Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged

He That is Without Sin

A phrase that has been used consistently lately by many people is the phrase, "(Mat 7:1 Judge not lest ye be judged.)" It is as common as written words lately. Much of the time it is used when someone has been told they believe wrong, speak wrong, etc. . . So how are Christians supposed to act or say when someone is believing wrong things or teaching wrong things? Are we to allow people to believe every wind of doctrine even though it may take them into hell?

Another verse of scripture that is overused is (Joh 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.) Two scriptures here that seem to be very direct and in fact were spoken by Jesus himself. There is a problem in the way they are used, however. If they stood alone with no other verses around them, then yes they would mean exactly what they say. In order to truly understand them, one must read more than just the two verse. The surrounding verses must also be read. The full context of what is being said must be read and understood.

Let's first take a look at John 8:7. The Pharisees had brought a woman out to Jesus and accused her of committing adultery, of which she was indeed guilty. They brought the woman to Jesus and put her in the center telling Jesus of her heinous act. They demanded that she be judged according to the law. A few things come to my mind. Where was the man with whom she committed adultery? How did so many Pharisees find out about the act?

It makes me wonder if they were watching or maybe even set her up in some way. They were also testing Jesus hoping to find some way of accusing Him of heresy. If Jesus had told them to stone her, He would have had them stoned also for participating in the act. He also would have asked for the man to be brought and stoned also. Jesus didn't actually say, "Don't stone her." He knew what the law required. He simply said to them, "If you are without sin, cast the first stone."

They all knew they were guilty. He knew what they were up to when they first brought the woman out to Him. One must also keep in mind that these are the same people who had tried many times to trap Jesus. They were snakes in the grass so to speak and could not be trusted. Their word was not reliable. (Joh 7:25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? Joh 7:26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? ) Many fail to realize that earlier Jesus made another statement. (Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.) We are to judge but only judge in righteousness. Sort of like seeing a man who is filthy and dirty. If we judge him by his filthy and dirty appearance only, we have judged him wrongly. he may be a man who works at a job in which filth and dirt is a part of life. Coal miners who work underground can't help but get filthy during their shift at work.

Judge Not

In addressing Matthew 7:1, it must be taken in context just as John 8:7. Let's read more than one scripture.( Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. ) We are exhorted to make sure we are right with God before judging anything. This is about removing the beam from your own eye first. Then we can make sound and righteous judgments.

We are to judge, but judge carefully and righteously. we must always remember, there is a soul at stake. We cannot judge in a hypocritical manner and be right with God. Jesus made judgments all through the gospels.( Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ) Jesus made judgment in these two scriptures. Can we be like Christ if we do the opposite of what He did?

In Conclusion

We must look at more scriptures. We are to have nothing to do with darkness other than to expose it where it manifests itself. ( Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. ) We must do the commands that God gave us through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.