Matthew 7:1: “Judge not, that ye may not be judged.” Darby Bible
This is probably the most well known of all the verses in the Bible. Whenever someone points out a sin that someone is doing, you hear this verse as a response. What does this verse really say? The Greek word for “judge” is ‘krino” (pronounced kree’ no) which means to sit as judge or ruler over. This can also be seen as condemnatory. If you judge others you will be judged by others as well as face the Supreme Judge in the future.
Does this mean we are not to confront sin? What did Jesus say?
Matthew 18:15-17: “But if thy brother sin against thee, go, reprove him between thee and him alone. If he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he do not hear thee, take with thee one or two besides, that every matter may stand upon the word of two witnesses or of three. But if he will not listen to them, tell it to the assembly; and if also he will not listen to the assembly, let him be to thee as one of the nations and a tax-gatherer.” Darby Bible
So Jesus says to go to the person who has sinned against you privately at first and eventually to the church to try to change his ways if you need to go that far. If he doesn’t change his ways, you are not to have anything to do with him. That is what it means to treat him as from the other nations or as a tax collector.
What does Paul have to say about judging? The following passage is from a chapter where he talks about people believing one day is more sacred than another and that some foods are still wrong to eat:
Romans 14:10: “But thou, why judgest thou thy brother? Or again, thou, why dost thou make little of thy brother? For we shall all be placed before the judgment-seat of God.” Darby Bible
We all have to be under our own convictions about things like this. We are not to tell others what to think in these matters, that is up to God. He is the only one we have to give an answer to.
Yet Paul does tell us:
Galatians 6:1-4: “Brethren, if even a man be taken in some fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of the Christ. For if any man reputes himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself; but let each prove his own work, and then he will have his boast in what belongs to himself alone, and not in what belongs to another.” Darby Bible
Paul does tell us there are things we do have to look out for in others that call themselves Christians:
1 Corinthians 5:11-13: “but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat. For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.” ASV
We are to confront others about sin but we must do it in love that they may see their offense and repent. Then they can rejoin the group of believers. When we judge we lord ourselves over others but we are to consider ourselves not to be higher than those but as people who also sin. It all boils down to love and humility.
By Dean Masters
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