Someone has said, “Wise are those who look at others with the same generosity they offer themselves, and who look at themselves with the same critical eye they have for others.”
Yet as balanced and insightful as that quote is, it is not the whole story. Questions remain, especially for those of us who want our life guided by the wisdom of the Bible.
So let’s take a closer look:
On several different occasions Jesus said,
“Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matt 7:1).
“Judge not, and you will not be judged: condemn not, and you will not be condemned: forgive, and will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).
Yet Jesus also speaks of judgment in another sense when he says,
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30)
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
Then there’s the Apostle Paul who in several different letters reflects a similar breadth of meaning when it comes to the idea of “judging”. On one hand he says,
“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judges: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things… And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Romans 2:1,3).
“Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand…But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:4,10).
“For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (1Corinthians 11:31-32).
Yet, like Jesus, Paul also recognizes another side of judgment when he writes,
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1Corinthians 4:5).
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed…For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person” (1Corinthians 5:3,12,13).
And finally there is James who sounds a lot like both Jesus and Paul when he writes in his own letter:
“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? (James 4:11,12).
So how do we net out these various comments about judging?
I don’t claim to have it all figured out. But while recognizing that the word for judgment can have different meanings (i.e. to form an opinion about the truth, or “to condemn”– depending on the context), here’s what I’m seeing,
Good judgment, or discernment, is to be exercised in love, for the good of one another.
As we form an opinion about the facts, we are to hold ourselves accountable first, before we try to lovingly and honestly hold one another accountable.
Above all, except where we are required by judicial process to make temporary legal decisions in behalf of society, we must not presume to judge the motives of others or any other factor which God alone is in a position to judge.
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