The first thing to do is to put Jesus’ warning into the context in which it was given. In Matthew 7, Jesus said:
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
This is not a warning not to judge but that we will be judged according to the standard we choose. In Romans we are warned not to judge others when we are doing the same things. If we know something is wrong, we become a witness against ourselves if we are committing the same acts. We also don’t have the right to judge someone’s heart, but when warranted, we are to judge someone’s actions and words according to truth. If we are not permitted to judge, it becomes impossible to distinguish between right and wrong. Contrary to common opinion, the Bible commands us to judge.
2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
This is not a warning not to judge but that we will be judged according to the standard we choose. In Romans we are warned not to judge others when we are doing the same things. If we know something is wrong, we become a witness against ourselves if we are committing the same acts. We also don’t have the right to judge someone’s heart, but when warranted, we are to judge someone’s actions and words according to truth. If we are not permitted to judge, it becomes impossible to distinguish between right and wrong. Contrary to common opinion, the Bible commands us to judge.
1 Thessalonians 5 tells us: 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Testing is judging between right and wrong. The devil has successfully removed our ability to measure truth by convincing God’s people that it is wrong to judge. It is not judging that is wrong, it is the standard by which we judge and the motives behind our judgment. Jesus gave the standard for judging. Look at these two passages:
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Testing is judging between right and wrong. The devil has successfully removed our ability to measure truth by convincing God’s people that it is wrong to judge. It is not judging that is wrong, it is the standard by which we judge and the motives behind our judgment. Jesus gave the standard for judging. Look at these two passages:
John 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." ... "Righteous a right relationship with God"
John 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
Judgment is not according to appearance or personal preference, but according to God’s own righteous judgment which was revealed in His word. It is God’s word that judges between right and wrong and we are to test all things by evaluating it against the word of God. The Bible constantly reiterates a foundational truth - God does not change. His word does not change. Anything that disagrees with God’s unchanging word is not true. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will never pass away" (Matthew 24). In Psalms, God tells us that His word is equal to His name: Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
Those who follow and teach God’s word faithfully are with God and those who alter or contradict it are against God. There is no such thing as a new revelation that is contrary to what God has already revealed in His word. We are to judge doctrine and truth righteously by comparing it to Scripture.Look at John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
John 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
Judgment is not according to appearance or personal preference, but according to God’s own righteous judgment which was revealed in His word. It is God’s word that judges between right and wrong and we are to test all things by evaluating it against the word of God. The Bible constantly reiterates a foundational truth - God does not change. His word does not change. Anything that disagrees with God’s unchanging word is not true. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will never pass away" (Matthew 24). In Psalms, God tells us that His word is equal to His name: Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
Those who follow and teach God’s word faithfully are with God and those who alter or contradict it are against God. There is no such thing as a new revelation that is contrary to what God has already revealed in His word. We are to judge doctrine and truth righteously by comparing it to Scripture.Look at John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
According to the truth of scripture, we can determine if we or those who preach and teach are in the love of God. If anyone loves Christ, he or she will keep God’s word. We may not be able to judge someone’s salvation, but we can clearly judge whether or not they are in an abiding relationship with Christ. If someone rejects God’s commands, they do not love God. If someone refutes scripture or teaches a doctrine that contradicts scripture, they do not love God. They may say that they love God, but it is not possible to love God and align ourselves against His word. Some my call that judgmental, but Jesus plainly stated this truth.
If we are commanded to test doctrine in order to determine what is good and evil, how can we think that we are not allowed to judge? Why does the Bible warn us to be on guard and watch out for false teachers if we are not to question them for fear of being called attackers? We are mandated by scripture to judge, identify and stand against false teachers by upholding the truth. Our goal is not to prove others wrong. Our ultimate goal is to bring others to repentance by upholding truth. Ideally we want others to see the truth and respond. Equally important if not more important, our intentions should also be
to keep others from falling into satan’s traps. John 4:24 says, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Without truth, worship and our relationship with God are not possible. If we allow faith to be perverted, we are partakers at the height of injustice. The world around us is lost and dying without Christ. If we allow Christianity to be conformed to the world, who can be saved? We are to be calling the world to get off the sinking ship, not getting into the ship with them. If the church tolerates the lie, who will share the truth? This does not allow us to the judge quickly and by personal opinion. The golden rule prevails, treat and judge others as you would want to be treated.
to keep others from falling into satan’s traps. John 4:24 says, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Without truth, worship and our relationship with God are not possible. If we allow faith to be perverted, we are partakers at the height of injustice. The world around us is lost and dying without Christ. If we allow Christianity to be conformed to the world, who can be saved? We are to be calling the world to get off the sinking ship, not getting into the ship with them. If the church tolerates the lie, who will share the truth? This does not allow us to the judge quickly and by personal opinion. The golden rule prevails, treat and judge others as you would want to be treated.
