February 21, 2010
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Judging others
Here are five Bible passages that discuss the issue of judging.
Matthew 7
1"Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
2"For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4"Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
5"You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.Galatians 6
1Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.1 Corinthians 4
1Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
3But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.
4For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.
5Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.Romans 14
4Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
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10But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
11For it is written,
"AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."
12So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.James 2
11Do not speak against one another, brethren He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.
12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
How do these passages fit with passages like:
3 John 1:9
I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.Galatians 2
11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
13The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
14But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?and 1 Corinthians 5
1It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife.
2You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
3For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
4In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
7Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
8Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;
10I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
11But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one.
12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
13But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
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Comments (2)
The first group of passages speaks about individuals judging one another:
- Matt 7:1-5 deals with brother-to-brother judgment. Before engaging in any such judgment one must be very sure he is not a hypocrite with a “log” of sin in his own eye.
- Gal 6:1 Rather than judging, this passage deals more with restoring someone who has been caught sinning. Paul notes, however, that any of us can easily fall into sin, so we should exercise a “spirit of gentleness”, which certainly includes a non-critical, non-judgmental spirit.
- 1 Cor 4:1-5 the context is comparing one Christian worker with another. Paul warns not to judge prematurely, but to wait until Christ’s return because of our limited knowledge of hidden things and the motives of men’s hearts.
- Rom 14:4,10-13 deals with brother-to-brother judgment. The emphasis is on not judging others in their service to God, since He is their master and only He can judge the quality of their service.
- James 2:11-12 is also about brother-to-brother judgment. James warns that someone who judges his brother puts himself in the position of judging the law rather than being a doer of it. He also is usurping God’s place, who is the only Lawgiver and Judge.
The second group of passages addresses church leaders exercising their responsibility to guard the church against sin and error:
- 3 John 1:9 John warns the church against a man who is selfishly ambitious and rejects apostolic teaching.
- Gal 2:11-14 Paul rebukes Peter for his fear of the “party of the circumcision” who claimed that all Christians had to be circumcised. This error was a huge doctrinal problem for the first century church.
- 1 Cor 5:1-13 Paul insisted that the church exercise discipline towards a member living openly in flagrant sin.
A similar passage is found in Paul’s warning and instruction to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:28-31): Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
This type of judgment is also called “rebuking”:
1 Tim 5:20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.
2 Tim 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Titus 1:13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith
Titus 2:15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
@pkduet - Good thoughts - thanks! I agree with your comments on the first five, and thanks for the extra references at the end. 3 John 1:9 is difficult because the author seems to be judging the person's heart motives ("loves to be first"), not just outward actions... which seems to be what we're taught not to do in the other passages. All the other passages are clear though.
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