Matthew 7:1-2
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
This is a well-known passage but often misunderstood. Many Christians think this means that we shouldn’t judge people. These same Christians use it to argue that if you do judge others, that you yourself will be judged and that’s a bad thing according to them. This is incorrect in both ways.
First, we are to judge all things, Paul said, "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man" (I Cor. 2:15). Is this a contradiction to the words of Jesus? Not at all. So what did Yeshua mean then? Yeshua was telling us not to judge wrongly or incorrectly. In other words, be careful in your judgments. He wasn’t telling us to shirk our judging abilities, that would be laziness. He wants us to judge properly and to be sure we know what we’re talking about. Those who say, “Don’t judge anyone” do not want the responsibility of making correct judgments. And it IS a lot of responsibility. You have to be sure that you are right about them. You better have all your facts straight and you better have done some very serious self-examination of your own motives. If you’re not right, then you can really hurt that person and that will be on your head. If you’re spiritual, G-d will help you in your judgments. If you’re not spiritual, it’s better if you don’t judge anyone.
“Oh but Jesus meant that we aren’t supposed to judge our fellow Christians”. Oh really? Then why did He tell us to go first to the brother who had sinned in private, and then go to him before two or three witnesses if he didn’t listen, then on to the Church if he persisted? That’s a pretty serious judgment there. Here’s the verse…
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Cf. 1 Cor. 5:4-5)
This is about a Christian, notice it says “brother” in the first sentence. Treat him as a gentile. That means you excommunicate him. Now that’s judgment! Just be sure you’re in the right. Lots of prayer will help you know.
You MUST make judgments. We make judgments everyday. Where to live, where to go who to see. We have to make judgments on people as well. If a sex offender moves in next door to me, I better make some judgments on his character and quick! We’re not talking about judging ones sin either, we’re judging him/her as a person and we should, you’re a fool if you don’t.
And about being judged yourself… if you’re a Christian, that should be a good thing! David said, “Judge me, oh L-rd.” Psalms 7:8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
He wanted to be judged by G-d, because he knew he was in the right. He had made righteous judgments and judgments lined with integrity. Those are the kind of judgments we all should practice. I want to be judged by G-d! If you don’t want to be judged, then there’s something wrong in your walk with G-d. There’s no fear in G-d’s judgment if you’re sin free.
“Oh you shouldn’t judge, oh you shouldn’t judge”. Don’t be ignorant, you’re not only being a fool yourself, but you’re making the Church look foolish as well and that prevents smart people from getting Saved. Don’t be a part of the problem. Go make good, strong and sound judgments and remember, those who go around telling other Christians not to judge, they themselves are not "spiritual". Either that or they are just deceived. That’s my judgment on them.
Rabbi Stanley
