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Judging others

In short

“Judge not” forbids hypocritical, condemning judgment, not telling right from wrong. Jesus commands “righteous judgment”, believers are to know false teachers by their fruits and gently restore those who fall, and the final judgment of the heart belongs to God alone.

1"Judge not" is about hypocrisy

Jesus says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged”, because the measure we use will be used on us. Then He shows what He means: the man who sees the mote in his brother's eye but not the beam in his own. “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.” Paul says the same of those who condemn others for what they do themselves.

1Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4Or 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? 5Thou 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.

Matthew 7:1-5

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.

Romans 2:1
2Judge righteous judgment

Jesus also commands judging rightly: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” The law said, “in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour”, favouring neither the poor nor the mighty, and Proverbs says, “Open thy mouth, judge righteously”.

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

John 7:24

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Leviticus 19:15

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:9
3Know them by their fruits

In the same sermon, Jesus tells His hearers to “Beware of false prophets”, and says, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” John says, “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God”.

15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matthew 7:15-16

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1
4Restore and correct within the church

If a man is overtaken in a fault, the spiritual are to “restore such an one in the spirit of meekness”, watching themselves. A brother who sins against you is told his fault “between thee and him alone”. Paul tells the church to judge “them that are within”, and leaves “them that are without” to God.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Galatians 6:1

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.

Matthew 18:15

12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13
5Not over disputable things

Where Scripture leaves a matter to conscience, such as food or holy days, believers are not to judge one another: “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?” Each “shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ”, so we are to judge this instead, “that no man put a stumblingblock” in his brother's way.

Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Romans 14:4

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Romans 14:10

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

Romans 14:13

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Colossians 2:16
6Final judgment belongs to God

“There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” Paul says to “judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come”, who will “make manifest the counsels of the hearts”. Until then, believers are “To speak evil of no man”.

11Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

James 4:11-12

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

1 Corinthians 4:5

To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Titus 3:2

Commonly taken out of context

Jesus goes on to say “then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye” (Matthew 7:5), warns of false prophets known “by their fruits” (7:15-16), and commands “righteous judgment” (John 7:24). What He forbids is hypocritical judgment.

Takeaway

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24), first with yourself and then “in the spirit of meekness” (Galatians 6:1).

Keep studying

Verses are from the King James Version. Each point is shown from at least two passages.