Judge Not Scripture Purposely Misconstrued?

[chicacanella]

I had something that has been on my heart lately and I wanted to talk about this scripture:

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. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Do you find it ironic that atheists will even quote this scripture?

I also find that many people who quote the scriptue don't do so in context or full gist and usually only say, "Judge not lest ye be judge." So, I wanted to post a good article so we can look at more indepthly at what Jesus was talking about.

The article will be in the next post.

 

[chicacanella]

This is the verse so many use to try to shame Christians for discerning poor behavior, ethics, morals, and values: the "judge not lest ye be judged" verse. So many times people, mostly teens have emailed us saying "judge not lest you be judged" regarding our analysis reports which reveal to their parents the content of movies. Using only Matt 7:1 is entirely incomplete. This verse is not speaking to not judging at all -- it is speaking to not judging unfairly or any other cheap and selfish way. Read the rest of the story ...

Matt 7:2-5 "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged [if we judge with an evil heart or dark intent, His judgment of us will reflect it; if we judge nobly with honesty and justice, His judgment of us will reflect that, too], and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you [if we use extremes or exaggerations or other ignoble means, our judgment will reflect it and judging with fairness and compassion will garner likewise in His judgment of us]. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye [point out his sins, "minor" in Jesus' example here] and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye [our own sins, even and especially those we will not admit, magnified by our selective blindness]? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' [tell him of his "minor" sins] when all the time there is a plank in your own eye [that there are greater or the same sins in our own lives which we do nothing about or think we are above]? You hypocrite* [pointing out the sins of others while by pretense thinking of ourselves as above sin], first take the plank out of your own eye [sincerely ask the Lord for forgiveness and learn and live the Truth and Light by His Word], and then you will see clearly [be in a righteous position] to remove the speck from your brother's eye [to judge and to help him out of his bondage to sin]." At Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan, Jesus was talking to the multitudes gathered there after hearing of His message and of His healings to beseech them to not become like the pharisees and hypocrites who think they are above sin.

* Jesus' use of "hypocrite" in this verse is "hupokrites" {hoop-ok-ree-tace'} meaning an actor, stage player, a dissembler, pretender.

And, as a FEW examples of His desire for us to judge,


1Cor. 6:2-3 Do you not know that the saints [the saved; Christians] will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
Prov. 3:21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Jer. 22:3 Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness...
Phil. 1:10 so that you may be able to discern [judge] what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ...
Phil. 1:7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you [judge you]...

Matt 7:1 seems to support the allusion that we are not to judge at all if we use small-vision tactics by focusing on only that small piece of the total of what Jesus was saying.

Look at John 7:24. There, Jesus tells us to judge, but to do so righteously. Righteously means to use the Truth of the Word to discern sins and not by appearances only. In 1Cor. 6:2-3 Jesus authorizes us to judge. Judge we must else we could not discern good from bad, proper from improper, righteousness from evil. But judge behavior, not the individual; the deed not the doer; the choice not the chooser. The individual/doer/chooser is accountable for his/her deed/choice, but judge the deed/choice in your judgment. Jesus could see a king in a shepherd boy. And an Apostle in a murderer. So while we must judge one's behavior we must we try to nurture the goodness in an individual: to separate the deed from the doer.
And to continue, Matt 7:6 says. "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs (the KJV says "swine"). If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." How are we going to know as undesirable the behaviors of "dogs" and "swine" if we do not judge?

Yes, we do have the right and the authority to judge the behavior of others as long as we honor and obey His Word in doing so. That Jesus is the only one who can judge is speaking to judging whether someone is or is not saved. Neither you nor I nor anyone else who ever draws a breath (except Jesus) has the authority to say whether another has or has not been saved. Only Jesus can make that judgment since only He can give Salvation. Nor may we who discern poor behavior based on His Word think of ourselves as "better than" the one whose behavior we judge as poor.

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

This is another counterfeiting of the Scriptures many have tried to use to shame us for what we do in his name. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" is not speaking to judging. Let me explain.

Using the KJV this time, in John 8:1 - 11 scribes and Pharisees had caught a woman in the act of adultery (the woman commonly referred to as the prostitute) and told Jesus who was teaching in the temple that the Mosaic Law required she be stoned to death. Trying to make an opportunity of this to trick Jesus that they might accuse Him, they, with stones in hand, asked Jesus what He says about the Law. After Jesus tried to ignore their repeated questioning, He told them "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." One by one each man dropped his stone and walked away.

Jesus was not arguing with the judgment. Nor was Jesus arguing the law nor the woman's guilt. Jesus was arguing with our right to execute the woman. Once all the men had dropped their stones Jesus confronted the woman and asked her if any of the men were still there to condemn her. When she answered "No man, Lord", Jesus told her that neither did He - He forgave her of her sin. He did not excuse the sin of adultery/prostitution, he forgave her of it. All behavior and thought that is sinful before forgiveness is still sinful after forgiveness. Not only was Jesus not afraid to call a sin a sin, He was not afraid to call a sinner a sinner. He even reminded her of the sin of adultery/prostitution by telling her "Go and sin no more."

The point of this as applicable to this article? Jesus did not argue the act of judging the chosen behavior of the adulteress/prostitute.

Some have told us we should be more tolerant. "Tolerance" has become quite probably the most abused and misused word in the English language. We will not situationally redefine or conditionally apply His Word to suit political correctness, cultural tolerances, modern ethics and false religions or even to avoid invading the comfort zone of Christians. Jesus spent three days in Hell so you and I would not have to spend one moment there! For too long, well-meaning clergy have pabulum fed the people with watered down Scriptures to avoid invading the comfort zone. We will not do that. We love you too much to feed you lies or less-than-truths. It is people who do who pull people away from the CHRIST of Christianity. Practicing the Christian faith and what is expected of it is being very intolerant ... of sin ... even our own by His Word, not yours or mine, by embracing the sinner but not embracing the sin; by helping the sinner, even ourselves, out of bondage to the sin by loving him/her enough to tell the Truth. On Judgment Day, Jesus will send the unforgiven sinner into the fiery pits of Hell in a heartbeat. Now that is intolerance. Of sin. And Righteously so. He further will not excuse any single sin. In the example of the adulteress/prostitute, Jesus forgave her sin but did not excuse it. Worth repeating, Jesus did not argue the judgment, the act of judging nor did He argue the law. He argued our right to execute the woman. Adultery/prostitution is just as sinful now, after Jesus forgave the woman of it, as it was before He forgave her. He will forgive us all our sins -- past, present, future -- if we are humble enough to ask believing. But He will not excuse any sin. All behavior that is sinful before forgiveness is still sinful after. More intolerance. And righteously so.

The Bible provides quite enough knowledge and understanding to make each of us a righteous judge of behavior, even and especially our own if we r-e-a-d it and not just look at the words and use the total of what He says, not just the pieces that seem to fit an agenda: that seem to fill our own bellies; that seem to excuse sin in "sinema."

Tom Carder
President
CAP Ministry

 

[Renovating]

In my opinion, judging is pointless if it God is not edified. If you judge someone within your reach ( or in your environment) and cause them to feel convicted and repent, then it is not in vain. However, I don't understand how stating a celebrity or anyone beyond your reach may be demon posessed or may be a heathen can edify God.

You may feel this scripture is "abused" because a lot times as Christians (prior to speaking) we don't ask ourselves if the words of our mouth (and meditation of our hearts) are being spoken in love or to condemn. The clear distinction between judging and condemning to me is using your words to save someone's soul or using your words to show others that you are a better Christian.

 

[momi]

In my opinion, judging is pointless if it God is not edified. If you judge someone within your reach ( or in your environment) and cause them to feel convicted and repent, then it is not in vain. However, I don't understand how stating a celebrity or anyone beyond your reach may be demon posessed or may be a heathen can edify God.

You may feel this scripture is "abused" because a lot times as Christians (prior to speaking) we don't ask ourselves if the words of our mouth (and meditation of our hearts) are being spoken in love or to condemn. The clear distinction between judging and condemning to me is using your words to save someone's soul or using your words to show others that you are a better Christian.

The bible clearly admonishes us to contend for our faith, marking those among us who teach a doctrine contrary to the truth. It also lets us know that many will abandon their faith and follow after doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4)... if we do not point out the error the blood could possibly be on our hands.

So while pointing out an error of a "celebrity" may or may not (they have the internet too help them, it will bring light to the situation perhaps causing someone else not to stumble. We are not to sit on our hands, but are to continue pointing out the truth according to the word of God. This is our responsibility as Christians - We are the salt of the earth, helping to preserve God's good news and the integrity of His name.

 

[Laela]

Hi, Authenticity,

The Scriptures posted by the OP clearly underlines what you have written in bold.
A person's salvation and their acts or deeds are two separate things... love the man, despise the sin. It's very clear.

In my opinion, judging is pointless if it God is not edified. If you judge someone within your reach ( or in your environment) and cause them to feel convicted and repent, then it is not in vain. However, I don't understand how stating a celebrity or anyone beyond your reach may be demon posessed or may be a heathen can edify God.

You may feel this scripture is "abused" because a lot times as Christians (prior to speaking) we don't ask ourselves if the words of our mouth (and meditation of our hearts) are being spoken in love or to condemn. The clear distinction between judging and condemning to me is using your words to save someone's soul or using your words to show others that you are a better Christian.

 

[Renovating]

Hi, Authenticity,

The Scriptures posted by the OP clearly underlines what you have written in bold.
A person's salvation and their acts or deeds are two separate things... love the man, despise the sin. It's very clear.

I wasn't debating her. I am not indifferent towards her post in no way, shape, or form. ( just giving my opinion as we do on internet forums).

 

[aribell]

Hmm...I do think people use the "judge not" verse as an excuse or a way to shut you up. Anyone who uses Scripture but doesn't really follow it themselves is probably being insincere. But I also know that Paul tells us that we are not to be concerned with those outside of the Church, but only with the behavior of fellow believers:

"For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those who are outside. 'Purge the evil person from among you.'" 1 Cor. 5:12-13

So, I think we should have less commentary about what the world is doing and more focus on church discipline. And church discipline is different than me coming up to you on Sunday morning or during Bible study and telling you about yourself. There is a process to it.

I think we should always speak truthfully about things, but I don't think we should make other people's sin our business.

 

[GV-NA-GI-TLV-GE-I]

I think it's referring to self-righteousness and an inability to consider one's own sins just as awful as the sins they notice about others. It's all in the delivery. When we are in that stance that all we do is righteous and holy and we point the finger at others' obvious faults and sins of the flesh, we don't realize that our own arrogance is blinding us to our sins of the heart. It's not about not contending for the faith so I'd say that scripture belongs to believers only. We should all be mindful that only G-d is supreme judge and executioner and but for HIs grace...we'd all be thrown away.

With that being said, I believe that having compassion does more to help another in his struggles than open condemnation. When we live out our faith quietly, consistently and without pious show, we're more effective. Even Jesus was quiet facing his accusers. G-d is pointing out that we need humility.

 

[Laela]

ITA

.... this (in bold) has been said over and over by believers on this forum in many different ways...

God Bless

Hmm...I do think people use the "judge not" verse as an excuse or a way to shut you up. Anyone who uses Scripture but doesn't really follow it themselves is probably being insincere. But I also know that Paul tells us that we are not to be concerned with those outside of the Church, but only with the behavior of fellow believers:

 

[Laela]

I was simply observing what I read... you're entitled to your opinion, of course..

God Bless

I wasn't debating her. I am not indifferent towards her post in no way, shape, or form. ( just giving my opinion as we do on internet forums).

 

[divya]

I think it's referring to self-righteousness and an inability to consider one's own sins just as awful as the sins they notice about others. It's all in the delivery. When we are in that stance that all we do is righteous and holy and we point the finger at others' obvious faults and sins of the flesh, we don't realize that our own arrogance is blinding us to our sins of the heart. It's not about not contending for the faith so I'd say that scripture belongs to believers only. We should all be mindful that only G-d is supreme judge and executioner and but for HIs grace...we'd all be thrown away.

With that being said, I believe that having compassion does more to help another in his struggles than open condemnation. When we live out our faith quietly, consistently and without pious show, we're more effective. Even Jesus was quiet facing his accusers. G-d is pointing out that we need humility.

Beautifully said.