A Study on Judging

What does the Bible say about judging?

What does the Bible teach us about judging?

The Bible always supersedes all popular notions of what the world would like to offer as enlightenment...therefore, let us go straight to the source: The word of God that he has preserved for us.  

Like many words in the Bible there are words that are positive and negative depending on the context of the passage. When the word or idea of judging is brought up many of us Christians think of the passage in Matthew 7 "judge not that you be not judged" While this passage from Jesus’ sermon on the mount seems to have a negative connotation of judging, it is really just more information of how we should apply it to the larger principle of “judging”.  Many heresies and false doctrines come from not comparing Bible with Bible; in Isaiah 28:9,10 the Bible teaches that to attain knowledge and understanding of scripture we must place first our trust in God's Word then by placing precept upon precept, line upon line; here a little and there a little. Also 1 Timothy 2:15 says "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed , rightly dividing the word of truth." Here notice also the connotation is that the truth can be taken out of context and be wrongly divided.

So now let’s see what the multitude of the Bible has to say about judging.

(Matthew 7:1)  Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Sounds pretty straight to the point “Judge not” these are the words of Jesus maybe you’re thinking…no need to examine this question any further. Let’s look further…

(Luke 6:37)  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

There he’s said it “Judge not” once again.

We see that following are the words “that ye be not judged” also “and ye shall not be judged” in Luke. This is really looking like we are not to judge; or is it?

We’ll come back to these verses but let’s move on to look at some others.

(1 Corinthians 6:1)  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

(1 Corinthians 6:2)  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

(1 Corinthians 6:3)  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

(1 Corinthians 6:4)  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

(1 Corinthians 6:5)  I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

After reading this passage in 1 Corinthians one might think that this is a contradiction to the Matthew and Luke verses. Here it says that we will judge the world and the angels which are big matters so we should be able to judge smaller matters that pertain to this life right now like matters between the bretheren…WOW!! For me this is getting exciting, sounds here like judging is something important. Let us continue…

(Proverbs 31:4)  It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

(Proverbs 31:5)  Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Here we see king Solomon’s mother giving her son warning (a truth) that it is not for kings to drink [fermented] wine (I have and will post a future study on “wine”) lest he compromise his sobriety and not be able to judge righteously. You may ask; how does that apply to me? In Revelation we read in two places that we as born again believers have been made kings and priests.

Revelation 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

So then if kings in the Old Testament made judgments and God has made us kings, then we should also be prepared to make judgments. We also see in the following verses that priests were set also for judgment…

(2 Chronicles 19:8)  Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.

Let’s see where the Bible leads J

(John 7:24)  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

This reminds me of Lady justice with the scales in one hand, The Sword in the other and most interesting; a blind fold over her eyes. This nation’s founding fathers seemed to understand this biblical principle…that all men are created equal in the eyes of God and to uphold the God given rights of us as citizens we must judge all equal and with righteous judgment with the standard of God’s unchanging Word.

(2 Chronicles 19:6)  And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.

(2 Chronicles 19:7)  Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

Here in 2 Chronicles we see that when judging we are not judging for mans sake but for the LORD, this emphasizes that judging is serious business and not to be taken lightly “Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you” and once again verse 7 says we’re not to judge with respect of persons nor for our personal benefit “taking of gifts”.

(Romans 13:1)  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

(Romans 13:2)  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

(Romans 13:3)  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

(Romans 13:4)  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Here God has ordained rulers to judge in verse 4, “for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” But the important thing I would like to point out is that it says “he is a minister of God to thee for good” this is an important principle so let us look further at verses that reinforce this principle.

Earlier we read that we need to always be sober… (Proverbs 31:5)  Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

If judging is negative why would we want to pick on the afflicted and pile on insult to injury by putting the afflicted under “judgment”?

It isn’t that they are being negatively “judged” but that they have a matter with another that they are in need of righteous judgment to be served where they were possibly being taken advantage of for being poor, widowed or fatherless etc. therefore being afflicted unrighteously but now ministered unto with righteous judgment “for good”.

(Psalms 10:17)  LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

(Psalms 10:18)  To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

In the story of Solomon judging the two harlots that claimed the same baby as their own Solomon doesn’t say to them that they have no right to be heard because they both are harlots but instead the king hears their case becuase judgement demands truth, which is justice so that equity can enter in. We see this principle illistrated in Isaiah 59:14

And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

So what was Jesus trying to communicate in Matthew 7 and Luke 6? He was communicating that God is our Just Judge, King and High Priest and that by removing the beam of hypocrisy we will benefit ourselves aswell as others by judging with His righteousness so that on the positive end we can reap what is coming to us as said in...

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

I'd like to add that there is someone (Satan) that is constantly going to direct you in both directions from righteous judgement and that is where we must be careful to heed Galatians 6:1 

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

You see, Satan also can use God's Justice to plead his case like he did with Peter in...

Luke 22:31 

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: