Setting the Record Straight: God's Perspective on Judging Others

It's often frustrating when people say, "God said not to judge others." But did He actually say that? No, He didn't. Instead, He offered guidance on the principles of judgment—how to judge and how not to.

Typically, this claim surfaces when individuals disagree with the judgment being made, as accepting its validity might demand personal change. Many, particularly those within church communities, prefer a Gospel that's sugar-coated, avoiding the uncomfortable call for repentance and transformation from sinful behaviors.

This common misunderstanding often stems from a passage in Matthew 7:1-3 (NLT)

"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye."

While these verses caution against hypocritical judgment, they don't prohibit judgment altogether.

Now let's look further at these first three versus from the King James Version:

The first verse, "Judge not, that ye be not judged", Jesus isn't advocating for a complete abandonment of discernment or moral evaluation, but rather a recognition of the dangers of hypocritical and harsh judgment. By emphasizing the reciprocal nature of judgment, Jesus points out the reality that the standards we apply to others will inevitably be applied to us.

He isn't suggesting that refraining from judging others exempts us from judgment ourselves. It's not about avoiding judgment altogether by abstaining from judging others. Ultimately, we will all face judgment on the Day of Judgment. Instead, we should strive to evaluate ourselves daily, identifying and addressing our own shortcomings and sins.

Expanding on this idea, the second verse states,

"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again". Here, Jesus emphasizes the principle of reciprocity (same treatment), indicating that the manner in which we judge others will ultimately determine the judgment we receive:

~If our judgments are marked by harshness and condemnation, we can expect a similar response in return.

~If we approach others with compassion and understanding, we invite the same treatment into our own lives.

Furthermore, if we judge from a place of hypocrisy, knowing we are guilty of the same faults, the severity increases. 

Jesus vividly illustrates this in Matthew 23:13-36 (KJV), where he delivers a stern condemnation to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, exposing their hypocrisy and issuing woes upon them. Here are key excerpts from this passage:

Verse 13: "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."

The "Scribes and Pharisees" were esteemed figures tasked with teaching and interpreting religious law. When Jesus declares, "Woe unto you," he's signaling impending trouble. By labeling them "Hypocrites," he exposes their insincerity; though they feigned holiness, their hearts lacked genuineness. Their actions, such as "Shutting up the kingdom of heaven," hindered people from understanding and connecting with God, revealing their own deviation from God's teachings.

Essentially, Jesus portrays these leaders as obstructive gatekeepers, hindering both themselves and others from accessing God's grace and not being able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Verse 15: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte { anyone who has adopted a new faith or ideology}, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."

Picture the scribes and Pharisees as enthusiastic promoters of a prestigious club, representing God's Kingdom. However, their hypocrisy surfaces as they fail to adhere to the club's principles. Despite their fervent efforts to recruit new members, their teachings deviate from the club's authentic rules, imposing stricter and detrimental regulations on the recruits (proselytes). Consequently, these newcomers find themselves in a worse state than before, illustrating the damaging consequences of the leaders' deceitful practices sending them all to hell.

Verse 23-24: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."

Jesus is scolding the scribes and Pharisees, calling them hypocrites. He says they're good at following small rules, like giving a tenth of their spices, but they ignore the most important parts of God's teachings—like being fair, justice, showing kindness, and having faith. He compares them to people who strain out tiny bugs from their drinks but swallow a whole camel without noticing.

Essentially, he's saying they focus on minor things while ignoring the really important stuff.

Verse 33: "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"

Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, condemning their outward piety while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith.

In simple terms, Jesus is calling out the Pharisees and teachers of the law, saying they act like snakes, spreading harm like venomous vipers. He questions how they can avoid punishment from God, eternal judgment to Hell, unless they repent.

He's warning them that their deceitful behavior will lead to serious, eternal, consequences unless they change their ways.

The third verse of Matthew 7:1-3 previously, from above, states, "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" This imagery of a speck (mote) versus a beam highlights the absurdity of nitpicking the faults of others while neglecting our own glaring shortcomings.

Put simply, don't criticize someone for something you're guilty of yourself. It's like condemning someone for cheating while you're doing the same thing in your own relationship. Or it's similar to judging someone for drug use while you're quietly struggling with alcohol addiction at home each night. In essence, before pointing fingers, take a hard look at your own actions and behaviors.

Even if others may not be aware of your private faults, God sees them clearly, and He disapproves of this kind of hypocritical judgment. If your intention is genuinely to uplift and guide others towards Christ, start by examining yourself in the mirror and through the lens of God's Word. Ensure that you're living in accordance with His teachings before attempting to influence others positively in the same area.

Imagine someone who is overweight and unhealthy trying to give you advice on nutrition. You likely wouldn't take their words seriously. In fact, you might even feel inclined to correct them. This scenario reflects what God doesn't desire. He wants you to be an embodiment of His Word, but you can't effectively do that if you're deeply entrenched in sin. He warns against this for good reason.

Friends, be sure of this: If you have a door open to sin, and you start going around trying to save others you better believe Satan is right there accusing you of your sins that will place you before God in guilty judgment. Satan searches the earth to find those that have doors open to sin:

1 Peter 5:8 ESV: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

So how do we judge? The scriptures offer guidance:

John 7:24: KJV: Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgment.

John 7:24 tells us not to judge people just by how they look, but to make wise decisions based on what's right. Similarly, James 2:1-4 warns against playing favorites when we judge others, reminding us to treat everyone fairly and honestly. These verses together encourage us to look deeper than surface appearances and make judgments based on God's principles of fairness and honesty.

The Bible emphasizes discernment between right and wrong, focusing on actions rather than condemning individuals. Seeking counsel from God is crucial because He understands the depths of each person's heart, unlike us. By relying on our own opinions, we may misjudge situations. Here are a few examples illustrating why turning to God first is essential:

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"

Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV): "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve."

Proverbs 21:2 (NIV): "A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart."

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV): "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

When we judge based on appearance, we're essentially assessing someone or something solely by its external characteristics. 

Another form of "judging by appearance" is through the MENTAL image we construct when we hear someone else's opinion about a person or situation. Their words shape our perceptions, influencing how we view others. If we're not vigilant, we might incorporate these impressions into our judgments of individuals.

This is a strategy of the enemy that we often overlook in shaping our perception of a situation. It's crucial not to let others' perspectives cloud our own judgment without seeking wise counsel from God.

It's vital to safeguard both our opinion and theirs from clouding our judgment. Ultimately, we should bring the matter to God first before forming any conclusions, ensuring that our judgment remains righteous and aligned with His wisdom.

One example of seeking God's wisdom before judging a person's situation is found in the story of Solomon's judgment in 1 Kings 3:16-28. In this account, two women come to King Solomon, each claiming to be the mother of a baby. Both women lived in the same house, and one of the babies died during the night. The woman whose baby died switched her dead child with the other woman's living child.

King Solomon doesn't hastily pass judgment relying solely on appearances or hearsay. Instead, he turns to God's wisdom and understanding to deliver a fair verdict. God bestows exceptional wisdom upon Solomon, enabling him to uncover the truth. By suggesting dividing the living child in half

and observing the mother's selfless plea to spare the child's life, Solomon discerns the true mother.

Following the judgment, Solomon affirms, "The wisdom of God was in him to do judgment" (1 Kings 3:28), implying some form of divine guidance or intervention in his decision-making. This thematic consistency is further highlighted in the book of Proverbs, commonly attributed to Solomon, which underscores the significance of seeking wisdom from God (Proverbs 2:3-6).

28: And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

The call to judge is not to condemn, but to restore. Offer discernment with compassion, for we were all shown mercy in Christ (Romans 9:15), shifting the focus from condemnation to restoration and emphasizing God's mercy. Before judging others, remember the words of Jesus: "With what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:2). This reminds us of the reciprocal nature of judgment and underscores the importance of self-reflection on our own sins.

Before we embark on righteous judgment, it's crucial that we seek God's wisdom, ensuring our hearts are pure and aligned with His will. Thus, our repentance should precede any attempt at discerning righteousness, as we humbly seek guidance from God.

It's better to not judge and hold your peace in a matter if you are not living right before God. There is always wisdom in silence:

Proverbs 17:28 (NIV): "Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues."

Ecclesiastes 3:7 (NIV): "a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,"

Copyright © Amanda Allen, Kingdom Revelations, 2024. All rights reserved. This article may be shared with acknowledgment of the author and the original source. Artwork included.