Don't Judge Others...Or Should You?
Matthew 7:1, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged" is one of the most misunderstood and quoted used passages of Scripture by Christians and non-Christians alike.
How many of us have either been told or have even said "Don't judge!" But what does that mean? For total perspective I encourage you to read the verses surrounding Matthew 7:1 to gain proper context. And for the sake of this conciseness of this blog, let me offer this insight.
The term "judge" can mean "to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose." It can also be to the extreme as to condemn to hell. When Jesus said "Do not judge so that you will not be judged", He was not saying to turn aside healthy discernment.
As John MacArthur states, "As the context reveals, this doe snot prohibit all types of judging (v. 16). There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise with careful discernment (John 7:24). Censorious, hypocritical, self-righteous, or other kinds of unfair judgments are forbidden; but in order to fulfill the commandments that follow, ti is necessary to discern dogs and swine (Matt 7:6) from one's own brethren (vv. 3-5).
Jesus was saying we are to avoid becoming judgmental or in a state of constant criticism for the small mistakes in life. It was in part to stop people from calling out others in sins in which the accuser was engaged in. This does not mean that as believers we are not to confront believers in the act of sin according to the Bible (Galatians 6:1).
If we are to lead first a Christian life or at least a morally and ethically pleasing life, we must call out the choices which infringe on God's law and the moral code, which lies in each of us.
The term "judge" can mean "to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose." It can also be to the extreme as to condemn to hell. When Jesus said "Do not judge so that you will not be judged", He was not saying to turn aside healthy discernment.
As John MacArthur states, "As the context reveals, this doe snot prohibit all types of judging (v. 16). There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise with careful discernment (John 7:24). Censorious, hypocritical, self-righteous, or other kinds of unfair judgments are forbidden; but in order to fulfill the commandments that follow, ti is necessary to discern dogs and swine (Matt 7:6) from one's own brethren (vv. 3-5).
Jesus was saying we are to avoid becoming judgmental or in a state of constant criticism for the small mistakes in life. It was in part to stop people from calling out others in sins in which the accuser was engaged in. This does not mean that as believers we are not to confront believers in the act of sin according to the Bible (Galatians 6:1).
If we are to lead first a Christian life or at least a morally and ethically pleasing life, we must call out the choices which infringe on God's law and the moral code, which lies in each of us.
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