Judge Not

It’s amazing how often people spit out the words “Judge not,” under the context of one telling another about their unrighteous deeds. Have you ever heard others say, “don’t judge,” when the words spoken came directly from the Bible? When Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again,” it was clearly explained. Whenever judgement takes place, be sure that you understand that those same standards will be applied back to you. In living by the commands of Christ, that is fine. You can share with someone that sex before marriage is wrong. You can share that being unequally yoked is immoral. This is not judging, this is living by the Word of God.

The judging comes in when a person draw conclusions about another based upon their own set of standards in selfishness, conceit, or pride. God provided a perfect example in James 2:1-4, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

So, explaining to someone the way of salvation and the fruits of the Spirit is not judging, but partiality is.

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment,” James 2:5-13, KJV.