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[Announcer] (0:00 - 0:18) Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions. Access more audio, videos, and Bible study resources at ChristianQuestions.com.

Our topic is: "Do Christians Get to Judge Others?" Here's Rick, Jonathan, and Julie.

[Rick] (0:20 - 0:29) Welcome, everyone. I'm Rick. I'm joined by Jonathan, my co-host for over twenty-five years. Julie, a longtime contributor, is also with us. Jonathan, what's our theme scripture for this episode?

[Jonathan] (0:30 - 0:40) Matthew 7:1-2: "Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you."

[Rick] (0:41 - 1:31) Jesus plainly tells us in Matthew 7:1 that we are not to judge others. Ah, if it were only that easy! The fact of the matter is the New Testament gives us many examples of things that we are to make judgments about. At first glance, this can sound like a massive contradiction.

Don't judge! Wait, do judge, and here's your list! As with any apparent Bible contradiction, all we need to do is understand the two apparently differing views in their appropriate context, and we will end up with a harmonious and powerful lesson. The reason that our Christian responsibility toward judgments comes across this way is to remind us of the importance of how we do things.

Standing as a representative of Jesus means working to respond to all things the way Jesus did.

[Julie] (1:31 - 1:52) We know judging others is something most humans do, often without even realizing it. It's a mix of biology, psychology, and culture at play. At a basic level, our brains are hardwired to assess and categorize people and situations.

It's an ancient survival mechanism that helped our ancestors identify threats or form alliances.

[Rick] (1:53 - 2:19) It sounds like you've got to be able to judge, and you're right. You do. You have to be able to judge, but we have to understand as Christians there's much more to it than that.

Let's begin. Let's begin with a solemn warning of Jesus to NOT judge others! That goes very contrary to everything you just said, but let's hear it out.

In the Sermon on the Mount, the verses in Matthew 7:1-5, are commonly quoted teachings of Jesus.

[Jonathan] (2:20 - 2:38) These verses reveal the great dangers of making judgments on others with the wrong motivation. Jesus opens this part of his teaching with a fundamental warning. Matthew 7:1:

"Do not judge so that you will not be judged." "Judge" here means "to distinguish; to decide."

[Julie] (2:39 - 2:59) "Do not judge so that you will not be judged." People tend to quote this when they're criticized, as in, well, you have no right to judge me. I'm going to do what I want, when I want.

Jesus said you can't judge me! People who know nothing of Jesus incorrectly interpret this to mean that Jesus accepts just any kind of lifestyle or ideas.

[Rick] (2:59 - 3:21) Yeah, that's a convenient interpretation, and we like convenient quotations because they just feel good, and they make us feel like, yeah, I'm okay. That's not what Jesus was saying at all. You're right.

Let's go further, because you've got that one phrase, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged." Jesus next explains how the way we judge others determines how we will be judged. Let's go to Matthew 7:2:

[Jonathan] (3:21 - 3:42) "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." This first word for "judge" here is a slightly different form of the word, with the idea of decision. Jesus is demonstrating how quickly we go from thinking about someone in a randomly negative way to deciding about them.

[Julie] (3:43 - 3:56) We will be judged with the standard with which we'll be judging others. Now, this should red flag our critiquing others that stems from our own jealousy or our being hypocritical, careless, self-righteous, vengeful, and so on.

[Rick] (3:56 - 4:22) It should be a red flag, and you look at it and say, oh, am I supposed to be thinking about this? We'll just stay with this for a few more minutes. You're going to see how big of a red flag.

This is not just a red flag. This is a detour. This is a road closed, is what this ends up being.

We want to look at this and understand that we're setting a pattern that comes back to us with the words of Jesus here. We've got a very significant Judgment Lesson to get started here:

[Julie] (4:22 - 4:36) What I do to and how I draw conclusions about others will come back to me. Perhaps even subconsciously, we might judge others to feel better about ourselves, especially if we're comparing their flaws to our strengths.

[Rick] (4:37 - 4:56) That's a good point, and the thing we need to understand is this comparing. Appropriate scriptural judgment has nothing to do with comparisons. We'll see that unfold as Jesus continues the teaching.

Jesus next illustrates in these verses the trap of faultfinding. Now let's go to Matthew 7:3:

[Jonathan] (4:56 - 5:06) "Why do you look at the speck (meaning a small twig) that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log (a giant beam of wood) that is in your own eye?"

[Julie] (5:07 - 5:26) It says "...do not notice the log." The word "notice" here means--it doesn't mean a passing glance--it means "to observe fully." You know that you're not perfect, but you're not fully observing and acknowledging that fact. If I'm busy trying to find out what you're doing wrong, there's no time left to take that uncomfortable look at myself.

[Rick] (5:26 - 5:48) Okay, so we have a twig, just this picture, a little twig, and this picture of this massive tree branch, okay? This is the hyperbole that Jesus is using to make a profoundly important point that is dramatic enough to remember. He wants us to look at this and say, sheesh, I mean, can you be more specific?

[Julie] (5:48 - 5:49) I get it.

[Rick] (5:50 - 6:13) Little twig, big monster branch. When we become fault finders, our own faults become glaringly obvious before God.

I'll tell you what, if there's ever a red flag, is if I'm going to make my faults glaringly obvious before God, I feel kind of self-conscious. By inappropriate judgment, that's what Jesus is saying we're doing.

[Julie] (6:13 - 6:32) Remember, this is part of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus's audience was likely a mix of Jews who were familiar with the Law and his disciples who followed him more closely. They're used to that judgmental attitude of their religious leaders, the Pharisees. This, in Jesus, would be a radical new example and standard.

[Rick] (6:33 - 7:04) It would. He's basically saying, don't do the kinds of things that your leaders are regularly doing and being proud of regularly doing. He is--the whole Sermon on the Mount really takes all of what they had been learning in an inappropriate way and putting it back in order where it belonged.

We've got to look at this and say, okay, all right, all right, here's the question, and this is an important question. If our brother does have a speck in his eye, shouldn't we point it out?

Aren't we helping by pointing it out?

[Jonathan] (7:05 - 7:12) Remember what our moms always told us; when you point your finger in judgment at others, we have three fingers pointing back at us.

[Rick] (7:13 - 7:44) You look at that and we smile and we can laugh at that, but there is such power in that because that is the principle that Jesus is teaching. He's putting this principle out there saying, don't be arbitrary, don't be comparative. That's not what judgment is for.

That's his lesson here. Let's keep going. Jesus next illustrates this very reaction of this comparative judgment on our part in his teaching next in Matthew 7:4:

[Jonathan] (7:44 - 7:51) "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?"

[Rick] (7:52 - 9:20) Let me take the little twig out of your eye because I got this big tree branch growing out of my eye. Can you imagine? It's so ridiculous.

That's the point of the teaching, is to take this ridiculous comparison and say, Jesus is seriously getting our attention. What's happening here? You're saying to your brother, let me take that speck out of your own eye, and you can't even behold that there's this monstrous branch in your own eye.

Here's what he's saying; when we look at the fault and we now act on it, what we're doing is we're presenting ourselves wholly in the process. Oh, look at you, Jonathan.

You've got a speck in your eye. Let me, the master of judgment, take care of all that little, little tiny problem that you have that I know is not good for you. He's saying, look at this.

That is not what your judgment is supposed to be. The judgment of the Pharisees really did follow along those lines. Remember the parable Jesus gave of the Pharisee praying, Lord, thank you that I'm not like this guy.

I do this and I fast and I pray and on and on and on. Then the other man says, Lord, please, please, please forgive me for I'm a sinner. Jesus' response is, that's the man who got heard.

This is the lesson that Jesus is teaching us here. We want to understand what we're supposed to do and what we're not supposed to do. Jesus continues with his conclusion of this particular teaching in Matthew 7:5:

[Jonathan] (9:20 - 9:28) "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."

[Julie] (9:28 - 9:43) That word see "clearly," it means to "recover full vision." It's a very rare word because it's used only once in the Bible, right here. In literature, when something's used only once, it's called a "hapax legomenon."

There you have your hapax legomenon.

[Rick] (9:43 - 9:45) Okay, I'm not sure what to do with that.

[Julie] (9:46 - 9:48) You're supposed to study it closely because it's special.

[Rick] (9:49 - 10:38) Okay, the word though, I can't even pronounce the word. But the concept, let's study because it's special; what's the concept here?

You're a hypocrite. First, do some self-introspection and take that big monster branch out of your eye, and then you can see fully. You recover your full vision.

The implication is, you can have full vision. The implication also is, you don't because something is blocking it. Jesus is clearly saying, don't let that which blocks your full vision allow you to make those kinds of judgments which are so far off of what godliness brings us to.

This brings us to the first piece of putting this whole lesson together; When to Judge and When Not to Judge:

[Jonathan] (10:39 - 10:54) Judging others can be dangerous territory because we can't judge another's heart. Jesus has given us several questions to ask ourselves, such as, what faults might I have that can negatively skew my view of others?

[Julie] (10:54 - 10:59) Because I cannot read anyone's heart, am I judging others' actions appropriately?

[Jonathan] (11:00 - 11:04) Am I judging based upon clear truth because I have clear sight?

[Julie] (11:05 - 11:13) What is my motivation in my judgment? Godly principles, or is it anger, revenge, jealousy, self-righteousness?

[Rick] (11:13 - 11:43) You take these questions and you look at these five verses in Matthew 7, you say, Jesus is giving us a clear, very sound warning as to what he is expecting from us as his disciples. These five verses in Matthew 7 are real eye-openers! No pun intended there, but they are eye-openers, okay?

Jesus is making us think about the seriousness of drawing conclusions about others!

[Jonathan] (11:44 - 11:51) How are we supposed to make needed Christian judgments with such a loud and clear warning against judging in front of us?

[Rick] (11:51 - 12:19) You're like, don't do it, don't do it, don't do it. Well, it's no accident that Jesus gave us this blunt warning years before the true Christian church was established at Pentecost. Once the apostles in the early church were given God's spirit (that's what came at Pentecost) as their basis of operation, our responsibilities toward one another would be more clearly defined.

Here's the thing; the filter for our necessary judgments would need God's spirit and Jesus' words!

[Julie] (12:20 - 12:49) That's good, but Jesus told us bluntly not to judge. But in John 7:24, it says: "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." This, plus some of the other scriptures we're going to look at later after Pentecost--we're not supposed to incorrectly judge.

A lot of this, I think, has to do with self-awareness and the intention behind the judgment. When do we engage, Rick, in God-honoring righteous judgment?

[Rick] (12:49 - 13:50) That's a really good question, and the answer is the scriptures give us lots of examples as to when appropriate judgment should be put in place. Here's the thing; you can say, okay, let me take down all of the examples so I know when to look to make my judgments. If you're doing that, you're going to have to start over because you're all wrong.

Because it comes down to God's spirit moving in us and Jesus' words, Jesus' compassion. That's why he spent so much time saying, don't judge, because to inappropriately judge is a grave, grave mistake. Let's look at times we should judge and how it's supposed to work.

Let's continue by acknowledging some of the judgments that we are responsible for. All of these judgments should be made through the influence of God's spirit in our lives. That's the way it should work.

As Christians, we should be judging basic earthly disputes amongst ourselves. 1 Corinthians 6:1-3:

[Jonathan] (13:51 - 13:59) "Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?"

[Julie] (13:59 - 14:27) Let me just stop real quick; "...dare to go to law before the unrighteous..." Bible Commentary by David Guzik says:

"Apparently, one Christian believed he had been wronged by another, and sought justice in the local courts.

The local judge sat in what was known as the "bema" seat of the civil magistrate, located in the heart of the marketplace. Because Greek culture found a good legal battle entertaining, anyone's lawsuit soon became public knowledge."

[Jonathan] (14:27 - 15:07) 1 Corinthians 6:2: "Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?" Other translations say things like, "are you incompetent to try trivial cases" or "...even the smallest matters?"

Continuing with 1 Corinthians 6:3: "Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?" His point is that the brotherhood has to rely on each other with an interconnected trust.

Having been called out of the world, Christians are trying to humbly live by a higher standard.

[Rick] (15:24 - 16:05) I like that, "an interconnected trust." The first thing is we are supposed to be able to take care of the temporal issues, the physicality of our lives between ourselves because we are supposed to have that interconnected trust. The Apostle Paul continues in these verses in 1 Corinthians 6 by encouraging the brotherhood to apply their Christian maturity to their daily lives, to all of those physical things in their lives that they may have disputes about, especially when it comes to having to figure these things out. Find those who have the needed wisdom in Christ and HUMBLY work through the matter! That's the first example of the kinds of things we are supposed to judge.

But you notice that it doesn't come from, oh, I've got the answer. It comes from the humility of understanding the compassion and that interconnectedness that the apostle is saying, you're in Christ--act like it! Let's go on to the next one.

What's the next kind of judgment that we are supposed to be engaged in?

[Julie] (16:05 - 16:14) Jesus and the apostles told us that we have a responsibility to judge and expose false prophets. He said this in Matthew 7:15-20:

[Jonathan] (16:14 - 16:46) "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

So then, you will know them by their fruits."

[Rick] (16:47 - 17:02) Jesus says "...you will know them by their fruits." It's interesting. Jesus doesn't tell us to judge each other by our fruits anywhere, but he does say, with false prophets, you will know them by their fruits because bad fruit comes from a bad tree.

[Julie] (17:03 - 17:24) This gets touchy because nobody comes into your church wearing an "I'm a false prophet" t-shirt. On this podcast, we've called out pretty strongly those who teach the so-called "Prosperity Gospel." For example, Jesus and the apostles never taught that Christian "fruit"--evidence of God's holy spirit--is monetary wealth or status.

[Rick] (17:24 - 18:05) No, no. We want to be understanding of staying clear on what is appropriate and what is scriptural and what is godly and what is Christlike. When something comes along that is stepping way outside of it, and it's coming from a position of influence and teaching, we need to look at that and say, hang on, hold on.

Somebody has a thought? It's not the same thing. That thought can be corrected.

It can be nurtured. It can be developed. When somebody comes in and says, here's the teaching and has that gross misapplication, we do need to respond to that.

We need to be able to understand false prophets. That's a responsibility of Christians. What's next?

[Jonathan] (18:06 - 18:36) What about morality? We have a sober responsibility to judge within the brotherhood in areas of serious moral issues. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2:

"It 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. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst."

[Julie] (18:36 - 18:51) The Apostle Paul here rebukes them. You've not mourned. They were taking this sin lightly.

There was no heartbreak over something so disgraceful. We're supposed to show unconditional love, but not unconditional approval and tolerance.

[Rick] (18:52 - 20:22) Unconditional love is not unconditional approval and tolerance. Unconditional love--it works hard toward that which is best for those whom we love. That's why Jesus did what he did.

That's why he taught what he taught. Let's be very, very clear. Immoral activity has no place within the brotherhood.

It doesn't belong. There is no little corner, no little compartment, where we can say, well, we can put it here. No, it stays outside.

That's what the Apostle Paul is saying. We are now sanctified in Christ. We are set apart.

You're not part of that world. You're part of the spiritual growth that comes from following Christ. Humility, biblical clarity, a mournful attitude and mercy, those are the things that should guide our judgments when it comes to these kinds of moral issues.

We do need to stand. We cannot be afraid to stand, because that is what we're called to do. But again, it's got to come through that humility and biblical clarity and mournful attitude and mercy.

That's what drives these things. Morality is a place where appropriate judgment, in a Christ-like fashion, needs to be put in place. What else do we have?

Well, let's look at the next one. As Christians, we're called upon to judge who should be shepherding the flock. Now, this is interesting, because this may be a little bit of a new thought to a lot of us.

Let's look at 1 Timothy 3:1-2:

[Jonathan] (20:22 - 20:40) "It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."

[Rick] (20:40 - 21:19) You've got these qualifications that the Apostle Paul is writing to Timothy about what an overseer, what a pastor, what a minister is supposed to be. What actually happened in the New Testament is there was a decision process laid out. When Paul and Barnabas were on a missionary journey, they were going to these different places and setting up and visiting these different churches, and they were teaching them to be each independent representations of Christlikeness.

Each church was its own independent, autonomous group that would be serving God by doing these things on their own. Here's the process that they laid out for them in Acts 14:23.

[Jonathan] (21:20 - 21:38) This is from the King James Version: "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed." Now, "ordained" here means "to be a hand-reacher or voter (by raising the hand); that is, to select or appoint."

[Julie] (21:38 - 22:05) Interesting, because a lot of our Christian friends don't realize that the pattern the Apostles laid out for the congregation, it was to elect their own clergy from their own local membership. This is very different from how the top-down management of church organizations assign leaders. We went over this in great detail in episode 1140: "Does My Church Leadership Have It Right?," uncovering what biblical church organization and leadership look like.

[Rick] (22:06 - 23:02) We look at that, and we understand that what the Apostle is telling us is judging who should lead us is very, very serious. Follow those scriptural guidelines. They're laid out in 1 Timothy 3:1-13, they're laid out in Titus 1:5-11, and other places.

This is a critical process, and our judgment of being Christ-like should be shining through in this. It's not me first, it's Christ first in putting these things in place. Let's go to another area that we are supposed to judge.

After we got started and we're saying, don't judge, don't judge, don't judge, don't judge, here we're saying judge, judge, judge, judge, and you have to see that there's two very important principles that may sound contrary, but they work exactly in harmony together. This last example is, as Christians, we're called upon to know the truth of the gospel, and to judge, and to respond when we see teachings that are not in line with that gospel.

[Jonathan] (23:02 - 23:10) The Galatian church was being led down a road that mixed the Jewish Law with the gospel. Galatians 1:6-8: "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!"

[Rick] (23:34 - 24:47) The Apostle is saying very clearly there is one gospel. It is written in God's holy word; don't veer away from that! Our judgments in this area should be based on our own diligent proving of the gospel. This becomes personal responsibility.

It's not just flippant judgment, it's judgment based on personal responsibility. Let's look at 2 Timothy 2:15:

JONATHAN:

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." RICK:

"...accurately handling the word of truth."

You do that. I do that. Be willing to stand up and speak in defense of the gospel.

That's a serious responsibility. Once again, the key factor here is humility and God's grace. Those are the things that should rule as we exercise this privilege.

When we look at these things that we're supposed to judge upon, what we see is they're serious and they're big, but it all always comes down to being humble first. Always comes down to godliness. It always comes down to scriptural principle.

That's how we have to put all of this in order. When To Judge and When Not to Judge:

[Julie] (24:48 - 25:11) While judgment DOES play an important role in our Christian lives, we need to always be aware of our approach and demeanor when faced with making it happen. Judging can have value when it comes from a place of genuine care or concern to guide, protect, or uplift. Let's remember to leave our ego at the door while we invite the humility of Christlikeness to come in and rule our hearts.

[Rick] (25:12 - 25:32) Leave your ego at the door. That's what Jesus was saying in Matthew 1. Don't get involved with that.

This is too big and important. Having what Jesus taught us about the dangers of judging as a foundation gives us a way to build God-honoring judgments into our lives.

[Jonathan] (25:33 - 25:40) How do we make sure that all of these judgments we are responsible for are being followed through in the most appropriate way?

[Rick] (25:41 - 26:37) Being sure of what we're doing is always subject to the way our human hearts and minds are wired. Now look, this can be frustrating. While it can be frustrating, we have access to the massive relief that Jesus provided when he showed us the dangers of inappropriate judgment.

Let's not forget that. It's so important to keep these principles in focus. We started by saying, here's how Jesus puts up the warning; don't do it, don't judge.

Then we went to, but here's all these things that as a Christian you are responsible to judge. Now we've got to put this all together and make it work so we can do things appropriately. It's interesting in Matthew 7--we're going to go back to that for a moment--those verses use the theme of "your eye" and "your brother's eye."

There's a deeper lesson here and we're going to get to that right now, but Jonathan, first let's review Matthew 7:3-5:

[Jonathan] (26:37 - 26:57) "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? 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? 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."

[Rick] (26:58 - 27:29) "Your brother's eye," "your eye," "your eye," "your brother's eye," "your eye." There's this theme, this powerful, powerful theme that Jesus is using. Why?

Why is he using the eye? Jesus is actually building on something that he had said earlier in that same Sermon on the Mount. See, this is the way Jesus taught.

He would give you pieces and then a little later he'd build on that piece with something else and that's exactly what's happening in Matthew 7. We want to go back to that other place in the Sermon on the Mount.

[Julie] (27:29 - 27:59) Yeah, so let's get that context. We'll start with Matthew 6:19-21. The context is Jesus warns us not to store up earthly treasure because it's all temporary, no ultimate value.

I think of all those Egyptian kings buried with precious gold and jewels and oils and everything destined for the afterlife and it just sits in the sand and the dust with their skeletons. Our efforts and energy are going to go where our treasure is, so store up precious heavenly treasure is what Jesus is telling us.

[Jonathan] (28:00 - 28:25) Let's see what comes next in Matthew 6:22-23: "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear (meaning single, as in not having double vision), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.

If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness?"

[Rick] (28:26 - 29:03) Now it's the eye, it's in the previous chapter and it's talking about light and darkness and the eye is the key. Here Jesus is telling us that our eye is the "lamp of the body" and it can't naturally be relied upon. In Matthew 7 he told us that the faults that are in our own eye, our own perceptions, need to be observed fully so we can recover full vision.

In Matthew 6 and Matthew 7 you've got this same powerful point. It's how you're able to see what you see. What is your vision actually showing you?

[Jonathan] (29:04 - 29:22) Rick, you and I know someone who literally went through a medical condition with double vision. Her doctor recommended physical therapy. It was a long process that had little to no improvement, but she kept at it and over time her brain rewired her eyesight to see clearly again.

[Rick] (29:23 - 29:44) Such a beautiful picture of exactly what Jesus is saying. Your eye needs to be full of light and in Matthew 7 it's, don't be judging. You've got to take the log out of your eye before you can see clearly.

The double vision has to be worked on. It has to be put in place so it can be a singular vision that glorifies God.

[Julie] (29:44 - 30:30) How do we change this faulty vision of ours? We focus our eye with, as it's saying, this singular vision-- not on judging others, but rather who do we look at?

We fix our eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us (that refers to wonderful examples of all the faithful men and women in the Bible) let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

[Jonathan] (30:30 - 30:40) We might call this having "sanctified eyesight." Our focus is single-minded and set apart for Jesus and the principles he taught.

[Rick] (30:40 - 31:08) You take that sanctified eyesight. Our learning how to appropriately judge requires clear focusing. It requires sanctified eyesight on how Jesus lived. He did not judge those who persecuted and tortured and killed him.

Instead, he died for them. Don't ever forget that fact. We focus,

we take that sanctified eyesight, we focus on Jesus. But there's more.

Now there's the next step. Hebrews 12:3:

[Jonathan] (31:09 - 31:20) "For consider (meaning really contemplate) him (Jesus), who has endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

[Rick] (31:20 - 31:37) It's not enough to just focus on Jesus. Now you have to contemplate. You have to keep what you see inside of you, and you have to work on it, and you have to give it space to grow and develop.

This is how we work the process of making the change we need to change.

[Julie] (31:37 - 31:53) It's difficult because often our judgment of others is driven by our own insecurity or our prejudice or feeling superior. Fixing our eyes on Jesus and contemplating his nonjudgmental approach can really refocus our eyes.

[Jonathan] (31:53 - 32:28) This reminds me of 1 Peter 2:21-23: "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth; and while being reviled, he did not revile in return;

while suffering, he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting himself to Him who judges righteously..." Jesus heard the words that were spoken, but he did not speak and retaliate. He is our perfect example to follow.

[Rick] (32:28 - 33:02) When you think about that perfect example, and it says at the beginning of those verses, "Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps..." You look at that and you marvel and you say, wow, look at what he did. "He did not revile in return..."

while suffering, he didn't utter any threats. You say, wow, that's amazing. Well, newsflash!

That's amazing so you can learn to do it. That's the point. It's there as your example.

This is how you contemplate on Jesus so that change can be made. The scripture goes into even more. Jonathan, let's go to 1 Peter 2:24-25:

[Jonathan] (33:03 - 33:19) "...and he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by his wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls."

[Rick] (33:19 - 34:44) Stop "straying like sheep" when it comes to the concept of judgment. We can't be looking through our own faulty vision because you've got these big old tree branches growing out of your eyes, and you can't see past them. What this is saying is, by his wounds you were healed.

Live in that healed fashion. This is how we learn to see so we can properly judge and stand as a representative of Christ. Here's the thing;

judgments do need to be made. Obviously, we've talked about that; but the problem is when we lead with the judgment.

We see the circumstance and we lead with going to judge-- I've got something to say here! That is not what Jesus is teaching.

That's not what the apostles are teaching. What they're teaching is, approach whatever the circumstance with Christlike humility, wisdom, and character, and let the judgment follow along because you're leading with a Christlike character. That's what this is teaching us.

We need to put that all in very, very clear perspective. Now we can more easily identify the sinful human patterns of arbitrary judgment, and they are toxic. What happens when something is toxic?

You get away from it really fast because it will kill you. Let's look at Romans 2:1-3, and this is the Apostle Paul's, in his own words, his repetition of what Jesus taught us in Matthew 7.

[Jonathan] (35:00 - 35:10) "Therefore you have no excuse, every one of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same things yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?"

[Julie] (35:11 - 35:19) It said you condemn yourself. That's a little bit harsher. That's to judge against--to sentence--so it's a finality to it.

[Rick] (35:19 - 35:55) Remember, Jesus said, you will be judged by the way you judge. Paul is basically saying, by your doing this, you're going to condemn yourself. He's being blunt.

He's being to the point. When we judge others with that judgment-led first approach, in that careless and self-unaware way, we bring a harsh sentence upon ourselves; and we give God--here's what we give Him--we give Him a panoramic view of our faulty character. We're saying, here it is, God, this is what I am. Don't we want to be Christlike and say, this is what I'm striving to become in spite of what I am?

See, that's the difference. That's how we need to look at this kind of thing.

[Jonathan] (35:55 - 36:12) One practical way to help us with our judgmental attitudes is to practice empathy. Put yourself in the other person's shoes. Consider their challenges and background.

Maybe this shift in perspective can help us soften our judgment.

[Julie] (36:12 - 36:43) I think one of the issues on passing judgment on another is we presume to know their motivation. Even if outwardly they appear to be doing the right thing, we judge their motives as being sinister. We say they have "ulterior motives."

I had to look up the word "ulterior." It means "existing beyond what is obvious or admitted; intentionally hidden." If we're accusing others in this way, we probably have a few secret motivations of our own that need to be brought into the light and examined more carefully.

[Rick] (36:43 - 36:46) You mean we probably have big old tree branches in our heart?

[Julie] (36:46 - 36:48) Yes, those big beams.

[Rick] (36:48 - 37:10) Yes, the ones that you can't see past. Because when you start judging somebody else's motives, what have you become? Something that you have no right to become.

That's where we need to put this. Back off! That's what the scriptures are telling us.

Judge appropriately in a Christlike fashion. We need to understand When To Judge and When Not To Judge:

[Julie] (37:11 - 37:29) Appropriate and godly Christian judgment is firmly and clearly based upon following the inspiring and principled pattern that Jesus set for us. With his example clearly established in our line of sight, we can readily compare our natural and faulty mindset with a God-honoring example.

[Jonathan] (37:29 - 37:36) Now we just need to make the necessary changes as we follow Jesus regarding our judgments.

[Rick] (37:36 - 37:55) We need to see it, we need to embrace it, and then we need to work on it. If we're paying attention to the standards of the Bible and setting an example of Jesus before us, then we can truly be excited--and that's hard to do in this situation sometimes--but be excited to apply what we're learning!

[Jonathan] (37:56 - 38:02) Now that we have identified a sound biblical basis for when and how to judge, what should we be walking away with?

[Rick] (38:03 - 38:46) Our takeaways from this lesson on appropriate judgment are many, and you can tell there's just a lot to think about here. The final end result is simple, as it has actually two main components: First, knowing what I know now, how do I perceive those around me when potential judgments arise?

Knowing what I know now, how do I see things? Do I have that big branch still in my eye, or have I been working on removing it? Then secondly, how am I going to distinctly change my approach to judging others to be done in a more Christlike fashion?

This is where we need to go. We need to put this right. Once again, let's just go back for a moment to Matthew 7:3:

[Jonathan] (38:47 - 38:57) "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?" Remember that word for "notice" means "to observe fully."

[Rick] (38:57 - 39:34) We want to take that thought of observing fully and learn how to apply it in a scriptural fashion. You have to observe fully the big old branch that's in your eye, because your brother's got a little twig in his eye. We have to say, okay, how do I observe that fully?

What do I do with this concept of full observation? Well, here is a principled example of how we're to notice, how we're to observe fully the brotherhood. Let's look at this.

First, it's self-examination. We remember where we came from and work on elevating our characters as disciples. James 1:21-25:

[Jonathan] (39:58 - 40:01) "...in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks (or fully observes) at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked (or fully observed) at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was."

[Rick] (40:02 - 40:31) Let's pause there after verse 24, because what James is saying in the epistle, if you're just a hearer of the word, you can go to the mirror and you can look at yourself and you can see yourself for what you truly are. You've heard the word and you see yourself. Then he says, and you walk away and then you forgot because you're not a doer of the word.

You're a hearer of the word. You can make the observation and you can do this-- I'm pretty good

(you pat yourself on the back), okay, I know what I've got to work on,

then you don't do it-- versus one who's a doer of the word. Starting with James 1:25:

[Jonathan] (40:32 - 40:44) "But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed..."

[Julie] (40:45 - 41:03) James has more to say about judging. For homework, we recommend reading James 4 about speaking evil about one another and judging our brother. In James 4:12 (Good News Translation), he says: "God is the only Lawgiver and Judge.

He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are to judge someone else?"

[Rick] (41:04 - 41:59) These are important principles. James is great, great homework to put this judgment in order. Focusing on Jesus and contemplating on his example, but not changing like that hearer of the word-- it's an exercise in futility.

The branches in our own eyes, the big old branches, how big are they? I don't know. I can't judge the branches in your eye.

Let's be clear. All I can do is look at myself and say, when I look at others, do I go down a judgment road? If I do, what's the branch that's making me go down that road?

What part of me is in the way? Because that's what it is; it's what part of me is in the way?

We need to be able to observe ourselves fully and then do something about it. Second part is that we take that elevated maturity from that full self-observation, and we learn to pour it out onto others in a Christlike fashion. Hebrews 10:22-24:

[Julie] (41:59 - 42:19) "...let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds."

[Rick] (42:19 - 43:16) That word "consider"--"let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds," that's to let us observe fully how "to stimulate one another to love and good deeds." Instead of looking at people and saying, I know what you're thinking, I know how you need to be corrected, the consideration should be, how do I contribute to your life in a way that brings love and goodness and Christlikeness? How do I pour out upon you that observation that lifts everybody up?

See, judgment follows only when it's needed. If we lead with it, we're in the wrong place. We have to have that sanctified thinking, that sanctified approach, so that we can do things in a Christlike fashion.

Let's go to a few more verses in Matthew 7 and refocus on looking to God as our source for all goodness. Let's look at Matthew 7:9-12:

[Jonathan] (43:16 - 43:41) "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

[Rick] (43:41 - 44:26) What do we have here? Jesus is saying all good things come from God. Look, fathers, even imperfect human beings, give good gifts to their children.

They're not going to do something to hurt them. God is not going to do something to hurt us. When we take the goodness of the teachings that Jesus was giving us, remember, Jesus said, I don't speak anything except the Father tells me what to say.

This is a teaching that comes from God through the man Christ Jesus to those of us who are listening. Let's take these things and put them in place. You know, Matthew 7:12: "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want people to treat you..."

That is the Golden Rule that everybody talks about, and it's a profound way to lead with high-level character and let judgment only follow when it's appropriate.

[Julie] (44:26 - 44:39) Isn't it ironic how Jesus was so emphatic about how to treat people, and yet he was literally judged to death for not meeting the expectations of how the Messiah should arrive and what he was there to do?

[Rick] (44:40 - 45:09) Yeah, judged to death. Literally. But again, he showed exactly the opposite.

Exactly the opposite. That's our example. We're supposed to walk in those footsteps.

Finally, as Christians, it's important for us to recognize the role of Christian liberty. Liberty. We're called upon to not judge another's conscience in matters of preference or maturity. Let's look at Romans 14:2-4:

[Jonathan] (45:09 - 45:54) "One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.

Who 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." We are so diverse in the brotherhood of Christ.

Everyone thinks and acts differently. We should embrace the differences without pushing our own way of seeing things. Let's respect Christian liberty and appreciate each other's individuality without trying to change each other.

[Julie] (45:55 - 46:19) Really good advice. Rick, we already saw in 1 Corinthians 6 the faithful followers of Jesus being involved with the judgment of the world and of angels in the future kingdom. But for our discussion about the here and now, let's answer our question:

Do Christians get to judge others? It seems like yes, but only in specific circumstances and with the right heart attitude.

[Rick] (46:19 - 47:46) Let's look at that question. Do Christians "get" to judge others? If we ask ourselves, hey, do I get to judge them?

No, you don't. Am I required to judge based on certain scriptural principles and putting things in a Christlike fashion and approaching it with humility and scriptural principle and godly wisdom and mercy? Yes, then you are required to.

But do I "get" to? Nope. I don't "get" to do any of that, because that's leading with humanity.

Jesus showed us, no, you don't "get" to. But yes, sometimes you are required to. That's the difference.

That's how we need to see this. Our kind understanding and loving treatment of others in these matters is just as important as matters of serious principle and morality that require judgment. Why?

Because it's all about Christlikeness. No matter what we do, no matter what we say, no matter how we think, no matter what the circumstance is, no matter, well, this time is different. No, it's not.

No, it's not. This time what it is, is another opportunity to make sure there's no log in my eye, that I have single vision, clear vision, so that I can see through godly vision and godly eyesight with godly mercy, scriptural compassion, to do the right thing; and judgment follows in an appropriate way.

Putting this all together, one last time, When to Judge and When Not to Judge:

[Jonathan] (47:47 - 48:10) While judging others is a very serious task that requires our highest spiritual integrity, there is also a blessed side to the whole matter. Whenever we apply proper judgment with a proper attitude, we will inevitably be living as an example of Christlikeness. This glorifies God, and that is the bottom line.

[Rick] (48:10 - 49:05) You're right. Glorifying God is the bottom line; not being right.

It's giving glory to our Heavenly Father by walking in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus. Judgment, yes, it's necessary. Should we put it out in front of us?

No. We let it come to us when it's appropriate for it to arrive. We put things in order, and we walk like Jesus walked, we act like Jesus acted, and we apply the principles that the writers of the New Testament gave us. Then judgment will appear when it needs to be handled and then be put away.

This is how Christian judgment should look according to the Word of God. Think about it. Folks, we love hearing from our listeners.

We welcome your feedback and questions on this episode and other episodes at ChristianQuestions.com. Coming up in our next episode, "Do I Have an Immortal Soul?"

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