Judge Not, That You Be Not Judged I dont know how many times Ive heard folks use this verse in error. Judge not, than you be not judged, has been used as the you cant judge me verse of the Bible. And, on the surface, it certainly sounds like thats what it could mean. However, considered with its context, we can appreciate what the Lord was saying to His disciples. What a fallacy to think that Jesus would say, ‘Dont you ever judge! Both the law of Moses and the law of Christ require a measure of judgment, else any instruction with regard to the sin of others is useless. Leviticus 19:15 commanded that no partiality be employed, but that ...in righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. Numbers 35:24 indicated that ...the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood.. Deuteronomy 1:16 says, ...judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him. The law of Moses required judgment. Jesus, speaking of Himself, said, ...As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father... (John 5:30). Later in the same gospel, we read, ...Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. (7:24). In 1 Corinthians 6:5, with regard to offenses, Paul inquired, ...is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? The law of Christ required judgment. But then what is Jesus saying in the words, Judge not, that you be not judged. Read on friend. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? (Matthew 7:2-3). The Lord is addressing hypocritical judgment (v 5); one who judges another, who is even caught in the same iniquity. Paul speaks of it this way, Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? (Romans 2:1-3) Judge not, that you be not judged. Do not hypocritically judge another while concealing your own struggle with the very same transgression. Judge righteously, in honesty and according to truth. Judge with the intention of helping, not harming the other. May our intention always be to uplift one another, and to bear one anothers burdens.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:29:37 +0000
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