by Jason Patrick
Hilburn
Today
there is a widespread belief that no person is allowed to question or “condemn”
the actions or teachings of anyone else. Perhaps you have heard someone say,
“Who are you to judge?,” or “You can’t judge me!”. Does the Bible teach that it is always wrong
to judge, or has the Bible been mishandled to lead people to the wrong
conclusion on this subject?
First of all, what exactly does it mean to
“judge”? Some assume that to judge always means to condemn, but to judge simply means "to discern;
to distinguish; to consider accurately for the purpose of forming an opinion or
conclusion" (Webster). To condemn is "to determine or judge
to be wrong, or guilty; to disallow; to disapprove" (Webster). As will be shown, the Bible teaches us in
many passages that we must discern whether the actions and teachings of both
ourselves and others are right or wrong. The purpose of this “discernment” is
to save ourselves and others, and it is absolutely commanded and necessary. The
reader is encouraged to take a Bible and read the passages referenced in this
article to gain a better understanding of God’s will on this subject.
Someone
may ask, “Didn’t Jesus say, ‘Judge not’ in Matthew 7:1?” Yes, He
did, but Jesus was giving a warning to hypocrites (“Thou hypocrite...,”
7:5; cf. Rom. 2:21-23). The context of Matthew 6 and 7 reveals that Jesus was
simply teaching us to "judge not" in a hypocritical way. Remember
that Matthew 7 is a continuation of what Jesus had been discussing in chapter
6—this is all from the Sermon on the Mount. Please notice what Jesus taught:
1.
DO NOT GIVE ALMS (as the hypocrites do) Mt. 6:2.
2.
DO NOT PRAY (as the hypocrites do) Mt. 6:5.
3.
DO NOT FAST (as the hypocrites do) Mt. 6:16.
4.
DO NOT JUDGE (as the hypocrites do) Mt. 7:1-5.
The truth is that Jesus did not forbid us to judge
any more than He forbade us to pray! In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus was speaking as if
He were directly addressing a hypocrite. He warns the hypocrite to get his life
right and then help others get their lives right (7:5; cf. Gal. 6:1).
Jesus
actually commands us to judge! In Matthew 7, Jesus went on to say
that after you get your life right, you then can help your brother get his life
right: “…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” (Mt. 7:5; cf.
Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20). Jesus also teaches in the very next verse that we
must determine who are “dogs” and “swine” (7:6). In the same
sermon and chapter, Jesus said that we will be able to judge (know, discern)
false prophets “by their fruits” (7:15-20; cf. 12:33; Lk. 6:43-45; 1 Jn.
4:1; Rev. 2:2). The phrase "judge not" is also found in John
7:24: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous
judgment.” Judging righteous judgment means:
1. "Judge
not" hypocritically (Mt. 7:1-5).
2. "Judge
not" with prejudice or without knowing the facts (1 Sam. 1:13-16; Jn.
7:24).
3. "Judge
not" in matters of opinion or scruples (Rom. 14).
4. Judge
according to the Truth of God’s Word (Isa. 8:20; Acts 17:11; 1 Thess. 5:21;
Heb. 5:12-14).
If
it is always sinful to judge, then here are some questions to consider:
1. Did Jesus
teach us to sin? “...judge righteous judgment” (Jn. 7:24).
2. Why did
Jesus commend the church at Ephesus for determining that some religious people claiming
to be Christians were “liars”? (Rev. 2:2).
3. How can we
determine who the “dogs” and “swine” are (as Jesus commanded), if
we are not allowed to judge people by their fruits? (Mt. 7:6, 15-20; Lk.
6:43-45).
4. Should we
be concerned about a brother who has “ought
against” us, if nobody has a right to judge us?
a. Jesus
said, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest
that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the
altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and
offer thy gift” (Mt. 5:23-24).
b. Surely
many today would go on and worship God without being reconciled to their
brethren, stubbornly claiming that nobody has a right to judge them!
5. Did the
apostle John teach us to sin? “...try the spirits whether they are of
God...” (1 Jn. 4:1).
6. Was it
wrong for John to say to Herod, “It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife”? (Mark 6:18).
Should John have “minded his own business”? (cf. Mt. 11:11).
7. Were the
Bereans in sin for judging Paul’s teachings by the Scriptures? (Acts 17:11).
8. Some say
we cannot judge others regarding doctrinal matters, so were Aquila and Priscilla
wrong to judge Apollos regarding baptism? (Acts 18:24ff).
9. Why is it
acceptable among many “Bible believers” to speak out against immoral sins, but
“taboo” to speak out against many blatant doctrinal errors, which are just as
sinful? (cf. 2 Tim. 2:17-18; Rom. 16:17; Gal. 1:6-9; 5:4).
10. Was Paul
wrong to judge Hymenaeus and Philetus regarding a doctrinal matter? (2 Tim.
2:17-18).
11. Was Paul
in sin for confronting Peter and judging that he was “to be blamed”? (Gal.
2:11ff).
12. Was Paul
wrong to “judge” that the fornicating brother at Corinth should have fellowship
withdrawn from him by the church? (1 Cor. 5:3).
13. Why did
Paul rebuke the Corinthians for not judging their brethren? (1 Cor. 5:2, 6, 12;
6:1-5).
14. Why did
Paul say that Christians should all be of the same mind and judgment? (1 Cor.
1:10).
15. If Lydia
was “judged…to be faithful” by Paul, did Paul sin in so doing? (Acts 16:15).
16. Why is it
that people who condemn judging do not mind when others judge them to be
right? Why do they only have a problem
when someone judges them to be wrong?
17. How can we
determine who is teaching Truth and who is teaching error? (Isa. 8:20; Mt.
7:15-16, 19-20; 12:33; Heb. 5:14; 1 Thess. 5:21; Titus 1:9-11; 2:1; 1 Jn. 4:1;
Rev. 2:2).
18. Why are
there commands in the Bible to “reprove” and “rebuke” others?
(Lk. 17:3; 1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:9-11, 13; 2:15; Eph. 5:11, etc.).
19. How can we
ever “mark” and “avoid” false teachers as we have been commanded
to do? (Rom. 16:17; cf. Eph. 5:11; 2 Cor. 6:14-17; Rev. 2:2; 2:6; 2:15; 2:20).
20. How can we
ever obey the command to “restore” an erring brother without fear of
“judging” him? (Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20).
21. How can
the process of church discipline that the Lord commanded even begin to be
carried out? (Mt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15).
22. How can we
seek and save the lost if we cannot determine who is lost?
23. Would a
person be guilty of “sinfully judging” if he said that only people who are “in Christ” will be going
to Heaven? (Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12; Mark 8:38).
a. After all,
such a statement would “condemn” everyone outside of Christ, and we are not
allowed to do that if we are not allowed to judge others…Has it come to the
point in our “politically correct” culture that proclaimed “Bible believers” will
not even say that people who reject Christ will go to hell? (Mk. 8:38).
b. Let us
speak as the Bible speaks, “warning every man” (1 Pet. 4:11; Col. 1:28).
24. If a
person says we are wrong to judge others, is he not being hypocritical? Has he not just committed the same “sin” he
is condemning?
Although
Christ will be our Final Judge, He has commanded us to make judgments
(discerning right or wrong) in this life based on the authority of His Word.
This is for the purpose of saving ourselves and others. This entire false idea
that one person cannot judge another cripples and paralyzes efforts commanded
by God to help others get to Heaven. For example, if those in the Lord’s
church believe they cannot judge others, it is highly unlikely that they
will go to those in error to help them obey the Truth and get to Heaven (Jn.
8:31-32; Mt. 28:18-20). If those outside of the church believe nobody is
allowed to judge, they will not allow those who know the Truth to teach them
the Truth in a loving way. They will immediately play the “no judging” card and
refuse to listen. Understanding all of this, and realizing how widespread the
doctrine of “no judging” is, it is surely one of Satan’s most powerful devices!
Paul wrote, “Lest Satan should get an
advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11). Do
not fall for this lie of Satan—the truth is that we must make judgments to save
others and ourselves!
Jason's Bio: Jason Hilburn is a native of Brantley, Alabama. Jason was converted to Christ in April of 1997. Jason received a Bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Science in 1997 from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama. He worked as a Network Administrator from 1997 until 2003, when he decided to attend the Memphis School of Preaching. While at MSOP, Jason worked with the Independence church of Christ in Independence, Mississippi. Since graduation he has preached for congregations in Alabama and Mississippi. Jason and his family moved to Nesbit to work with us in August of 2008. Jason has experience in the field of television evangelism, having worked with Spiritual Sword Media and also assisted with Gospel Broadcasting Network recordings, and has appeared on several sessions of the television program A Bible Answer. He is the author of Should We Pray to Jesus? and Defending Divine Doctrine Pertaining to Prayer. He is also the book editor and lectureship director of the annual Standing in the Gap Lectureship. Jason teaches a weekly Bible class to people overseas, and he is also a part-
LINKS:
http://www.thebibledomain.com
http://nesbitchurchofchrist.org
http://www.artbyamandahilburn.com
Jason's Bio: Jason Hilburn is a native of Brantley, Alabama. Jason was converted to Christ in April of 1997. Jason received a Bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Science in 1997 from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama. He worked as a Network Administrator from 1997 until 2003, when he decided to attend the Memphis School of Preaching. While at MSOP, Jason worked with the Independence church of Christ in Independence, Mississippi. Since graduation he has preached for congregations in Alabama and Mississippi. Jason and his family moved to Nesbit to work with us in August of 2008. Jason has experience in the field of television evangelism, having worked with Spiritual Sword Media and also assisted with Gospel Broadcasting Network recordings, and has appeared on several sessions of the television program A Bible Answer. He is the author of Should We Pray to Jesus? and Defending Divine Doctrine Pertaining to Prayer. He is also the book editor and lectureship director of the annual Standing in the Gap Lectureship. Jason teaches a weekly Bible class to people overseas, and he is also a part-
LINKS:
http://www.thebibledomain.com
http://nesbitchurchofchrist.org
http://www.artbyamandahilburn.com
