Is It Really Wrong to Judge Others?

Is it really wrong to judge others? Many will answer this question rather emphatically, "Christians should never judge others!"Then they will confidently point to Matthew 7:1-5 as their biblical authority. But, is this what the Lord Jesus meant? Is it really wrong to judge others? Actually, the Lord Jesus taught us the first principle of judgment, which states that we begin judgment with ourselves (Matt. 7:1-6). Christ sought to impress His followers with this grand imperative. You see, the Lord Jesus did not forbid us to judge others at all, nor should His command be taken comprehensively. That is, to mean we should make no judgments at all about people's actions or behavior. Quite to the contrary, careful and informed discernment and spiritual discrimination is an essential element of genuine mature Christian expression. Some will no doubt protest claiming that it is unloving to exercise judgment about another person's sins. However, godly agape-love is not blind at all to our personal sins, nor the sins of others; it is exercised properly with “knowledge” and “all judgment” (Phil. 1:9–10). Biblical love requires the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. It even involves the ability to discern between good, better, and best! The person who believes all that she or he hears, and accepts everyone who claims to be spiritual or committed will experience confusion and great spiritual difficulty (Rom. 16:17-20). God calls us to be decisive about identifying sinful behaviors and the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:13-26). This is expressly clear in the Word of God! But, do not miss the point our Lord Jesus is making; before we judge others, we must first judge ourselves.

The Lord Jesus did not teach that judgments should never be made; Matthew 7:5 clearly speaks of removing the speck from our brother’s eye. To obey Him requires a judgment. Our Lord’s point was that Christians should not be habitual criticizers or critical of a speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye when he or she has a plank in his or her own eye. Such actions are violently hypocritical. Though judgment is sometimes needed, those making the distinctions must first be certain of their own lives and integrity. Our Lord requires that we have our own eyes clean so we can see clearly to actually help other. He never condones condemning others merely for the sake of being right; Christ advocates righteous judgments and a pure life so that we can actually help people rise up out of their sinful behavior patterns to walk in holiness. 

Our Lord requires that we refrain from being judgmental people (Matt. 7:1-6). The word “judge” can mean evaluate or analyze. It also refers to private, judgmental attitudes that tear down others in order to build up oneself. The command “judge not” does not refer to judging in a court of law, nor is it a blanket statement against critical thinking. Believers are to be discerning and we must make certain judgments to comply with the will of our Father. For example, Jesus said to expose false teachers (Matt. 7:15-23) and to admonish others in order to help them (Matt. 18:15). Then the Apostle Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline when a Believer fails to conform to biblical ethics (1Cor 5:1-5). Certainly, judgment is most appropriate when confronting sin (1Cor. 5:12).

As followers of Christ, we should not be critical or condemning in our attitudes toward others. A judgmental, critical spirit differs radically from biblical love. Love demands gracious actions toward another—aiding, assisting, helping, and investing. A critical spirit is usually fixated on ascribing blame with little or no emphasis on loving people to obedience in Christ and healthy change. Our special position with Christ does not give us the latitude to take God’s place as judge. People who carelessly judge others in this flagrant manner will find themselves judged likewise by God. As God will have mercy on the merciful (Matt. 5:7) and forgive those who forgive (Matt. 6:14-15), He will likewise condemn those who condemn (Matt. 7:2b). The way we treat others as Jesus’ followers is the way our Heavenly Father will treat us.

Finally it is most critical for each of us as followers of Jesus Christ to focus on our own spiritual maturation as our first priority. This involves authenticity and transparency with God, ourselves, and then with others. Christ's design for Christian living demands that we be real. He does not want a group of fakes pointing out everyone's faults and failures while we blatantly dismiss our own sinful ways. No, our Lord requires that we take care of number one first, and then we will be in a position to help someone else traverse the Lord's will for them. Staying in the Word of God allowing it to shape our sense of right and wrong--to develop genuine spiritual discernment--is the imperative of the hour. Walking each day in Christian love in all our interactions is our goal, and God will mature us by His grace and wisdom. As a result, we graduate into tools and instruments He can faithfully employ to aid and assist others on their spiritual journeys.