JUDGE, OR JUDGE NOT?

INTRODUCTION-- Of all the verses in the Bible, perhaps the one that is quoted the most is Matthew 7:1. ("Judge not, that ye be not judged."). The reason for the popularity of this verse is based on the tolerant spirit of society.

1. In today's religious environment, it is frequently said, "It does not matter what a person believes," implying that we should not condemn other faiths.
   
2. If it does not matter what a person believes, why should I believe the statement that "It does not matter what a person believes."
   
3. This statment is kin to the one that says, "There are no absolutes." if this is so, then this statement is not absolute!!!
   

LESSON--

1. The key to understanding Matthew 7:1 is in reading the following verses. "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (Matthew 7:2-5)
   
   1. Verse 5 actually gives permission to cast out a mote, if the beam is first cast out of our own eye.
      
   2. This passage simply says that we must expect to be judged by the same standard we apply to others.
      
2. There are probably more passages which authorize making judgments than those which forbid it. (Examples)
   
   1. John 7:24 "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (Samuel had to learn this lesson regarding the sons of Jesse.)
      
   2. Acts 4:18-20 "And they (the rulers of the Jews) called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye: for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard."
      
   3. 1 Corinthians 6:1-4 "Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church?"
      
3. There are some passages that call for restraint about judging others.
   
   1. Some judging runs against the commands for unity and brotherhood. James 4:11-12 "Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?"
      
   2. Some judging deals with matters that have nothing to do with the terms of salvation, and run contrary to the commaned to love and aid the weak brother. Romans 14:1-4, 10-13 "But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. 2 One man hath faith to eat all things: but he that is weak eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand...........10 But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling."
      
4. We are permitted to judge others on the condition that we apply the standard to ourselves.
   
   1. Romans 2:1-3, 21-27 "Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judges another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things. 2 And we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that practise such things. 3 And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?...........21 therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples? 23 thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dis-honorest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written. 25 For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. 26 If therefore the uncir cumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision? 27 and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law?"
      
      1. This passage follows that section of Romans 1 that shows the depths of sin to which men can sink, when they "refuse to have God in their knowledge."
         
      2. Hypocrisy cancels the privilege of judging sinners.
         
   2. In practical application, Paul judged a sinner, and called upon the church to do the same. 1 Corinthians 5:1-6, 9-13 "It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one of you hath his father's wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing, 4 in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?..........9 I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; 10 not at all meaning with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: 11 but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat. 12 For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves."
      
      

APPLICATION-- God sets the example for judging them that sin, and it is cowardly to hide behind ther world's definition of tolerance, in order to avoid the confrontation with the sinner.

1. We must not judge, as if we were the ultimate executioner.
   
2. It is best to take our example from Michael, the Archangel. Jude 9 "But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."