What do the scriptures tell us about judging others?

 

Judging Others

Judge – to pass judgment in court. To decide authoritatively after deliberation. To form an evaluation of.

Judgment – the ability to make a decision or form an opinion, an authoritative opinion. An estimate. A determination in court. A decision reached after consideration.

Authoritatively – being, having, or arising from authority.

Authority – the power to command, determine, influence, or judge. A person or group with this power. An accepted source of definitive information. An expert in a specific field.

Deliberation – deliberate – planned in advance, premeditated. Said or done intentionally. Careful or thorough in deciding. To carefully consider by weighing alternatives.

When we accuse someone else or level a charge against a specific act or action (behavior), we have then made ourselves out to be the judge of that person’s character trait, characteristic, or behavior. We pass judgment, form the opinion, and assume the power to determine, influence, or judge that a person has not met the standard. We assume a position or role of authority, which is rarely, if ever, universally granted to us by others. We assume a position of being an expert in the identification of an alleged shortcoming, and we feel it is our God-given right to exercise our self-granted authority over others. When we accuse others, we have bypassed the judicial system set up by man, which requires deliberation.

Deliberation is planned in advance, premeditated, done intentionally, and done carefully and thoroughly, weighing all alternatives, attempting to determine fact or fiction.

In a court of law, when a person has been accused or a crime (charge) has been leveled against them, they are presumed innocent of the charge until all the facts are brought forth, a trial date has been set, careful and thorough deliberation has taken place, a judge is selected, which is not either of the two parties, and if necessary, a jury is also selected.

Jury – a group of people called by the law and sworn to hear evidence in a case and give a verdict.

Verdict – a decision arrived at by a jury at the end of a trial. A judgment.

Trial – examination or hearing of evidence before the court to decide the issue of a specific charge or claims.

So, I ask any of you who have or are thinking of accusing others or making a claim against another, are you ready to:

1. Make a claim or charge under the presumption of innocence.
2. Disqualify (recuse) yourself from being the judge, the person in authority who presides over a hearing or trial.
3. Be willing to carefully examine – deliberate all the evidence, sorting through that which is deemed to be absolute, without a shred of doubt (documented) factual and throwing out anything that cannot be proven factual beyond a shadow of a doubt.
4. Are you willing to stand before a jury of your peers and present the factual evidence you have obtained in a court of law presided over by a person of authority (judge)?
5. Are you willing to let the jury make a final and binding decision based upon the factual evidence you have presented to them?
6. Are you willing to allow the accused to defend themselves in the same court of law, bringing before the judge and the jury their own set of facts, which will differ from your set of facts?
7. Once a judgment has been made, are you willing to accept the decision of the judge and jury deciding your case against the accused for their alleged violation of the law, shortcoming, inappropriate act, or behavior.

Before you begin, do you or have you been given the authority, and are you seen as one having the authority given freely to you by others for the purpose of controlling, influencing, and asserting power over another? Not only must you claim to have the authority, but you must be seen by others, accepted and approved, recognized by another as assuming the position of authority. It is not valid if you assume a role of authority without first being granted that authority by others. A person cannot just say they are a policeman; they are given that job by someone else who is in a position of authority, and the job of a policeman is to uphold the laws (standards) set forth by men who are in authority to make or create those laws.

Are you willing to allow others to set the standards, make the standards, know or post the standards, make them available so that there is no misconception about the standards? Are you willing to do all this? Or do you want to post the standard or maybe not, act as the person of authority, level the charge, assume the position of the judge and jury, weigh the evidence in your own mind, come to a decision, and then issue a judgment.

1. Set the standard (more than likely) in your own mind without even posting your standard or having others fully identify, accept, and approve your standard.
2. Assume the position of authority, make sure others understand, approve, recognize, and accept you as their authority.
3. Maintain or uphold the standards you set. Police the action, activities, thoughts, words, and deeds (behavior) of others.
4. Change hats and assume the position of the judge presiding over the facts.

Suffice it to say that you assume a lot and wear a lot of different hats.

You assume you are the one who creates and sets the standards and who has been granted the authority to enforce the standard.

You become the plaintiff, judge, and jury as well as the executive branch determining the penalty for the alleged breach of conduct or violation of your law.

I have often heard it said, "Who made you judge and jury?" That is a totally appropriate question.

What do the scriptures tell us about judging others?

Matthew 7:1-5 – "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured against you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

James 4:12 – "There is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you – who are you to judge your neighbor?"

In John 12:47 – we see that Jesus did not come to judge the world, but to save it. Just like our brother Jesus, we are not called to judge others but to help save them, to bring about their immortality and their eternal salvation.

We have to be very careful not to judge others by their external appearance.

Galatians 2:6 – "It is said, God does not judge by external appearance." Just like our Lord, we too are called to refrain from judging others by how they look but rather are called to love and serve them; our Heavenly Father is the only authority to judge.

Hebrews 4:12-13 – "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing the soul and spirits, joints and marrow; he judges the thoughts and attitudes of our heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to who we must give an account."

John 7:24 – also cautions us about judging others by appearance – "Stop judging by mere appearance and make a right judgment."

In Ecclesiastes 12:14 – we see that God will bring every deed into judgment, including the hidden thing whether it be good or evil.

Matthew 12:36, 37 – "But I tell you that men will have to give an account in the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your word you are acquitted and by your words you will be condemned."

Romans 14:13, 14 – Paul instructed us to stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. Only the Lord has the authority to pass judgment; we will all be judged on the last day. Every thought, every word, every deed will be judged according to whether they were good or evil. Finally, the Lord requires that we love our enemies, not pass judgment upon them.

Matthew 5:44 – "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." We are called not only to love those who love us but also to love those who hate us, despise us, and persecute us. In Proverbs 25:21 – we see if your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. The Lord said, as you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me. In Matthew 25:40 – Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers of mine, you did unto me."

When we judge others, we are in essence placing judgment on Jesus because the spirit of the Lord dwells within each of us. When we judge others by their external appearance, by their thoughts, words, or deeds, we sin against our Lord, and the wages of sin lead to darkness, which leads to pain, misery, and suffering, which leads to death.

Who gave us the authority to judge another?

No one!

Did our authority come from the Lord?

Absolutely not!

Stop immediately harming your brother; putting stumbling blocks and obstacles in his way, stop criticizing, blaming, and comparing your brother, all of this is a sin against our Lord.

When we were young, our parents were given the authority to instruct us and teach us the ways of the Lord, they were given the authority to discipline us with love, to serve us with kindness and compassion, to sacrifice and devote themselves to our well-being. They were not given the authority to judge, blame, compare, criticize, blame, and inflict pain and suffering. They too were called to love and serve.

Thank you, Lord, for these moments with you this morning. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

As for me and my house, we choose to serve the Lord by not placing judgment upon one another. Criticize, blame, offend, compare, control, exercise authority.