Matthew 7, Judging Others

[WASR10]

How can you judge righteously?

Christ, Himself, commanded that we are to judge with righteous judgment.

If by "righteously" you mean by the standard God has put forth, it is by knowing His Word, His instructions to us, that we may judge what is righteous and what is not.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness..." - 2 Timothy 3:16

[Not a Cook]

How can you judge righteously?

That's a great question!

I'll begin by saying that the answer is much more in-depth than I can even begin to do justice to in a forum like this. I'd like to also note that I'm short on time at the moment. That said, here are some quick items (in no particular order) that are important aspects to know regarding Christians judging righteously:

1. Judging righteously must be possible for Christians, or else Christ would not have instructed us to do so.
2. Judging righteously must be done without hypocrisy and without self-righteousness. The one doing the judging must first remove the log (or plank) from his own eye, before dealing with the speck in his brother's eye. This also implies and requires humility on the part of the person doing the judging.
3. Judging righteously must be done with understanding of the Scriptures by someone who is walking in the spirit and who practices discernment. Each one of these items is a BIG topic, so I won't elaborate here. Suffice it to say, little things like Proverbs 18:17 (NKJV) are important to understand, and there is a multitude of such gems found in the Scriptures:
The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.
4. Judging righteously requires that one be faithful to what the Lord has said in the Scriptures. Many topics that needlessly cause division between folks in the body of Christ have already been judged by God. For example, people get in disagreements and fights and divisions over various sins that one party doesn't want to acknowledge as sin. I've had this happen personally more than once where someone doesn't want to admit that something they're doing is wrong, even though God has clearly said it is wrong. If someone is lying, or cheating, or stealing, or committing adultery, or committing homosexuality, or committing polygamy, or committing any other kind of sexual immorality, or practicing divination, or idolatry, etc., then the Scriptures are quite clear that God (in His perfect, holy, and righteous judgment) has already declared those things to be sin. Concerning matters like these that are clear-cut (scripturally-speaking), judgment is simple: we need simply agree with what God has already said and not deviate from what He has said. We then must also be careful to observe all His teachings regarding the particular situation. If the person caught in sin is a professing Christian, then we must approach that person lovingly and in accordance with the applicable scriptural guidelines (such as Matthew 18:15-19) with the goal of restoring that brother or sister in fellowship.
5. There are matters that are, quite frankly, too difficult for some folks (in some cases many folks) to rightly judge, but they are few and far between. In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul addressed the shame that some in the congregation at Corinth had brought upon themselves and (ultimately) upon Christ in how they were handling their disputes. In 1 Corinthians 6:5b (NKJV) he wrote,
Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?. Some matters require more wisdom, discernment, and/or knowledge than is possessed by some Christians. Such cases give us all the more reason to be thankful that the Lord has blessed His church with gifts of the spirit that include each of these required gifts (ref. 1 Corinthians 12 which lists each one of these as gifts of the spirit given to the church for the church's edification). Such cases must be handled accordingly. One elder I know teaches "the Jethro prinicple", which is based on what Jethro told Moses in Exodus 18. That's an interesting study, and if you're interested, I'll encourage you to study that chapter for yourself.
6. On that note, James 1:5 (NKJV) tells us,
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Obviously, judging requires wisdom. Wisdom is available to every Christian, and per the above verse, God is faithful to give it to any of His disciples who asks in faith (as discussed in the following verses).
7. As Paul taught us in 1 Corinthians 5, Christians are not to judge those outside the church. That said, that does not mean that we are not to call sin as "sin". If God has declared something to be a sin, then stating the same is simply declaring what God has already judged. This is an important point that is often overlooked.

That said, I'm assuming your question was sincere. If it was sincere and you'd like more elaboration, please let me know. There are numerous passages of the Scriptures that should be examined and studied carefully to give you a full answer to this question if you really want more details.

Edit: WASR10 - you beat me to it! I like your summary.

[Untamed1972]

In the 1st century dogs were considered filthy animals, they also walked around in packs causing all different types of trouble... Like Dagos in Australia they would steal your baby.

When I went to Jerusalem in 2005 I went for a walk in the wee hours of the morning only to find myself surrounded by a pack of wild dogs, I could only imagine what it was like back then.

To call someone a dog was and still is the ultimate insult.

Italians steal babies in Australia?

I think you meant DINGOS LOL

[Just Dave]

Italians steal babies in Australia?

I think you meant DINGOS LOL

LOL those too.. You can't trust any of them

[RandyD]

How can you judge righteously?

[David13]

Judge not, lest ye be judged.
We know we will be judged.
So, be prepared.
dc

[Sailormilan2]

How can you judge righteously?

Probably the same way one has "righteous indignation".

We are told we were created in God's image. Yet that leaves many thing open to interpretation. We are told we shouldn't get angry, but God has "wrath", and "righteous indignation". We can't be jealous, yet God says He is a "jealous" God.
I think we can judge, be wrathful, and have jealousy.............BUT, we have to do it in the proper manner and/or spirit. Which, unfortunately, we as humans, do not usually do.

[bountyhunter]

How can you judge righteously?

Easy. All you need is to be all knowing like God.....

If, as is claimed by some here, that Christ was not warning us not to judge the sins of others (but rather, to make sure we judge righteously) then why is it the most famous case where He said only he who is without sin may cast the first stone:

A woman, who had been caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus Christ by the scribes

Adultery was illegal and immoral, so why is it the people who caught her could not judge her for this? Why would Christ intervene if not to make an example that we are not to judge sin?

[WASR10]

Easy. All you need is to be all knowing like God.....

If, as is claimed by some here, that Christ was not warning us not to judge the sins of others (but rather, to make sure we judge righteously) then why is it the most famous case where He said only he who is without sin may cast the first stone:



Adultery was illegal and immoral, so why is it the people who caught her could not judge her for this? Why would Christ intervene if not to make an example that we are not to judge sin?

Christ emphatically counseled people to judge according to His words and those He appointed. His example showed us to judge who may be in spiritual need and help them.

Stoning is a condemnation unto death, and is a different circumstance than judging of New Covenant obedience. The people who caught the woman in adultry were acting under a different law than those of the Christian covenant.

Sent from my tappy device thingy

[Not a Cook]

Easy. All you need is to be all knowing like God.....

If, as is claimed by some here, that Christ was not warning us not to judge the sins of others (but rather, to make sure we judge righteously) then why is it the most famous case where He said only he who is without sin may cast the first stone:



Adultery was illegal and immoral, so why is it the people who caught her could not judge her for this? Why would Christ intervene if not to make an example that we are not to judge sin?

Good question, and I know you may not like my answer, but here goes:

You're referring to the John 8 passage wherein the woman who was caught in adultery was dragged by the Pharisees to Christ. As you'll note in John 8:4, the woman was caught "in the very act" of adultery. As such, her guilt was unquestionable. She was guilty. The Pharisees didn't drag her to Christ to judge her. They weren't trying to determine whether what she did was right or wrong. They weren't trying to ascertain her guilt. What were they there for? Condemnation! Not judgment. Leviticus 20:10 requires the death penalty for adultery. They were there to condemn her to death. The distinction between judgement and condemnation is important. The Pharisees already KNEW she was guilty because she was caught in the act - the judgment was sure and done; they brought her to Christ not to judge her but instead to actually stone her to death ("condemn" her). Under the levitical law there was only one sentence possible for the sin she had committed - death. They wanted to involve Christ so that they could trap Him in the process. Christ didn't say "I don't judge you", in verse 10 He asked, "Has no one condemned you?" In verse 11 Christ said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Did you catch that? Christ had determined she had sinned. That was plainly obvious. She was judged and found guilty. He didn't prevent the Pharisees from judging her guilty of adultery - that was an open-and-shut case. Instead, He stopped them from condemning her - He stopped them from executing her. He showed her mercy.

John 8 isn't instruction against judging. It doesn't conflict with other passages which clearly require that Christians judge (e.g. Matthew 7:16, 1 Corinthians 5, Romans 16:17, Titus 3:10). John 8 is a demonstration of Christ having mercy on a sinner (just as He has had mercy on each one of us) by withholding the condemnation she deserved. He judged her, but He didn't condemn her.

Look at WHY the event happened. It says in verse 6 that the Pharisees were trying to find something of which they could accuse Christ (e.g. violating the law by not ordering her execution as prescribed in Lev. 20:10). Christ wasn't teaching about "not judging people" at all in this passage. He mercifully spared her life, told her "go and sin no more", publicly demonstrated His mercy, convicted the Phrarisees of their sins and silenced them, and prevented her condemnation (i.e. execution).

[oceanrider]

wth. lots of info here. i am surprised by the deepness of faith, wisdom, foresight and knowledge of calguns.

and i thought it was limited to firearms and media.

i agree with op.

[Loubot10]

Easy. All you need is to be all knowing like God.....

If, as is claimed by some here, that Christ was not warning us not to judge the sins of others (but rather, to make sure we judge righteously) then why is it the most famous case where He said only he who is without sin may cast the first stone:



Adultery was illegal and immoral, so why is it the people who caught her could not judge her for this? Why would Christ intervene if not to make an example that we are not to judge sin?

This and maladies were considered earned punishment yet Christ healed lepers, the maimed, and the defected.

All of these conditions would have been considered God's will, and those suffering from the maladies "righteously judged" and condemned by his followers.

Was the point of healing the condemned to display his power, or was it to point out that no one is beneath any other in the eyes of the Lord?

If even the worse sinner can be forgiven in the end, making him equal to a righteous man, than judging others is the righteous man's biggest gamble.

[colossians323]

This and maladies were considered earned punishment yet Christ healed lepers, the maimed, and the defected.

Out of ignorance people claimed this, just like earthquakes, aids and the like. These all have to do with natural law and the decay of life, for the punishment of sin is Death, the Earth is slowly dying because of our sinful ways.

All of these conditions would have been considered God's will, and those suffering from the maladies "righteously judged" and condemned by his followers.

Me thinks you misunderstand, or are not Christian. If you commit sin willfully and gleefully, and no one lets you know that it is sin, how would you be able to correct yourself?

Was the point of healing the condemned to display his power, or was it to point out that no one is beneath any other in the eyes of the Lord?

If even the worse sinner can be forgiven in the end, making him equal to a righteous man, than judging others is the righteous man's biggest gamble.

Aren't we all the worst sinner? Who is a worse sinner than you?

[bountyhunter]

Aren't we all the worst sinner? Who is a worse sinner than you?

It amazes me how hard some people will work to prove that it is justified to "grade" sin so we can feel superior to others. Sin is sin, we are all sinners, we don't grade whose sins are the "worst". The point of what Christ said is that we are ALL sinners and that NOBODY has the right to "evaluate" whose sins are worse than others. Period. You can (and should) evaluate actions or words being spewed by others and discern whether or not you want to follow said words or actions..... that is not the point Christ was making.

God judges sins.


And speaking of hypocrites who hold themselves up as superior beacons of family values and good "christians".... can't help noticing the former GOP speaker of the house is under indictment for bribing the teenager he molested to buy his silence.

We should all worry about putting our own houses in order, reading and understanding Christ's words and following His teachings. And quit wasting time proclaiming whose sins will send them to hell..... since Christ stated clearly we have no right to do it and it is based in arrogance.

[bountyhunter]

This and maladies were considered earned punishment yet Christ healed lepers, the maimed, and the defected.

They were considered "earned" by ignorant fools who did not understand. One of the purposes of Christ coming to earth was to straighten them out.... I guess some people still don't get it despite the fact Christ spoke in pretty plain words.

The truth is nothing has changed. People of that time needed to feel superior by condemning others and people of today do exactly the same thing.