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By Femi Aribisala
Christians are full of contradictions. We judge believers and unbelievers. We judge situations and circumstances. Sometimes we even judge God, our Lord and Creator. Nevertheless, we quote Jesus: “Judge not, lest you be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7: 1-2).
When we are criticized, we often respond by saying, “Don’t judge me. But believers are called to judge. Indeed, many scriptures in the Bible ask us to do so. An entire book in the Bible details the activities of judges, appointed by God Himself to promote His righteousness.
Paul said, “He who is spiritual judges all things. (1 Corinthians 2:15). He further said, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest things? Don’t you know that we will judge the angels? How much more, of the things that belong to this life? (1 Corinthians 6: 2-3).
Jesus himself asks us to judge. He said, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the southerly wind blows, you say, “It’s going to be hot,” and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you do not know how to interpret this present tense? Why don’t you judge for yourself what is right? ” (Luke 12: 54-57).
Echoing Jesus, the author of the Hebrews said, “Someone who lives on milk is still a child and does not know how to do what is right. Solid food is intended for those who are mature, who, through training, have the ability to recognize the difference between good and bad. (Hebrews 5: 13-14).
Fair judgment
The scriptures are used to understand the scriptures. So although Jesus said we should not judge in Matthew 7, He said we should judge in Luke 12. It is then up to us to determine exactly what He means because Jesus is not contradicting himself. But He said, “By the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word can be established.” ” (Matthew 18:16).
Does Jesus want us to judge or not? Yes he does.
In the same Matthew 7 where He says: “Do not judge”, He also says: “Do not give what is holy to dogs; nor throw your pearls before the pigs. (Matthew 7: 6). We cannot identify “dogs” without judging. We also cannot determine “pork” without judgment.
Jesus goes on to say, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7: 15-16). If we are to identify false prophets by their fruits, we can only judge them.
Jesus’ concern becomes evident when he says, “Judge not by appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24). This shows that Jesus wants us to judge, but we must judge righteously. The law of Moses says, “With righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.” ” Leviticus 19:16).
Righteous judgment means not to judge according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. (John 8:15). This means that we judge the fruit and not the motive. We don’t have the ability to judge other people’s hearts or their intentions. Only God can read the heart and discern the motives of men. Therefore, we should not arrogate to ourselves the judgment that only God can pass.
Fair judgment also means not being respectful of people. Accordingly, James cautions: “Do not keep the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if a man should come into your congregation with golden rings, dressed in fine clothes, and if a poor man should also come in dirty clothes, and you be careful of him who wears the fine clothes. and say to him, “Sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” haven’t you been partial to between you and have become judges with bad thoughts? (James 2: 1-4).
Hypocritical judgment
In Matthew 7, Jesus is particularly concerned with hypocritical judgment. His message is that we should not judge others for what we are guilty of. Whenever we hypocritically criticize someone, we are condemning ourselves. God must not locate in us the evil that we see in others.
It was the predicament of the scribes and Pharisees who brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, asking him why she should not be stoned according to the law of Moses. Jesus said to them, “Whoever is without sin among you, let him first throw a stone at him. ” (John 8: 7). Knowing that they were also sinners, they quickly retreated one by one.
Jesus then asked the woman, “’Where are your accusers? Nobody condemned you? She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more. ‘” (John 8: 10-11).
Those who judge hypocritically are often hiding something about themselves. Their criticism of others becomes an elaborate pattern designed to distract others from our faults. Their thought is that no one would suspect that the man who preaches that people should not steal is actually stealing from other blind people.
Indeed, we often hate the things we are guilty of the most. And so, we identify our faults in others to prevent them from criticizing us, and to distract them from seeing our shortcomings. But God cannot be distracted. He knows where we live.
“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judges, for in whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that God’s judgment is according to the truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, man, you who judge those who practice such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? (Romans 2: 1-3).
Spiritual proportionality
One of the principles of the kingdom of God is that of spiritual proportionality. This is repeated several times in the Bible. Jesus said, “With whatever measure you use, it will be measured to you. ” (Matthew 7: 2). “He who leads in captivity will go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. (Revelation 13:10). “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed. ” (Genesis 9: 6).
Therefore, righteous judgment must be without condemnation. Those who believe in Jesus will not be condemned at the last day. Jesus gives us this assurance: “Whoever listens to my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and does not come to judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24).
Paul also states: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8: 1).
If there is no condemnation for us, then we must not condemn others, otherwise, we lose our exemption. Jesus said, “Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. ” (Luke 6:37).
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