"Judge not, lest you be judged." These words are some of the most well known, misunderstood, and misapplied words Jesus ever spoke. What did Jesus mean in this prohibition against judging? Is he advocating a "mind your own business" policy for his disciples? Could he possibly be teaching them to never make judgments about another person? Are we, as one has asked, "to suspend our critical faculties in relation to other people, to turn a blind eye to their faults (pretending not to notice them), to avoid all criticism and to refuse to discern between truth and error, goodness and evil?"
None of these suggestions fits the context of Jesus' words. In the same chapter he demands that judgments be made concerning both those within and outside of the Christian community (Matthew 7:5,6,15). Yet when Christians oppose practices the bible clearly condemns (like abortion, adultery, or
homosexuality), it is amazing to notice how quickly some people appeal to Jesus' words, "Judge not, lest you be judged." Another more subtle way peoplemisuse this saying is to excuse personal responsibility for making judgments. "Who am I to judge?" they ask, "After all, Jesus did say, 'Judge not.'"
Jesus' intention is not to excuse us from all moral judgments, or to promote an individualistic attitude. Our modern society constantly conditions us to resist strong convictions about right and wrong. Jesus, however held to such convictions and taught them with authority. "It is all too easy," writes the late N.T. scholar F.F. Bruce, "to believe in a Jesus who is largely a construction of our own imagination-an inoffensive person whom no one would really trouble to crucify. But the Jesus we meet in the Gospels, far from being an inoffensive person, gave offense right and left. Even his loyal followers found him, at times, thoroughly disconcerting. Jesus did not go about mouthing pious platitudes; had he done so, he would not have made as many enemies as he did."
What kind of judging does Jesus condemn? A few verses further in the chapter it becomes clear: hypocritical judging (Matthew 7:5). Jesus insists that we must remove the log from our own eye before we are prepared to notice and remove the speck from our brother's eye. He encourages such involvement in another's life, but only after proper self-examination. On another occasion Jesus said, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24).
Scripture reveals the moral standards God expects us to follow. To align with God on a particular moral judgment is not to make oneself judge, but to honor the standard of the Judge. I agree with the one who wrote that, "the capacity of judging, of forming an estimate and opinion, is one of our most valuable faculties and the right use of it one of our most important duties."
Admittedly, Jesus' followers have not always practiced the right use of their critical faculties. When we hold other people to a tight moral standard while making plenty of allowances for ourselves, we engage in unlawful judging. When we "play God" by trying to enforce standards not clearly established in scripture we stand in danger of being judged by God (Matthew 7:2). Some Christians, like the Pharisees Jesus confronted, view their traditions as equal with God's commands and wrongly judge the godliness of others based on them. This happens, for example, when people make applications from the general commands of God (such as his demand for non-conformity to the world and holiness of life), and then elevate their applications to command status.
To avoid unlawful judging it is helpful to recognize three essential categories for setting Christian standards of right and wrong. First, some behavior is clearly commanded. Secondly, other things are clearly forbidden. Finally, certain matters are permitted or left to free and responsible judgment according to the best of our knowledge and conscience.
Simply stated, when a behavior or custom is not addressed in scripture by a specific moral absolute either commanding or forbidding it, that behavior orcustom belongs to a category of freedom. Concerning matters of freedom, as one has written "Christians have not always responded to their differences with an overabundance of charity or wisdom." When Christians condemn others in areas not specifically addressed by scripture, they become guilty of the unlawful judging forbidden by Jesus. However, to agree with God's clearly stated standards does not constitute unlawful judging--unless, of course, it involves hypocrisy.
Steven W. Cornell is the senior pastor of the Millersville Bible Church in ^M Pennsylvania and has been a regular contributor for the past year. You can contact Steve by E-mail at stevembc@lancnews.infi.net.