Digging Deeper - Judge or Judge Not
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?... You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matt. 7:1-5).
You have an issue with something another person has done, and you offer your critique, only to have the person reply, “Judge not, lest you be judged.” End of story, right? Some may reply, “Well, Jesus says to first take the log out of your own eye, then you can judge.” So, is that the idea, we must judge ourselves first, then we can judge others? This becomes more than a lighthearted thing when we get into topics like homosexuality. A billboard put up by a gay rights group showed the rainbow flag and said, “Judge not.” Again, is that the end of the story?
From other lessons Jesus taught, we know his words in Matthew 7 were not intended to tell us to turn a blind eye to sin. So, how do we handle tough issues of sin and still “judge not”?
In about 120BC Yehoshua ben Perachia gave this rabbinic statement: “Judge each person with the scales weighted in their favor.” It can be applied to the ancient marketplace, where a merchant measures out grain by pouring it into one side of the hanging scale until it swings level with the weighted scale on the other side. If the marketer is a friendly one, he will then heap on a little extra, past the balancing point. You are getting a good deal!. Rexanne and I were shopping recently and we came upon the Bohemian Baker’s booth. We purchased two pastries, paid for them, and she then threw in a third for us to taste, at no cost. Same idea. When it comes to judging, this means you should weigh the deeds of others on the side of generosity, giving them the benefit of the doubt. Jesus has words of a similar nature when he says, “Judge not, and you will not be judged…give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap” (Luke 6:37-38).
This goes along with the idea that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Don’t judge someone until you have the facts, and then do it with grace and care, treating them the way you’d want to be treated in the same circumstances. Isn’t that the golden rule? Our first response needs to be understanding, seeking to gain a perspective of why the wrong action has taken place. I think this came to play when they brought the woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus. They only brought the woman, not the man, and those bringing her had no concern for her circumstances. She was being used, in more ways than one. Jesus knew she was sinning, but he knew the sins of the others gathered there also. He writes in the dust something; we’re not told what. Was he exposing their sins? Whatever it was, they all slowly started walking away. The situation diffused, Jesus turns to the woman and says, “Does no one condemn you (or judge you)?” “No one, Lord” she replies. “Neither do I” Jesus says, “go, and sin no more” (John 8:1-11). Did she? We don’t know, but he graciously pointed her the right way.
“Judge” is “krino” in Greek. This can mean to discern or to condemn. Context plays a role. Jesus tells us not to condemn someone. That is God’s place, but shouldn’t we be discerning? The apostle Paul will say, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside” (I Cor. 5:12-13). Outside of Christ they don’t need our judgment, but once inside the kingdom, we hold each other accountable to honor King Jesus. We can judge (discern) actions, but we can’t know motives and shouldn’t judge (condemn) what we don’t fully understand. “Judge nothing before the appointed time: wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart” (I Cor. 4:5).
My conclusion? We preach and teach the truth of scripture. Meanwhile, we act mercifully toward those outside of Christ, not condemning, but making them aware of where we stand with Jesus as Lord and God’s Word as our authority. Inside of the church, we hold each other accountable in love, but with an expectation of obeying the one we call Lord. In specific situations, we weigh things graciously toward the eternal benefit of the individual.
Cross Point: “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
You have an issue with something another person has done, and you offer your critique, only to have the person reply, “Judge not, lest you be judged.” End of story, right? Some may reply, “Well, Jesus says to first take the log out of your own eye, then you can judge.” So, is that the idea, we must judge ourselves first, then we can judge others? This becomes more than a lighthearted thing when we get into topics like homosexuality. A billboard put up by a gay rights group showed the rainbow flag and said, “Judge not.” Again, is that the end of the story?
From other lessons Jesus taught, we know his words in Matthew 7 were not intended to tell us to turn a blind eye to sin. So, how do we handle tough issues of sin and still “judge not”?
In about 120BC Yehoshua ben Perachia gave this rabbinic statement: “Judge each person with the scales weighted in their favor.” It can be applied to the ancient marketplace, where a merchant measures out grain by pouring it into one side of the hanging scale until it swings level with the weighted scale on the other side. If the marketer is a friendly one, he will then heap on a little extra, past the balancing point. You are getting a good deal!. Rexanne and I were shopping recently and we came upon the Bohemian Baker’s booth. We purchased two pastries, paid for them, and she then threw in a third for us to taste, at no cost. Same idea. When it comes to judging, this means you should weigh the deeds of others on the side of generosity, giving them the benefit of the doubt. Jesus has words of a similar nature when he says, “Judge not, and you will not be judged…give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap” (Luke 6:37-38).
This goes along with the idea that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Don’t judge someone until you have the facts, and then do it with grace and care, treating them the way you’d want to be treated in the same circumstances. Isn’t that the golden rule? Our first response needs to be understanding, seeking to gain a perspective of why the wrong action has taken place. I think this came to play when they brought the woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus. They only brought the woman, not the man, and those bringing her had no concern for her circumstances. She was being used, in more ways than one. Jesus knew she was sinning, but he knew the sins of the others gathered there also. He writes in the dust something; we’re not told what. Was he exposing their sins? Whatever it was, they all slowly started walking away. The situation diffused, Jesus turns to the woman and says, “Does no one condemn you (or judge you)?” “No one, Lord” she replies. “Neither do I” Jesus says, “go, and sin no more” (John 8:1-11). Did she? We don’t know, but he graciously pointed her the right way.
“Judge” is “krino” in Greek. This can mean to discern or to condemn. Context plays a role. Jesus tells us not to condemn someone. That is God’s place, but shouldn’t we be discerning? The apostle Paul will say, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside” (I Cor. 5:12-13). Outside of Christ they don’t need our judgment, but once inside the kingdom, we hold each other accountable to honor King Jesus. We can judge (discern) actions, but we can’t know motives and shouldn’t judge (condemn) what we don’t fully understand. “Judge nothing before the appointed time: wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart” (I Cor. 4:5).
My conclusion? We preach and teach the truth of scripture. Meanwhile, we act mercifully toward those outside of Christ, not condemning, but making them aware of where we stand with Jesus as Lord and God’s Word as our authority. Inside of the church, we hold each other accountable in love, but with an expectation of obeying the one we call Lord. In specific situations, we weigh things graciously toward the eternal benefit of the individual.
Cross Point: “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
Posted in Cross Points