Judge Not, But Judge All Things
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Bible Reading:
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we began our study on Spiritual Discernment.
The essence of the message that I brought last week was that there is an urgent need for spiritual discernment.
I pointed out through Scripture, a number of sources of deception in the world that we live in, that could lead us to a lack of spiritual discernment.
I then also went into those aspects that could cause us a lack of discernment in our lives as Christians.
Aspects such as spiritual immaturity; lack of regenerate faith (believing faith);
My concern in this area of what is known as spiritual discernment is that there is a lot of ignorance among believers concerning the exercise of Spiritual Discernment.
I’ve mentioned before on a few occasions that the phrase “Judge Not” is used extensively today, and is very often used to target Christians who attempt to exercise judgment over matters, usually regarding the behaviors and practices of people around us.
Sadly, this phrase “Judge Not” is not only used by unbelievers towards Christians in the church, but it is used by Christians against other Christians who attempt to exercise discernment and judgment on matters within the church.
And so this morning’s message is entitled “Judge Not, But Judge all Things!”
What I hope to show us this morning is that there are certainly injunctions in Scripture that demonstrate that we are not to judge - or at least, we are not to make certain kinds of judgment.
On the other hand, we are taught in Scripture that we are to exercise “Judgment” / “Discernment” in our lives, this for the wellbeing of ourselves and others.
And so this is a critical aspect for us to understand in terms of us living with discernment in this world.
1. Judge Not
1. Judge Not
As we begin, then, I want to draw our attention firstly to the imperative of Jesus to “Judge NOT!”
We read that command by Christ in our reading this morning from Matthew 7, and particularly verses 1 and 2.
And so we’re going to start right there, and consider this imperative of Jesus to “Judge Not”.
The first main heading this morning is “Judge Not” - but I’m going to elaborate on the point under three sub-headings.
1.1. As a Hypocrite
1.1. As a Hypocrite
Firstly, we are not to judge as hypocrites.
The passage in Matthew 7:1-2 which contains that phrase “Judge Not” is one in which Christ is teaching that we should not judge others hypocritically.
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
The word judge that is used here in the Greek (κρίνω / krino) is a typical one used in the New Testament, and it has a variety of meanings, depending on context.
The word can mean to “analyze or evaluate” something.
Alternatively, it can mean to “condemn” or to “avenge”.
In the context in Matthew 7, it becomes very clear that what Christ is getting at here is the idea that there is not to be hypocritical judgment / condemnation of other people.
In verse 3 he says to them:
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
In other words, He condemns people pointing out small faults in others, when in their own lives they have far more significant faults in their own lives.
This kind of hypocritical behaviour was preeminantly seen in the lives of the Pharisees.
Jesus repeatedly told them that they were hypocrites, putting on a show of religiosity, but having their hearts so far from God.
You will recall that in the Old Testament, the Israelites would often go through the motions of religious worship.
They would offer sacrifices. They would attend the annual festivals etc.
But all of that was merely a show. In their private lives, they didn’t actually have a heart for God.
For example...
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
The Israelites thought that they were God’s special chosen people, and thus could look down on other nations, but meanwhile their hearts had grown far from God.
And so, in our own lives, we are to be very careful to never to judge other people hypocritically.
Having said that, I think there is a helpful comment on this hypocrisy from Tim Challies. He writes:
It is important to understand what hypocrisy is not. Hypocrisy is not the disparity between what we are and what we long to be. It is not the gap between what we want to do and what we actually do. Rather, in the words of Kevin DeYoung, hypocrisy is “the gap between public persona and private character. Hypocrisy is the failure to practice what you preach. Appearing outwardly righteous to others, while actually being full of uncleanness and self-indulgence—that’s the definition of hypocrisy.”
As believers, we need to be quick to deal with the sin in our own lives first.
We need to be quick to bring our own sins before the Father in confession and repentance.
We need to strive to live lives in which our public persona and our private character are in alignment.
And so the first way that we are not to judge is that we are not to judge hypocritically, when we ourselves have serious sin issues in our own lives, and are failing to deal with them.
1.2. Don’t Judge on matters of conscience
1.2. Don’t Judge on matters of conscience
But there are other occasions where we should not be judging, and the next aspect that I’d like us to recognise is that we are not to judge others on matters of pure personal conscience and conviction!
When the early church was established, we must remember that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles.
But in that day, there was a stark contrast between the way of life for the Jew (who had been raised in strict obedience to the law given through Moses) and the life of the Gentile.
Their entire culture was completely different.
And so what happened in the early church is that you had Jews who became believers in Christ, and Gentiles who became believers in Christ, and the Jews would very often have consciences that were strongly bound to their former way of life.
And perhaps you would even have Gentiles who were strongly convicted in their own ways of life.
And so this sharp distinction was prevalent in the early church, and as a result, there was some fighting over what was acceptable practice in the church and what wasn’t acceptable practice.
4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Paul’s argument in Romans 14 is that Christ died for sinners, Jew and Gentile, and that they cannot begin to pronounce judgment on one another based on observances such as special days observed or not observed, or types of foods eaten or not eaten.
These specific rules and regulations are matter of conscience.
Further on, Paul continues by saying...
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
Paul says to them that they are not to judge one another in these matters.
Another similar example of this is found in Colossians 2:16-17...
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Any judgment that is passed on another believer regarding these “shadows” of things to come is going against the word of God, and this judgment is wrong.
When we as believers begin to pronounce judgment on other believers in matters where the Scriptures are silent, then we are standing in judgment in an aspect that is not ours to judge - that judgement belongs to God.
1.3. Don’t Judge on Appearances
1.3. Don’t Judge on Appearances
But there is one further area in life that we are not to judge, and that is for us to judge on appearances!!
This is so important for us in our lives, because so very often we can make judgments about people based on appearances.
The way things appear, lead us to make deductions or draw conclusions, and then we judge people based on the conclusions that we’ve drawn, in the absence of proper facts.
What this boils down to is judgment based on suspicions and opinions.
Certain things are said or done - not outright sinful in and of themselves - but because we know the sinfulness of man’s heart, and because we’ve seen things like this before, or because of whatever other factors around us, we’re pretty certain that this person has evil intentions.
And so we judge them.
The mindset here is more “Guilty until proven innocent” than “Innocent until proven guilty.”
Friends, this judgment is nothing short of evil in God’s eyes.
We are not those who are privy to the intentions of people’s hearts.
In 1 Corinthians 13:7, we read that love always trusts, and that love always hopes...
If you consider the life of Christ, and even many of the disciples in the Scriptures, you find examples of false accusations being brought against them purely on the basis of evil suspicions.
John the Baptist was accused of being possessed by a demon (Matthew 11:18)
Jesus was accused of being a drunkard and a glutton (Matthew 11:19)
Were any of these accusations correct and true?
Of course not. They were based on mere appearances.
In John 7:24, Jesus says...
24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”
As Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, there was some dispute going on with regards to who was the greater apostle.
The church was divided between followers of Apollos, followers of Cephas, followers of Paul etc.
And as Paul addresses this, he says these words in 1 Corinthians 4:3-5...
3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
Paul was not saying in this context that all judging of anything is wrong.
But he was saying that they were in a position to judge the motives of men’s hearts - that was something that the Lord would have to judge.
When we judge on appearances, when we judge based on a lack of proper biblical evidence, with a lack of factual basis, it leads us to speak evil of others.
This is the sin of slander.
James deals with this in his letter.
11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
God’s hatred towards this kind of slander is seen in Psalm 101:5
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,
him will I put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,
him will I not endure.
Slander proceeds forth from a proud heart.
In Romans 1:29-30, slander is included in the list of descriptions concerning those who have turned their backs on God.
This is a serious sin, dear brothers.
We are not to judge others based on appearances.
So we’ve seen together when we are not to judge others (no hypocrisy; no judging on matters of personal conscience; no judging on appearances).
2. Judge all things
2. Judge all things
Having considered this aspect of judging not, we must now turn our attention to where and how the Scriptures teach us that we ought to judge!
And again, I want to consider this under three sub-headings.
2.1. We are to Judge Ourselves
2.1. We are to Judge Ourselves
We must be about the business of judging ourselves!
Not in the sense of bringing condemnation upon ourselves - because if we are in Christ we are washed clean, and forgiven, but in the sense of attempting to evaluate our own lives, our own motivations, our own actions in the light of Scripture.
This aspect of evaluating ourselves is seen in First Corinthians, where Paul addresses the manner in which the Corinthians believers were participating in the Lord’s Supper.
27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
Every man ought to examine himself.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
As people, we have a tendency to be very slow to judge ourselves.
We also have a tendency to be very gracious towards ourselves, and very understanding of ourselves.
We have much long-suffering for our shortcomings and failures.
We need to truly come humbly before God and do an honest self-evaluation before God, putting ourselves and our lives under the light of God’s holiness and purity.
When we do that it ought to lead us to humility, and a deeper appreciation for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It will bring us to deeply appreciate what it is that God has done for us in forgiving us.
Because we certainly are unworthy people.
And when we have truly soaked in, delighted in the grace of God, it will humble us.
2.2. Judgment in the church
2.2. Judgment in the church
And that leads us to our next sub-heading for judging, and that is that we are to judge those in the church.
And this judging of others in the church, when it flows out of the humility that we’ve just considered as we begin by judging ourselves rightly before God, then it will be done in the right manner, and in the right spirit.
But certain kinds of judgments are to be made within the church context.
Turn with me so long to 1 Cor 5:11-13.
As you’re turning there, just to fill you in on some of the background that is going on in 1 Corinthians 5.
There was some extreme and unacceptable sexual immorality taking place within the church - a kind that Paul says doesn’t even occur among pagans (v.1)
And while this was taking place, the church was failing to deal that immorality.
Then he says these words from verse 11-13
11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
We need to recognise as believers that there is a duty upon us to exercise this kind of judgment within the church.
In other words, among those who claim to be brothers and sisters in Christ, and those that we are in regular fellowship with, we have a responsibility to hold them to a lifestyle that is consistent with the faith that they profess.
No church member should be allowed to continue unrepentant sin, while the body of Christ, knowing that this believer walks in unrepentant or persistent sin, sits by idly and does nothing.
We as Christians are called to hold one another to account in terms of our lifestyles.
Matthew 18:15-20 is the well-known discipline chapter, which indicates the steps to be followed if a brother or sister in Christ sins against you, and what to do if they refuse to repent of their sin.
Ultimately what it boils down to is that they should be put out of membership of the church as an act of discipline, in the hope that this will lead them to repentance.
But that very act of putting them out of the church is a warning to them that they are not walking in the ways of Christ, and unless they repent, they should expect God’s judgment upon them, not His mercy.
In the text in 1 Corinthians 5, Paul actually tells the believers in verse 5 to...
5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
That should frighten us.
The fact is that Paul very clearly outlines that we as the church are to be exercising at least some form of judgment over one another.
A little further on in 1 Corinthians, Paul goes on in the next chapter to say this...
Explain the text as you go through...
1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
The point that I wish to make is simply this...
There is certain kind of judgment that takes place within the church.
Matters need to be decided upon.
Evaluations need to be made.
Conclusions need to be come to, considering all the facts.
2.3. Judging of False Teachers
2.3. Judging of False Teachers
Finally in this section, and very importantly, we need to be judging false teachers.
I’ve touched on this last week, but this week I would like to point us to a few further Scriptures that are of importance to us in this matter.
Last week I simply pointed out some verses that speak about false teachers coming into the church.
But we should not be content to simply leave it there, and not consider what Scripture teaches we are to do with such false teachers and others.
It’s in the Scriptures’ teaching concerning how to respond to such false prophets or teachers that you really get the sense that you are to be judging things (make assessments and drawing right conclusions).
One of the books in the Bible that deals with these false teachers is 2 John.
7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
The key aspect that John warns his readers of here is that there will be those deceivers who go out into the world, and they reject the doctrines of Christ, the teaching of Christ.
In other words they reject the fact that Christ was God the flesh, and that He came to carry out that work of atonement on the cross etc.
But notice what John says they are to do with such people.
They’re not to simply say “oh well, you’ve got your beliefs, and I’ve got my beliefs, who am I to judge?!”
No, he tells these believers that they are to discern this false deceiver, and have absolutely nothing to do with them.
He says that they should even give such a person a welcome greeting.
In that context, we need to understand that often Christian missionaries - those spreading the Gospel in the early church - would find places to stay as they traveled - usually with other Christians if possible.
One interpretation of these verses is that these false teachers are not to be shown hospitality in such circumstances, for to take them in and show them hospitality would indicate that you support them in your work.
But another very likely scenario here is that they met in house churches in that day.
This letter was addressed “To the chosen lady and her children.”
It is very likely that this “chosen lady and her children” actually refers to the church itself.
And so the warning here is not merely to not welcome a person to come stay in the home, but actually to ensure that such a person stays out of the church, so that they will not be there to promote false doctrines and teachings within the church.
Moving on from here, consider further with me what Paul says to the church in Rome.
17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
Again, the warning here is against those who are working in some manner contrary to the teaching that you have learned.
In doing this, they are putting stumbling blocks, and causing divisions.
And the remedy for that is not to say “well who am I to judge.”
The remedy is to recognise these false teachers, or these divisive brothers, and to actually keep away from them.
In our day, this has significant practical importance for us!
We are not to continue listening to false teachers and false prophets, but rather we are to keep away from them.
Such teachers simply lead astray and cause serious harm to the body.
One final verse that I believe has application in this regard is Ephesians 5.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
I’m sure that we can all agree that those who are teaching false doctrines are working the deeds of darkness.
They are those who deceive with empty words.
And Paul’s charge to the church when such people arise, is not to leave them doing what they do, but rather to expose them.
Certainly this has application to those who are engaged in deeds of darkness, and filth.
But those who teach false doctrines should be exposed, since they lead people astray in every manner.
Here is the aspect of exposing those who are working contrary to God’s word.
3. Judge Wisely
3. Judge Wisely
As we begin to close this morning, I’d like to do so by giving some practical advice when it comes to this matter of judging.
I trust that you are convinced in your own mind of the importance of making judgments - not in the sense of condemning people, but in the sense of truly evaluating that which is evident and factual, and then making judgments concerning right and wrong.
But as you do that, the following are some practical suggestions to guide you in this.
3.1. Judge with right judgment
3.1. Judge with right judgment
Firstly, you must judge with right judgment.
These are the words of Jesus in John 7:24.
24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”
Whenever you are making judgments, ensure that you have all the facts very clearly outlined.
Don’t make judgments on appearances.
But be prepared, when the facts present themselves, and you see wrong, to judge with right judgment.
Meaning that your heart and attitude must be right in making judgments.
But meaning also (and this leads us to our next point) that your judgments must be aligned with or evaluated upon a standard of truth.
3.2. Judge According to Truth
3.2. Judge According to Truth
We must judge according to the truth.
The prophet Isaiah said this:
20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
There is a standard for God’s revelation which is to the measuring stick for making judgments.
Think for a moment about the world that we live in.
When the world very often uses that phrase “do not judge,” they are saying it because the church is teaching that certain behaviour is right or wrong.
The same goes for Christian’s who say to other Christians “who are you to judge.”
But what is being done is not so much judging (in the sense of condemning) the person, but rather telling them what the Scriptures say, and they don’t like it.
Listen to what Christ says in John 12:46-48.
46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.
The standard according to which we judge things is the Word of God.
And we are commanded and instructed to bring that Word to bear on people’s lives, and in the world.
Where there is sin - biblically spoken of in clear terms - we need to call that out as sin.
That is not our word of judgment against anyone, but rather God’s truth which brings light.
And so we are to bring that light into situations, and yes, we will be told that we are judging, simply for doing that.
But this is what we are called to do (in the right spirit… not from pride!!!)
3.3. Judge knowing that you will be judged
3.3. Judge knowing that you will be judged
Finally, whenever we judge, let us do so knowing that we too will be judged.
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
If we are those who are judging others with a critical spirit, or with a condemnatory attitude, out of our own hypocrisy, then we need to be careful.
As Christians, we are to be those who are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.
As Christians, we want to love: believe all things; hope all things; presume the best about people, until there is absolute certainty concerning the facts.
When we judge others harshly, usually what is happening is we look down on them as if they are inferior.
“The judgment Christ commends is that which flows from a broken heart over one’s own sin and never loses sight of the fact we are all fellow sinners in need of grace.” [https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/the-biblical-necessity-of-judging-others]