Many, both religious and unreligious people, believe that it is wrong for Christians to judge others.  It is an assumption that usually comes up when a person is told that he is doing something wrong.  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?”  Actually, the Bible does not teach us not to judge.

The subject of judging others is one of the most misunderstood and misapplied concepts in the Bible.  Yes, Jesus instructs us not to judge, but the question is what did He mean when He said that?  Here is what He said.

Matthew 7:1–5 (ESV)
¹ “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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.

Was Jesus saying that Christians should not have any opinions? Does “judge not” mean Christians should always take the middle-of-the-road position? Does it mean that Christians must be tolerant of all views in all situations? Does “judge not” imply that Christians should view all religions as equally valid and refrain from evangelism because, after all, when we evangelize, we are judging that others are lost? The answer to all these questions is a hard “No!”

This was not what Jesus was teaching in Matthew 7. When Jesus instructed us to “judge not,” He is not saying that judging is always wrong. The truth is we must make all kinds of judgments in life, and some of those judgments have to do with people.  As Christians, we are commanded to warn others about their sins, and that, by nature, necessitates judging.  The reality is any time we are involved in efforts to save souls, be it talking to a nonbeliever or to wayward members, we are passing judgment.  Yet, we are commanded to do both (Mark 16:15; Galatians 6:1).

Furthermore, we are instructed by the word of God to examine teachers to determine whether they are false or genuine teachers.

Matthew 7:15-20 (ESV)
¹⁵  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

There even comes a time when we must determine if a person will be receptive to the gospel.

Matthew 7:6 (ESV)
⁶  “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

To take the position that we are never to judge and base it on the Bible is to fail to “rightly divide the word,” and is itself hypocritical.  It involves someone judging that it is wrong to judge.  I would advise anyone who assumes that it is always wrong to judge based on the words of Jesus, to listen to all that He says on the matter.

John 7:24 (ESV)
²⁴ Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

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