"Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye? 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
Leviticus 19:15-16
"Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: [but] in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down [as] a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I [am] the LORD."
According to many Westernized Christians, you have no right to make a judgement on anything. Everyone is equal, treat every religion as equal, we should embrace everyone, as Jesus would embrace them. To hear this from people who purport to be Christian, drives me crazy. Take for example this link here. Just read the response that was voted "Best Answer" of all the answers given:
QUESTION:
Who's worse: Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses?
ANSWER:
Since you say you are a Christian, then you should appreciate this verse from the New Testament:
"Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls." (Romans 14:4, New International Version)
Regardless of your biased opinion, the only opinion that really matters is that of our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Just thought you'd want to know. And thanks for the two points.
Source(s): The HOLY Bible
The problem with this "ANSWER" above is that Jesus did not "embrace" other people's theories, doctrines, ways of life, etc, nor did he believe that there was more than one truth. Jesus loved everyone, yet still judged people. For instance, here are just a few quotations from only the Gospel of Matthew:
"12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." - Matthew 12:36 + Here we see that Jesus holds people accountable to their own words.
"3:12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." - Matthew 3:12 + On this verse, Jesus makes it clear, this judgement is no light judgement.
"7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." - Matthew 7:22-23 + It appears that even hypocritical and false religious teachers are judged. Even those who have performed miracles in his name.
"10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city." - Matthew 10:14-15 + Looks like Jesus has no problem judging whole cities.
"11:22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 11:24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." - Matthew 11:22-24 + If you had to choose between being a Sodomite or a Sidonite, which would you choose? So, rejecting God is worse than abusing your neighbor.
But what about all these Bible verses, where it shows that God is against "judging"? Well, lets look at a few.
"Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. " + I think John Gill does a good job of explaining what Jesus said here: Gill's Commentary, John 8:15. The pharisees judge carnally, by appearance. Jesus says that he does not judge by outer appearance or by carnal thought.
"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:" + Both Adam Clarke and John Gill do a good job of dispelling the idea that God the Father judges no one: Clarke's Commentary, John 5:22. What it is actually saying is that the Father does not judge, unless the Son is judging with him. If you look at the Greek, and directly translate it says: "For the Father neither judges no one unless/except that the Father gave judgement of everyone to the Son". I just went through every word and wrote it out. It says "except/unless" it goes through the Son. So, the Father judges, but it has to include the Son on everything.
"if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." + One argument tries to use all three of these verses to say that 1. The Father does not judge. 2. Jesus does not judge. 3. We are to follow his example of not judging. However, as you can see, I have been pointing out all of the exegetical errors in this viewpoint. With this scripture here, we see that this argument forgets the fact that Jesus comes TWICE. His first time, he came to "save the world". And the second time around, he comes to "judge the world".
So, does God want you to judge anything? Yes he wants you to judge righteously, as it says here, "7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." - John 7:24 This ties into what we read above.
God's main problem is when people are:
.. unrighteous in judgement: "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: [but] in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour." - Leviticus 19:15 , John 7:24
.. accepting bribes or judging with bias: "And not go aside to either part. Thou shalt not accept person nor gifts: for gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and change the words of the just." - Deuteronomy 16:19
.. a respecter of persons in judgement: "16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7 , Deuteronomy 1:17
.. not discerning who they spend company with: "1:1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." - Psalm 1:1 , Psalm 26:4
.. not standing against evildoers: "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? [or] who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?" - Psalm 94:16
.. not warning the wicked of judgement: "33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked [man], thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." - Ezekiel 33:7-9 , Ephesians 5:11
.. hypocritical in their judgements: "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" - Matthew 7:3
.. judging by appearance: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." - John 7:24 , 1 Samuel 16:7
.. not careful or not avoiding certain types of judgement: "7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." - Matthew 7:1-2
.. not judging false teaching: "Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise you." - Titus 2:15
.. not judging immoral acts: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." - Ephesians 5:11 , Ezekiel 33:7-9
.. not examining/judging all things: "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." - 1 Corinthians 2:15-16
So, what is the scriptural viewpoint on how a Christian should use judgement? He is to judge righteously and carefully, without bias(doesn't judge by appearance, without bribery, etc) and to point out errors in lifestyle and philosophy. He is to fear God above man, yet love his neighbor and reprove with patience. A Christian can tell a person, with love, whether their lifestyle or beliefs will lead to Hell. Yet the Final Judgement of any person belongs to God.
