lies.
The Truth is we cannot JUDGE but we can judge!
Let’s look at the principle of Judging and see what the Scriptures say is the proper usage of it. We are going to ask 3 questions that will walk us through the scriptures, and I pray, that by the time we come to the end of this post we will have a proper Biblical understanding of judging!
Here are three questions we can ask from the Scriptures to help in our understanding of Judging!
- Can we as believers judge?
- If the answer is yes, who can I judge?
- What is judging?
Can We As Believers Judge?
We are going to compare two passages of Scripture to answer this question.
If we read only Matthew 7:1-2 and Romans 2:1-2 and stop there we will misinterpret them. This is what is happening. Most people can quote this part but they neglect to pull in the rest of the verses. So, let’s read Matthew 7:3-5 and see what it teaches.
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘let me take the speck out of your eye, and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrites, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:5
You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye,
Judgment starts with me! The instructions in Matthew and Romans is to examine, “Judge” yourself first. Our first business is to ourselves. You and I need to be examining ourselves against the backdrop of the Scriptures. We need to preach the gospel to ourselves before we ever preach it to someone else. The believer will always deal with sinful flesh. We are not perfect. The only perfection that dwells in us is the Holy Spirit of Christ.
The main point in all of this, is that we recognize that we are a sinner, saved by the grace of God, and are in need of sanctification. As we examine ourselves against the light of Scriptures and see something in us that needs grace, we repent and rely on Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit in us to work and sanctify.
When we are mending our own fences and examining the LOG in our own eye the result will be humility instead of criticism. Yes, we as believers can judge, but it first starts with me!
Can I Judge Others?
Matthew 7:5 says, “Take the log out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
We can judge our brothers and sisters in Christ!
GASP!!!!!- We can judge. I will be perfectly honest here, this makes me sick to think that Christ has given me/you the:
- Command
- Permission
- Responsibility
to judge my brothers and sisters in Christ!
This is not a license to go to church or our ladies groups and start making a list of our sister’s sin. That should be the last thing on your mind.
Now, we have determined that we can in fact judge with humility. What does it mean to judge?
The word judge itself means, to sift out and analyze evidence. To distinguish, choose, separate or discriminate; then to distinguish between good and evil. right and wrong, without necessarily passing and adverse sentence.
Taking the speck out of your brothers or sisters eye is evidence that we can judge our brothers or sisters sin in the light of Scripture.
There are three ways that I can see this is to be done!
- Prayer
- One on One Conversation
- With the Word of God
Prayer
Remember we are to be continually looking at ourselves. We must never forget this. For when we do we have moved from humility to criticism.
I believe the Lord opens our eyes to see the speck in my sisters eye in order for me to pray for her. Sometimes a one on one talk is necessary but it must be bathed in prayer. This prayer should come from a heart that desires the glory of God and the good of the person. The motive for “judging” is love! Our desire should be for the growth and sanctification for the one in which we are praying.
One on One
Look at what Paul says in Galatians 6:1, ” Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”
If anyone is caught in any trespass, you restore such a one. Paul is saying that there is a time for one on one conversation. You are to restore, build them back up with gentleness with the truth. Look to yourself so that you will not be tempted. Satan will tell you, you do not have a right to restore but the word says differently.
James 5:19-20 says, “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
James is speaking to the believer. The message is, if another brother or sister strays from the truth, you brethren, turn them back. This will take a one on one conversation.
We speak the Truth in Love Through the Word of God.
Our only standard in which we can judge another is through the truth of God’s word! Nothing else. We cannot judge on opinion or our own standards. But, when we know a truth from the word of God we cannot stray from it. If God says something is sin, then it is sin! It is through the authority of the Scriptures that I have a basis to pray for, or go to my brother or sister in Christ to bring them back.
Hard stuff I know. But we cannot let Satan have our ground! We must stand for truth! It is Biblical to judge our brothers and sisters in Christ!
“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” 1 Corinthians 5:12-13
I’ve been following this series in Romans via link-up. This one has been my favorite.
Thank you Helene! I pray God has blessed you through the study of His word! Thanks for stopping by today and letting me know! God Bless:)
This is so good.
And the warning/exhortation that is given prevents us from being “blind guides” in our judgments — take care of the log before you go hunting for specks!
Thanks for this clarification!
Thank you Michele! Don’t you just love and appreciate God’s warnings/exhortations!We are in need of always taking care of ourselves first! That Log is pretty big in my eye! You are welcome! Thank you for stopping by and sharing:) Have a great Day!
Great point on judging and you fleshed it out very well. One of the things also, is to remember that people are growing at different points. So a person with a gifting of administration, for example is going to be growing in different areas than a person who has the gift of knowledge. However-yes, there are times that truth needs to be spoken. And whatever our gifting is, we should all be growing in our knowledge of the Word of God and our relationship with Jesus. The easiest way I have found to bring up hard conversations is to point to the word of God and not to me. If I point to a scripture, and say, this is what the Word of God says-and I may add a few points for them to understand it (such as the Word doesn’t change, its active and alive, I find that to be helpful). Also to remember that it is our job to speak the truth in love, but its the Holy Spirits job to ultimately convict and change their hearts.
Yes, Kortney, you are so right it is the Holy Spirits job to ultimately convict and change a heart!! Good thoughts too on we are all growing at different points. Always using the word of God to point people in the right direction is the only way to approach someone. It is all we have. Otherwise it would just be our own opinions. Thanks for your kind words and sharing your thoughts! God Bless you. I am blessed that you stopped by:)
Well researched and well said. Judging and acting on that judgment are very different. We can certainly pray to Father about an issue–since we really do all judge. But we have to earn someone’s trust and establish relationship with that person in order to point out their speck. One thing that turned my daughter off from “churchy” people was when a woman my age–not a friend, but a fellow church-goer said to my teenage daughter (who indeed had a very short skirt on, but there were a LOT of other issues going on in our house–as a single mother, I couldn’t deal with the short skirt at the time), “Nice of you and your short skirt to join us today.” She never forgot that (to this day-15 years later!) and it totally turned her off from church! If that woman thought my daughter’s short skirt was a “plank” then she should have taken it up with me. We need to be careful of our “judgy” words!
Hi Mary! Thank you for your sweet words! They are a blessing! You are correct in saying we all judge, we judge all the time. We are in constant need of going to The Father. I am so sorry your daughter had to hear those words! I pray God uses someone with kind words to heal her heart! Yes, we need to be careful of our “judgy” words! We need to be slow to speak! God Bless you and your daughter:) Thanks for stopping by today!
This is so good! Speak in truth and LOVE is the hard part for many. I was raised in a very judgemental church and home and it has taken me years to get over being the judge (I still have to work on it). Thank you for linking up with Thankful Thursdays.
Speaking truth in love is hard for many! Sometimes we can all be the judge! I have to work on that at times myself! Thank you for your kind words! Thanks for allowing me to be apart of Thankful Thursday! God Bless:)
Excellent article. So much truth here. I love how you broke it down and girded yourself with truth from scripture throughout the entire piece. Such a humbling yet encouraging article. Visiting from the Dance with Jesus linkup.
Thank you Sarah for your kind words! The Scriptures are all we have to stand on! Everything else will fail! I love that the Scriptures do humble yet encourage us ! I am so glad you stopped by from Dance with Jesus link up. God Bless:)