The subject of judging others is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the Bible.  Some people believe that we are forbidden by God to judge the actions of others.  We have all heard it said when we are trying to help somebody, “Who are you to judge me?” or “Doesn’t the Bible teach us not to judge?”  Yes, Jesus instructs us not to judge, but the question is what did He mean?

Does “judge not” mean that Christians must be open-minded to all views in every situation? Does it imply that Christians should refrain from evangelism because, after all, when we evangelize we are judging that others are lost? No, this is not what Jesus was teaching. When Jesus instructed us not to judge, He was not saying that it is always wrong to judge. The truth is we have to make judgments in life at times, and some of those judgments involve people.  As Christians, we are commanded to warn others about their sins, and that necessitates judging.  The reality is any time we are involved in efforts to save souls, we are passing judgment.  Yet, we are commanded to do both of these things.  This brings us to the specific kind of judging that Jesus forbids and to the question for the night.

Matthew 7:3-5 (ESV)
³  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? ⁵  You hypocrite, 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.

Hypocritical judgment is what Jesus is condemning in the passage above.  The scenario depicted by Him, i.e., constantly detecting minor faults in others, while ignoring our own faults (faults that are often weightier than our brother’s), is a common occurrence, even among professing Christians.  It is always easier to see the sins of others than to see our own. This is why it is so critical for us to examine ourselves from time to time.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
⁵  Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!     

This examination must be done honestly, even if it is a painful process.  It hurts to be made aware of shortcomings in ourselves that we did not realize were there; but, at least, then, we can take care of them and avoid hypocrisy.

Hypocritical judgment is not the only problem revealed in Matthew 7:3-5.  The question, “Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye,” reveals a problem (even if there is not a log in one’s own eye) the problem of being hypercritical of others.  To see a speck in someone else’s eye is to spend far too much time fault-finding than we should.  Those who are hypercritical, often go on fault-finding missions, usually intending to condemn, and take some kind of twisted pleasure when they are successful.  This kind of person typically has a “holier-than-thou” mentally, and it is made much worse if they are walking around with a log in their own eye.

We should try to help others with their sins, but let’s not be overcritical, and let’s make sure our examination begins with self.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.