Judge Not

This section of the Sermon on the Mount deals with unlawful judgment (Matthew 7:1–5).  Here is a text that is frequently quoted by those who understand it least. Sadly, many have erred in following the mere sound of words and “Judge not” is often taken unconditionally. It becomes the response of those wholly unwilling to receive the loving rebuke of those who long for another’s greater good. Thus, one must be careful in interpreting and applying the words of this section. To understand this admonition properly, the first duty of kingdom citizens must be to learn and practice righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees (5:20). As previously noted, three terms describe the righteous kingdom condition in the gospel age: unity, purity, and verity. Jesus would have kingdom citizens to weigh all things according to light and truth with understanding and spiritual discernment.

The word translated “judge” means to consider and evaluate the evidence, and form a verdict based on the facts presented. It has a variety of applications in Scripture; for example, Paul addressed the Corinthian believers, warning that participating in pagan practices may leave them guilty of idolatry. Thus, he challenged them, “I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say” (I Cor. 10:15)—form your opinion after hearing me out. Paul invited them to judge his opinion. In Acts 16:15, Lydia invited the apostle and his entourage to stay in her home on the condition that they “judge” or consider her “to be faithful to the Lord.” Lydia invited the apostle to judge her profession of faith by evaluating her public response to Christ. However, in Romans 14:5, to “judge” someone means to despise them in a matter of personal liberty. In this case, the evaluation is forbidden.

With the above in mind, observe what Christ actually condemns. Jesus warned against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees’ righteousness, which was legend. They were quick to condemn the actions of others while ignoring their own greater sins. For example, in Luke 18:9, Jesus “told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt.” The sin of a censorious spirit is that of one who invades the office of the Judge of all the earth. Blind to his own guilt, this hypocrite despised the poor publican. He said in prayer to God, “I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:11). There is a great tendency to self-deception regarding one’s own standing before God. The prideful sense of self-evaluation that concludes one as self-righteous is but a mask for a critical spirit. It is dangerous both to one’s own spiritual life and to that of the whole body, being extremely contagious.

Kingdom righteousness demands unsparing self-examination in light of the truth of Scripture before the throne of grace while utterly rejecting temptation to sit on God’s judgment seat evaluating the failings of others. For this admonition, one must seek the Lord in earnest prayer, asking for the Spirit to search his heart that he may rigorously evaluate the context of his interaction. Let us pray like David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23–24).