Don't Judge

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.

Matthew 7:1-2

The word “judge” in this passage can mean to judge, to condemn, or to discern among other things. I think it’s best understood to mean condemning people in this passage. Jesus isn't saying that we can't speak the truth. All throughout Scripture we find Jesus and the apostles speaking the truth to people. In fact, the Bible tells us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). So, I don’t think it’s wrong for me to say that homosexual activity is a sin or that under normal circumstances killing a child in the womb is wrong or that sex outside of marriage is a sin anymore than I think it is wrong for me to say greed or selfishness are sins. When I say these things I’m not judging people, I’m simply stating what Scripture says. I’m trying to speak the truth in love. But were I to go beyond this and go stand outside of abortion clinics or pride parades and hold up signs and shout at people that they're going to Hell, then I wouldn’t be speaking the truth in love any longer but would be playing the judge and heaping condemnation on them. That would be wrong. So, a believer is allowed to have a mind and say what is right and wrong, but we aren't allowed to sit in judgment of others.  

There are several reasons for this. The first is that you aren’t qualified to judge anyone! You aren’t qualified to assess their guilt before the Lord or what their punishment should be. Only God knows their heart and their intentions. Only He knows if they acted willingly or under duress, or if some terrible trauma in their life has led to their actions. So, you aren’t qualified to judge them.

But not only are you unqualified, you’re also unworthy to judge them. You are a sinner too! That means that you are also liable to judgment. You who are to be judged shouldn’t play the judge over others or else when the real judge comes you may find that you don't like moving from the judge’s seat into the defendant’s chair. 

But even beyond being unqualified and unworthy, there's yet another reason why you shouldn’t judge and Jesus points it out in this passage. It’s in your best interest not to judge, because how you judge others will impact how you will be judged. It says with the measure you use it will be measured to you. This word ‘measure’ means the standard of measurement, or the measuring rod or cup you use. This means if you hand out condemnation by the dump truck load but dispense grace by the thimble full then you should expect the same from God. If that’s how you judge others then He’s going to use your very own thimble to dispense His grace to you. This is part of the fairness of the final judgment. 

So then, even though we often think we’re standing up for ourselves by holding grudges and getting even with those who hurt us. That isn’t true at all! Refusing to show grace doesn’t help you, it actually hurts you. It only stores up more judgment for you. So, show others grace for your own sake! Give them the best reading of the circumstances. Especially when they have hurt you. I’ve seen so many believers fail here. When they are personally hurt they suddenly become an expert on the human heart. They claim to know for a fact that the other person hurt them on purpose. Remember, you don’t know everything. So, be gracious to others so you too will receive grace. And if you know you haven’t shown enough grace to someone, then repent and ask forgiveness.