Is It Right To Judge?

Leviticus 19:15, "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment...but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour."

Deuteronomy 1:16, "...Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him."

The Lord Jesus Christ commanded, "Judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). He told a man, "Thou hast rightly judged" (Luke 7:43). To others, our Lord asked, "Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" (Luke 12:57).

Our brother Paul wrote, "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say" (1 Corinthians 10:15). Again, Paul declared, "He that is spiritual judgeth all things" (1Corinthians 2:15). It is our positive duty to judge.

"Beware of false prophets!" (Matthew 7:15) is the warning and command of our Lord. But how could we "beware" and how could we know they are "false prophets" if we did not judge? And what is the God-given standard by which we are to judge? "To the Law and to the Testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them " (Isaiah 8:20). Christ said "Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16). And in judging the "fruits," we must judge by God's Word, not by what appeals to human reasoning. Many things seem good to human judgment which are false to the Word of God.

Our brother Paul admonished believers, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17-18). This apostolic command could not be obeyed were it not right to judge. Our Father wants us to know His Word and then test all teachers and teaching by it. Notice also that it is the false teachers who make the "divisions," and not those who protest against their false teaching. And these deceivers are not serving Christ, as they profess, "but their own belly," or their own "bread and butter" as we would put it. We are to "mark them" and "avoid them."

"Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."(1 Corinthians 5:13).

"Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." (2 Corinthians 6:17; read also verses 14-18)

"From such withdraw thyself."(1 Timothy 6:5).

"From such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:5).

"Withdraw yourselves." (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

"Have no company with him." (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." (Ephesians 5:11)

"Avoid them. (Romans 16:17).

It would be impossible to obey these injunctions of God's Word unless it were right to judge. And remember, nothing is "good" in God's eyes that is not true to His Word.

Our brother John wrote, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test, judge] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). When we judge others, we are not judging them personally, but we are judging their spirit. It is not the man we judge, but the spirit within man. If somebody's actions are evil, we do not chastise the man himself, but the evil within him.

Again he wrote, "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh... If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 7, 10-11). This Scripture commands us to judge between those who do and those who do not bring the true doctrine of Christ.

One of the best known and most important and misapplied Scriptures is "Judge not" at Matthew 7:1. Let us examine the entire passage:

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considereth not the beam that is in thine own eye? 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? Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)

Read this again carefully. Notice that it is addressed to a hypocrite--not to those who sincerely want to discern whether a teacher or teaching is true or false to God's Word. And instead of being a prohibition against honest judgment, it is a solemn warning against hypocritical judgment. In fact, the last statement of this passage commands sincere judgment--"Then thou shalt see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."

If we take a verse or a part of a verse out of its setting, we can make the Word of God appear to teach the very opposite of what it really does teach. And those who do this cannot escape the judgment of God for twisting His Word (2 Peter 3:16). Let this be a warning to us never again to take a text or Scripture out of its context.

Many who piously quote, "Judge not," out of its connection, in order to defend that which is false to God's Word, do not see their own inconsistency in thus judging those who would obey God's Word about judging that which is untrue to the scriptures. It is a travesty that so much that is an anti-Christ spirit has found undeserved shelter behind a misuse of the Scripture just quoted.

The reason "the Church" is today honeycombed and paralyzed by Satanic Modernism is because those who call themselves Christians have not obeyed the command of God's Word to judge and put away and separate from false teachers and false teaching when they first appeared in their midst. Physical health is maintained by separation from disease germs. Spiritual health is maintained by separation from germs of false doctrine. The greatest peril of our day is not too much judging, but too little judging of spiritual falsehood. God wants His children to be like the noble Bereans who "searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11).

The following passage is also addressed to the religious hypocrite who condemned himself because he was guilty of the same things for which he condemned others.

Romans 2:1, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things...And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? "

Another misapplied passage is:

James 4:11, "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge."

James 4:11 refers to an evil spirit of backbiting and fault finding, not to judging whether teachers or teachings agree or disagree with God's Word. The Bible never contradicts itself. To understand one portion of Scripture we must view it in the light of all Scripture. "No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private (isolated) interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20). "Comparing spiritual things (the Word) with spiritual (the Word) " (1 Corinthians 2:13).

The "Wheat and the Tares" parable of Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, is also much misunderstood. First of all, our Lord is talking about the world, not His ecclesia--"the field is the world." He goes on to say that "the good seed are the children of the Kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one" (Matthew 13:38). The two groups are: the wheat being in the world, the tares being of the world; the children of God are those who have received Christ (John 1:12), and the children of the wicked one are those who reject Christ (John 8:44). When any of the "children of the wicked one" attempt to become members of the body of Christ, as they have always done, a definite procedure for God's children is set forth in His Word. First, it is their duty to tell them that they have "neither part nor lot" in Christ (see Acts 8:21-23 and context). If the children of the devil do not leave voluntarily, as is generally the case, God's children are commanded to "purge out" these unbelievers (1 Corinthians 5:7). But God's people have disobeyed His Word about this, and so unbelievers have taken control in mant areas, as is now the case in most denominations.

Therefore, those who purpose to be true to Christ and His Word are commanded to "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (2 Corinthians 6:17), regardless of any other considerations. When we obey God's Word, we can trust Him to take care of all the consequences of our obedience.

Unrightous conduct of professed believers in Christ is to be judged. 1 Corinthians chapter 5 tells a sad story and closes with the Apostolic injunction, "Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (2 Corinthians 5:13). We are to rubuke our neighbor and not suffer sin upon him, otherwise we are an accessory to his crime (Leviticus 19:17). If we don't warn our neighbor of his sin, his blood is on our hands (Ezekiel 3:17-20; 33:6-8).

Proverbs 9:8, "...rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee."

Luke 17:3, "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."

1 Timothy 5:20-22, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear....neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure."

2 Timothy 4:2, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."

Titus 1:13, "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;"

Titus 2:15, "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."

Disputes between fellow-servants of Christ concerning "things that pertain to this life" (1 Corinthians 6:3) should be judged by a tribunal of fellow Christians instead of going before unbelievers in the civil courts. The whole sixth chapter of 1 Corinthians makes clear God's plan for His people in this regard. And some startling truths are here revealed: First, "the saints shall judge the world." Second, "we shall judge angels" (1 Corinthians 6:2- 3). Beloved, are we letting God prepare us for this high place?

We ought to judge ourselves. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Corinthians13:5). "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:31-32). What a change and what a blessing it would be if we would judge our own faults as uncharitably as we do the faults of others--and if we would judge the failings of others as charitably as we do our own! And "professing Christians" could save themselves much chastening of the Lord if they would judge and confess and cease their disobedience to God. And, O, how much dishonour and lack of fruit would our blessed Lord be spared!

Proverbs 24:25, "He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations. But they that rebuke him shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them."

If we cannot judge one another, then how are we to excommunicate other brothers when they do contrary to God's Will? In order to excommunicate another, one must pass judgment according to God's Will. Here are some verses on how we must pass judgment and carry out the sentence of excommunication:

Matthew 18:15-17, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."

Romans 16:17-18, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

1 Timothy 6:3-5, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."

2 Timothy 3:2-5, "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

1 Corinthians 5:9-13, "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

As we see, Paul did not command us wholly to abstain from intercourse with worldly men, for that would require us to retire from the world. It is not the will of God that good men should retire from the world to avoid its evils; nor is that the way to become more holy, useful, or happy. Our duty is to communicate with the wicked, for the purpose of doing them good. It is important to notice that Paul did not give directions concerning our conduct towards the heathen, but towards our brothers. This is very important.

Paul is saying here that we may transact our worldly concerns with someone that knows not God, and makes no profession of Christ, whatever his character may be; but we must not even acknowledge a man professing Christ, who is evil in his conduct. Let him have this extra mark of your abhorrence of all sin; and let the world see that the assembly of God does not tolerate iniquity.

Paul says, "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?" The term without signified those who were not members of the Christ's assembly, and in this sense it is "those that are without." In other words, "Does it belong to me to pass sentence on those which are without - which are not members of the Christ's assembly? By no means. Pass ye sentence on them which are within - which are members of the Christ's assembly: those which are without - which are not members of the Christ's assembly, God will pass sentence on, in that way in which he generally deals with the heathen world."

Paul also says, "But put ye away the evil from among yourselves." Those who are false brethren ought to be cast out of the congregation. As for those who are outside of it, they must be left to the judgment of God. If members of the Christ's assembly continue in evil, sin, and unrighteousness, their good, the good of the Christ's assembly, and the honor of Christ require that they should be excluded from it.

When Paul said, "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without", it was not Paul's business, nor ours, to judge those without; hence the rule just given is not one to regulate our intercourse with them.

When Paul said, "Do not ye judge them that are within?", He was saying the authority of the Christ's assembly is over those who have been united with it. It can judge them. Is not your jurisdiction as bondservant of Christ confined to those who are within the Christ's assembly, and professed members of it? Ought you not to exercise discipline there, and inflict punishment on its unworthy members? Do you not in fact thus exercise discipline, and separate from your assembly unworthy men; and ought it not to be done in this instance, and in reference to the offender in your assembly?

Paul also stated, "Them that are without, God will judge." The passing sentence on the heathen God hath reserved to Himself. The unconverted are left in the hands of God. He will judge them according to their deeds. We are not to seek to inflict punishment on them by shunning them, but rather to go to them in the love of Christ to try to lead them to repentance.

When Paul said, "Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person", this sentence of excommunication in language is taken from the Old Testament, where the like directions are given to the congregation of Israel, relative to a man found guilty of evil:

Deuteronomy 13:5, "…So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee."
Deuteronomy 17:7, "So thou shalt put the evil away from among you."
Deuteronomy 24:7, "…and thou shalt put evil away from among you."

Discipline must be exercised in the Christ's assembly; without this it will soon differ but little from the wilderness of this world. If evil be tolerated, the work of God cannot prosper there. The passing sentence on brothers properly belongs to us. This is a summary order to execute discipline upon the incestuous offender. But those without the assembly properly belong to God to judge.

Just as in the Old Testament, God's children were to judge one another, those within their gates. As far as the stranger (gentile), they were to judge only those strangers within their gates, even though God's Law applied to all people, whether strangers or Jews (just as today, God's Law applies to all people, but our judgment is limited to those within our jurisdiction). If a Jew saw a gentile committing adultery outside the gates, they were not to stone him with stones, because God judges the gentiles outside the jurisdiction of His People. Likewise, bondservants of Christ are not to judge and take action against unbelievers who are outside our jurisdiction. But those who are within the gates of Jerusalem, including the gentiles who were sojourning among them, and God's children, they are to be judged by those within that community. That is still our duty today, to judge our brother, and take appropriate action against that brother.

We are not to judge motives (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). Only God can see into the heart and know the motives that underlie actions, both good and evil.

We are also not to judge who is saved. "The Lord knoweth them that are His" (2 Timothy 2:19). We cannot look into anyone's heart and say whether or not they have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, if they profess that they have. But we had better test ourselves according to 2 Corinthians 5:17: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." If this change has not taken place, our profession is vain.

We are not to reprove a scorner or mocker, it'll only provoke a quarrel (Proverbs 9:8). We should not reprove those who have an impure mind and swinish heart (Matthew 7:6), nor those who are full of pride, conceit, and so satisfied with their own wisdom (Matthew 15:14, Acts 5:38). Also, we should not speak in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words (Proverbs 23:9).

The New Testament Greek word that is most often translated "judge" or "judgment" is "krino." On the one hand, it means to distinguish, to decide, to determine, to conclude, to try, to think and to call in question. That is what God wants His children to do as to whether preachers, teachers and their teachings are true or false to His Word.

Our brother Paul writes: "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent" (Philippians1:9-10). A wrong idea of love and lack of knowledge and judgment causes God's people often to approve things that are anything but excellent in God's eyes. The epistle to the Hebrews tells us that mature believers, that is, those who are of "full age," are those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14).

Proverbs 11:14, "They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety."

Proverbs 12:1, "Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is a fool."

Proverbs 13:1, "A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke."

Proverbs 27:5, "Open rebuke is better than secret love."

Ecclesiastes 7:5, "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools."

All of God's children should watch against the tendency of the flesh to assume a critical and censorious attitude toward those who do not share our opinions about other matters than those which have to do with godly doctrine and righteous conduct as God has shown us. Rather than "pick to pieces" our brethren in Christ, it is our privilege and duty to do everything we can to encourage their spiritual upbuilding. We ought to love and pray for one another and consider ourselves lest we be tempted.

Let us not forget that "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:10). It will be well with those who are studying God's Word, walking in the light of it, and living for Christ and the salvation of souls. It will go ill with those who have accepted Christ but who are living for the things of this world.

If you are a mere professor of Christ, or profess nothing, we must lovingly remind everyone that "judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel?" (1 Peter 4:17). We must not delay another moment to ask our Father for Christ's sake to forgive our sins. To surrender our heart and will to the loving Saviour who died for us. We must make Him the Lord of our whole life. Happy and blessed will we be, now and forever.

Revelation 3:19, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."