Christians and Judging Others

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged” – Matthew 7:1

If you’re anything like me, you’ve more than likely heard a lot of people who use this verse as a defense when you try to tell them about Jesus just so they can be left alone. It is one of the most misinterpreted verses in the entire Bible. The general consensus that the world gives us is that if we even mention or imply a mistake that someone else is doing, then we are judging, and therefore we are hypocrites because Jesus told us not to judge. Live and let live, right? There’s no doubt that it becomes increasingly frustrating for us when we are constantly being called a ‘judgmental hypocrite’ even when we are patiently and calmly pointing out something that is morally wrong.

This is a very touchy subject, because the definition of ‘judging’ is incredibly sensitive in today’s world. I’m judgmental if I don’t like the color of your shirt. I’m judgmental if I refuse to lie for your sake. I’m judgmental if I say you shouldn’t wear a hat in church, and I’m especially judgmental if I say “that is sinful in God’s eyes.” To make it short and sweet, a lot of people have grown so accustomed to their way of living that if I disagree with anything in your life whatsoever, whether great or small, then I am being judgmental. Good grief, can a Christian say anything anymore without having this verse rammed down their throat? It’s almost like a pick-up line these days. Does Jesus really prohibit judging, or is there a right way to go about it?

I think to start, we need to know what judging actually means. By definition, it means to form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration; to pass sentence on; to condemn. We see the word ‘judging’ as negative, much like we interpret ‘consequences’ and ‘odor’ as bad things when actually they can mean good things as well. Can judging be a good thing? Absolutely. When we judge others correctly, we are simply caring for them and trying to help them for their own good. We have to be careful, however, because judging others can be really dicey depending on the tone of voice and the choice of words. For someone to claim that we are not allowed to judge others is essentially saying that we cannot even pray for them. If we are judgmental for saying “this is not good for you,” then surely we are also judgmental when we pray for God to deliver him from his mistake. Do you see the connection?

Let’s cut to the chase: In Matthew 7:1, Jesus was talking about hypocritical judgment. It’s one thing to say that the sin they’re committing is immorally wrong in God’s eyes, but it’s an entirely different ball game if you judge with the attitude and mindset like the pharisee who went to pray in the Temple that we see in Luke 18, which is precisely what Jesus was speaking against when he tells us not to judge.

“Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer:

‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’

I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” – Luke 18:9-14

While this story tilts more toward spiritual pride, it also relates to judgment upon others. If a believer tells someone their mistake and that it’s sinful to God, that person may perceive it in a way that this so-called “Christian” is just like the pharisee: telling me i’m wrong and messed up and that he or she is better than me and that I need this “Jesus guy.” We need to understand where our limitations are and where it’s most effective. What many people don’t recognize is that Jesus didn’t just stop at “do not judge others.” He had more to say about it.

“Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly” – John 7:24

Now tell me, why on earth would Jesus tell us to not judge, and then turn around and tell us how to judge correctly? Well, unlike mere people, God knows the heart of the person. He knows why they are practicing a sinful lifestyle. We do not. We cannot look at someone and conclude their whole being based on any choices they’ve made, and we certainly cannot condemn them to hell because of their sin. So what did Jesus mean by this verse? Jesus was pointing out that Christians actually can judge. But he is speaking of a different type of judgment here; a righteous one. It means we identify their sinful activity through godly discernment and gently reveal it to them, hoping by the grace of God that they will repent and turn back to him.

I believe every Christian will have moments in their life where they will spiritually hit rock bottom after their eyes have been opened to the sinful lifestyle they were living in but weren’t fully aware of. God is the one who does the conviction through the Holy Spirit, but at the same time he wants us to proclaim the Good News of Jesus and who he is, and part of that is helping people recognize that they are sinners. In fact, that’s the first step in receiving Jesus: acknowledging your sinfulness. According to the world, if Christians cannot judge at all, then how can anyone come to understand what Jesus did on the cross? How can we “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) without telling people that their way is wrong and the only way out is through Jesus? God’s plan is to spread his love and grace through people, not by magically showing up to each person in their bedroom. Let’s take a brief look at Jonah for a moment because his type of judgment is significant.

“The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.'” – Jonah 1:1-2

After Jonah refused, fled, suffered, and eventually obeyed…

“On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” – Jonah 3:4

Afterwards, Jonah was angry with God because he was expecting the city to be wiped out. He knew that God was merciful and compassionate toward them, and after a brief argument with God, the Lord said, “But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” – Jonah 4:11

How does this relate to judgment? Jonah was commanded to judge and to proclaim that God would destroy them for being wicked unless they repented, which they did. But notice that he is severely warning Nineveh. Sometimes judging needs to be severe in order to prompt a change in a person’s life. You might think God is mean or doesn’t love you for throwing you in a car accident and making you paralyzed for life, but if it meant saving your soul, then perhaps God is more gracious than you realize. In this particular case, Nineveh was to be wiped out if they did not make a change of heart. I don’t believe the people of Nineveh would have repented if Jonah calmly walked in and said “You know, you’re sinning in God’s eyes, I encourage you to repent.” No, they had to be severely warned because it was the only sufficient way for them to return to God. We can only tell people what God thinks of sin and what he truly wants from us – God will do the conviction. Sin cannot co-exist with God’s holiness, so he must purge evil because he is just, but he gives us many chances, and those chances often come through other people who are there to help you. “…No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” – 2 Peter 3:9

I hope it is becoming more clear as to why Christians are called to righteously judge others for their own good. Could God have just shown himself to Nineveh and took care of it himself? Yes, but he wanted to use Jonah instead, and he also wants to use us to reveal the mistakes that people are making. God wants to use people for his plan, not just snap his fingers and make it happen. What Jesus was saying in Matthew 7:1 was actually a warning to us to not judge a person’s sin if we are sinning even worse ourselves.

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye” – Matthew 7:3-5

This does not mean we can’t help the person avoid their sin sometimes, but it is more like claiming to be a raging alcoholic and telling others that drinking is bad for them. It’s endorsing your own sinful lifestyle while trying to fix others instead of yourself first. You are unknowingly granting yourself a license to sin while telling others to repent of their own sin, because you believe that if you just ask for forgiveness then you’re okay. THIS is the hypocritical judgment and what Jesus commands us not to do. I don’t believe that you should try and help someone get out of an addiction if you are struggling with the same thing. I believe that you need to be free of any particular sin if you want to help someone else escape it. You need to be “fit” in the faith to help someone who’s in a critical condition. “…if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” – Galatians 6:1

So what does righteous judgment look like in the church (the body of believers)? The answer is to confront them privately. Tell them their mistakes, and point them back to Jesus.

“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.” – Matthew 18:15

Have you ever been confronted by a fellow believer who opened your eyes to your sinful lifestyle? It may hurt and feel like you are being judged harshly, but you know deep down it is true and that it is a righteous judgment that is bestowed by God to get your head on straight. It produces humility and humbleness before the Lord, which leads to repentance. Often times God will discipline you through other people by using righteous judgment in this way. It’s because he loves you. When you experience righteous judgment on a deep and personal level, you experience a spiritual refreshment that can’t be explained with words.

The Bible tells us that we are to edify other believers; to build them up and keep them from stumbling. The Bible also tells us that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Why would Paul tell us to rebuke, correct, and pray for other believers if Jesus says we cannot judge? Wouldn’t that make the Bible fallible? It is part of God’s will that we build a community of believers, and if we are to grow in the faith together, then we need to judge each other righteously based on the Word of God. We need to lift each other up, but also correct our brothers and sisters when it’s necessary. If we aren’t allowed to judge according to Matthew 7:1, then true godly fellowship is pointless. Church would just become a place to feel good about yourself. If we aren’t allowed to judge, then growth in the body of Christ would be impossible. If Christians cannot correct people and show them their faults, then how is someone supposed to repent and turn to Jesus? God calls for a change of heart, which comes from repentance, which comes from a personal acknowledgement of sin, which comes from feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit or being told by someone else. Humility would not be possible to show, and mercy would have no meaning if judging was prohibited. Christians need to judge, but they need to do it correctly. I find that the best people in your life are those who care about where your heart is.

Let’s look at one last thing concerning judging others: Discernment. It is a gift from God that distinguishes good from evil so that true Christians can understand how things were made to be. It’s the perspective that true believers use when living in Christ. It helps us to continually form the ‘new creation’ that we are and to live a life of gratitude for what Jesus did for us. Without godly discernment, we would not have the capacity to judge the situations at hand and make the right decisions that please God, and we certainly would not be able to tell others what their mistakes were and what we knew was better for them in God’s eyes.

Why would Jesus tell us not to judge, and then give us the gift of discernment?

To paraphrase all of this, I want to say that judging others is what Christians are called to do. That sounds awfully harsh at first glance, I know. But don’t think of it as a personal attack, it’s really more of being that friend who wants to keep you from stumbling and who wants what is best for you. We should righteously judge, or “correct” others by revealing their sinfulness and need for Jesus (the first step in someone coming to know God), but we must do this in a loving and compassionate way that Jesus displayed. The reality is that most people don’t like being told that they’re wrong and that they need change, so we can expect a lot of negative answers regardless of how sincere we are. That’s where the Bible jumps in and tells you to bless those who curse you, and to pray for those who mistreat you.

Do not think for one moment that this means going around the streets and hitting people on the head with a Bible yelling “repent!” The whole point of judging others is to point them back to Jesus, not to make people feel unworthy, disregarded, and even scared of the way you sound. We should not judge others by their appearance or conclude their overall being as being sub par compared to ourselves. Truth be told, we are ridiculed for being hypocrites because we often come across as making other people’s problems sound worse than our own. Just because we have Jesus does not mean we are suddenly OK and that other people need the freedom more than we do. We are eternally secure, yes, but there is a work in us – the sanctification – that must be done until that day comes. We are far from perfect. We are no different and no more or less guilty than the person next to us in class, church, a concert or at work. We all need Jesus equally every single day. God will do the work because he is good, but we must tell others who Jesus is and why he wants us to believe and trust in him, and the only way to bring someone to the Lord is to help them realize that they are sinful and in need of a Savior.

Tags: Christian, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jonah, Judging Others, Judgment, Matthew, Matthew 7:1, Nineveh, Pharisee, Righteous Judgment, Treating Others