IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO JUDGEJUDGE??

Or is it sometimes right?Or is it sometimes right?

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IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO JUDGEJUDGE??

There are those who seem to think that it is always wrong to judge because Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matt. 7:1).

We can know with certainty, however, that this definitely is not what Jesus meant.

We know this because He also said, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24).

Therefore we are not only permitted but commanded to judge.

But our judgments must be righteous not unrighteous.

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IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO JUDGEJUDGE??

According to Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the word translated "judge," in Matthew 7:1, "primarily denotes to separate, select, choose; hence, to determine, and so to judge, pronounce judgment" and "sometimes denotes to condemn."

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Let’s Look at the PassageLet’s Look at the Passage1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matt. 7:1-5)

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IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO JUDGEJUDGE??

Jesus is not saying that you should not tell your brother that he has a "speck" in his eye.

He is saying that you should first examine your own eye to make sure it does not contain a "plank."

If you find a "plank" in your own eye, you ought to remove it first then help your brother with the "speck" in his eye.

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IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO JUDGEJUDGE??

He may not like hearing that he has a "speck" in his eye but he will be more receptive if he sees that you have removed the "plank" that was in your eye.

Of course, "speck" and "plank" are figurative for some moral or spiritual problem that needs to be corrected.

Your problem is a "plank," while your brother's is only a "speck" because you are acting as though you do not have a problem.

That is, you have a bigger problem than your brother does.

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IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO JUDGEJUDGE??

Therefore, Jesus is simply saying that you are in no position to judge your brother if you have things in your life that need correction.

You should correct those things then help your brother.

This necessarily involves judging but not the sort that Jesus condemns.

It demands "righteous judgment."

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Righteous JudgmentRighteous Judgment24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." (John 7:24)

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JUDGING - A WORD STUDYJUDGING - A WORD STUDY The word “krino” is translated in a variety of

ways, as indicated by the following passages.

"If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also" (Matt. 5:40).

"The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go" (Acts 3:13).

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JUDGING - A WORD STUDYJUDGING - A WORD STUDY The word “krino” is translated in a variety of

ways, as indicated by the following passages. "Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble

not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God" (Acts 15:19).

"And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem" (Acts 16:4).

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JUDGING - A WORD STUDYJUDGING - A WORD STUDY The word “krino” is translated in a variety of ways,

as indicated by the following passages. "As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have

written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication" (Acts 21:25).

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question (Acts 23:6).

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JUDGING - A WORD STUDYJUDGING - A WORD STUDY The word “krino” is translated in a variety

of ways, as indicated by the following passages.

"Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?" (Acts 26:8)

"One person esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind." (Rom. 14:5)

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JUDGING - A WORD STUDYJUDGING - A WORD STUDY The word “krino” is translated in a variety of

ways, as indicated by the following passages. The common idea in these passages seems to

be that of deciding [or, in the case of Matt. 5:40, appealing to others for a decision].

Of course, it is not deciding in general that some object to, but deciding the moral or spiritual condition of another.

However, certain passages demand that we make such decisions.

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JUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDYJUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDY9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person.

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JUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDYJUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDY12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person." (1 Cor. 5:9-13)

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JUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDYJUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDY From the first few verses of this chapter, we see that

the Corinthians were treating a brother who was guilty of fornication as though he were not guilty of anything.

Perhaps they were mistakenly thinking that they were not to be judging people.

But they should have judged this individual as being, not only in danger, but a danger to them as well.

Because of this twofold danger, they were not to socialize with any brother who was guilty of overt sin and would not repent.

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JUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDYJUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDY This does not mean they should not allow him to come

to the place of worship, however, because he may be coming there for the purpose of acknowledging his sin and asking for forgiveness.

We, also, would be in spiritual danger, if we were to associate freely with those who are intent on living in sin.

Therefore, we must be conscious of the moral or spiritual condition of those with whom we regularly worship.

This necessarily involves judging. Of course, withdrawing is not the first thing we are to

do with regard to brethren who are guilty of sin.

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JUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDYJUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDY15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." (Matt. 18:15-17)

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JUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDYJUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDY Here, Jesus gives three steps that must

precede our withdrawing from those who have sinned against us. (1) Go to the individual privately, (2) Take with you one or two others. (3) Tell it to the church.

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JUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDYJUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDY At whatever step the person repents, “you

have gained your brother," and the matter need go no further.

If he will not repent, however, you are to "let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

Perhaps no one was held in lower esteem, or more steadfastly avoided by the self-righteous Jew, than "a heathen and a tax collector."

Thus, we see how the Lord views (and how we should view) those who will not repent.

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JUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDYJUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDY1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (Gal. 6:1)

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JUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDYJUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDY Here, we see, again, that those who are

concerned about spiritual things have a responsibility toward those who have been "overtaken in any trespass."

The responsibility is to "restore such a one." The manner in which the responsibility is to be

carried out is "in a spirit of gentleness." The attitude with which the responsibility is to

be carried out is "considering yourself , lest you also be tempted."

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JUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDYJUDGING - A SCRIPTURE STUDY Yes, we are judging when we see the need

to "restore such a one" who has been "overtaken in any trespass."

But this is not the judging that Jesus condemns at Matthew 7:1; because "a spirit of gentleness" will cause us to make sure there is not a “plank" in our own eye.

This is the type of judging Jesus commands at John 7:24.