Truth be told, in our daily lives we all judge by discerning people everyday. You see a poorly dressed man walking towards you and you begin to firstly discern the attributes you see him possess, then you conclude if he is harmless or not before deciding if you have to move away from his reach or continue on your path. There are many scenarios but our daily judgements are sometimes for our safety and many other reasons that ought to favour us.
The word "judge" in its various forms (judgeth, judging, judgment, judges, etc) is found over 700 times in God's word. One whole book of the Bible is titled "Judges" for it was written at a time when God raised up judges to lead His people. As we are about to see, God EXPECTS His people to judge. In fact, you are sinning against God if you refuse to judge!
Matthew 7:
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
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?
How many times have you heard someone say, "Judge not, that ye be not judged?" This verse of Scripture from Matthew 7:1 is popularly quoted out of context by people who are terrified at the idea of someone preaching against sin or pointing out any form of error in anyone, especially in themselves. As for Matthew 7:1, the context (verses 1-5) allows judging after you have first judged YOURSELF. Jesus did not make a blanket statement against judgment, He was simply pointing out a RULE for judging.
1 Corinthians 2:15 KJV: But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
God Expects Us to Judge "The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment." (Psa. 37:30) A righteous person will talk of judgment. He will not REFUSE to judge. He will talk judgment. "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5:14-15) How can you hate the evil and love the good if you refuse to judge? You can't. You are SINNING when you refuse to judge.
When Jesus said, judge not, that ye be not judged, we must try to understand what He was also talking about Judgment here, in the statement that Jesus made, was referring to eternal destiny. We do not reach a place in this life where we can pass judgment upon an individual, to say, he is going to glory, or he is damned. That is for God to do, and He alone. There is a certain amount of observation that we are
permitted to make. For instance, when you see a person that has shown by their manner of life, through
their conduct and character, that they are stable from day to day, walking before God in an attitude of
obedience, without being a stumbling stone or hindrance to others, it is right to say, that person appears
to be a true saint of God. When a person, such as this, dies, we can console ourselves by saying, they
have gone to sleep, to be with the Lord, but, even still, it is not you and I that determines their destiny.
Therefore, when we look into the scriptures and see various statements, it becomes necessary to find
out what the occasion was for making them.
It is wrong to judge a liar if you are also a liar, a thief if you are a thief, etc. By now I'm certain that the point has been made. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? - 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
permitted to make. For instance, when you see a person that has shown by their manner of life, through
their conduct and character, that they are stable from day to day, walking before God in an attitude of
obedience, without being a stumbling stone or hindrance to others, it is right to say, that person appears
to be a true saint of God. When a person, such as this, dies, we can console ourselves by saying, they
have gone to sleep, to be with the Lord, but, even still, it is not you and I that determines their destiny.
Therefore, when we look into the scriptures and see various statements, it becomes necessary to find
out what the occasion was for making them.
It is wrong to judge a liar if you are also a liar, a thief if you are a thief, etc. By now I'm certain that the point has been made. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? - 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
Comments
Post a Comment