Judge Not, But Discern Wisely Series

This morning, we are going to look at the problem of judging others. The definition for the word “judge” that applies to our passage means, “to form a judgment or opinion” and to “decide upon critically.”(1) The key word here is “critically,” for when we judge others we are often being “critical” of them, forming a biased opinion concerning who they are, or about what they have done. The word “criticize” means, “to find fault” and “judge unfavorably or harshly.”(2)

No one likes to be criticized. When believers criticize each other, it can actually drive individuals away from the fellowship of the church. In Romans chapter 14, Paul said, “But why do you judge your brother? . . . Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:10, 13). Paul said that we must “resolve” judging; or rather, we should put an end to it before we cause a fellow brother or sister to stumble in his or her faith.

In our passage today, we will see how Jesus warned about the problem of judging others, and about the need to do some deep introspection, or spiritual self-examination, before opening our mouth. We will also learn about something called “discernment,” which is akin to judgement, but something that is actually encouraged by Jesus; and so, I have entitled our message, “Judge Not, But Discern Wisely.”

Jesus Cautioned About Judging Others (vv. 1-2)

1 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.

Right here, Jesus taught against judging others (v. 1). First, He stated, “With what judgment you judge, you will be judged” (v.2). The word “judgment” is defined as “the decision which one passes on the faults of others.”(3) Next, Jesus said, “With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (v. 2). The word “measure” is defined as “a graduated staff for measuring, a measuring rod” and “the rule or standard of judgment.”(4) He was speaking about the figurative “yard stick” that you and I often hold next to an individual to size him up.

Jesus was saying that we need to be careful about the standard we use to evaluate others. The correct measure is the Law of God, better known today as the Bible. Amos once prophesied, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel” (Amos 7:8), alluding to how the Lord was holding beside them His perfect Law in consideration of possible judgment. Since Jesus did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17) – meaning that He embodied the Law – we can now look to Him as the correct and perfect measure; but what we usually tend to do is hold “ourselves” up as the standard.

Something that leads to judging others before consulting the Word of God is offense. Allow me to provide an example. In John chapter 7, Jesus once taught a group of Jews at the Feast of Tabernacles, and they criticized Him for healing a man on the Sabbath. Jesus said, “You circumcise a man on the Sabbath . . . Are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?” (John 7:22, 23). Jesus basically reasoned with them, “The Law allows for circumcision on the Sabbath, so why not healing?” They failed to apply the Law practically, because they were offended by what they had just observed.

This group of Jews, whom Jesus addressed, allowed their jealousy, anger, and offense to distract them from a proper perspective of the Law. How many times are we distracted from using the correct measure, because we are overly focused on the faults of others and we become offended? In John chapter 7, Jesus informed them, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). We need to make sure that we are not so offended by what we see that we jump to some hasty conclusion. We need to slow down and take time to consider what the Bible has to say, so we can make a “righteous” decision instead of a rash one.

In Matthew 7:2, Jesus continued to say, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged.” This statement sounds similar to one we often hear today: “What goes around comes around.” But let me tell you, when we judge others, what “comes around” or what “comes our way” is the result of human nature and vengeance, not karma and not some cosmic force. You see, there are some people who, if we offend them, will do everything in their power to harm us. So, my advice, based on my understanding of the Bible, is that when we judge someone, we need to ask for their forgiveness and do everything in our power to make things right. First of all, it is the right thing to do; and secondly, if we don’t, it will come back to bite us!