Who Am I To Judge - Spiritual Discernment 

Leviticus 10:10, 11:47, 20:25; Ezekiel 44:23, Malachi 3:18 

You must distinguish... bin (995) - discern the difference 

1 Kings 3:9

(Solomon asked the LORD) give your servant a discerning heart...to distinguish between right and wrong.

(ESV - ...between good and evil.)

We will be judged with the same measure that we use to judge others (Matthew 7:2) and by our willingness to forgive (Luke 6:37-38, James 2:13a).

In our decision making, we should do nothing to cause a brother to stumble or fall (Romans 14:13) and recognize that mercy triumphs over judgment (Romans 14:1, James 2:13b).

But our mercy should never condone nor enable sin; the man healed at the Bethesda pool (John 5:14) and the woman caught in adultery (John 8:11) were told to stop sinning. 

We must be discernful, and are commanded to "examine" ourselves:

Our walk (1 Corinthians 11:28-32, Ephesians 4:1, 5:1-15, 1 John 2:6)

Our faith (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Our love (1 John 3:14-20)

Our motives/heart (Romans 2:16, 1 Corinthians 3:13, 4:5, Hebrews 4:13)

Our words (Matthew 12:36, Colossians 3:17, James 1:26)

Our actions (Matthew 16:24-27, 25:40,45, Romans 14:12, Corinthians 5:10, Galatians 6:4-10, James 1:22)

Our inaction (James 2:17,26, 4:17)

If we have proclaimed the “whole will of God” (Acts 20:27)

And others, within and without Christ's church

Those who hinder entrance into the Kingdom/salvation (Matthew 23:13-14)

"Dogs and pigs" (Matthew 7:6 – a reference to evangelistic discernment)

Agents of Satan (Elymas - Acts 13:10, Alexander - 2 Timothy 4:14-15, Diotrephes - 3 John 9-10) 

False prophets; wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15-23 “By their fruit you will recognize them”, Acts 20:28-31, 1 John 4:1)

False doctrine and false teachers (2 Corinthians 4:2, 11:4,13, Galatians 1:9, Philippians 3:2, 1 Timothy 1:3-7, Hebrews 13:9, James 3:1, 2 Peter 2, 1 John 2:18-23, 2 John 9)

Those who lead others into sin (Matthew 5:19, 18:7, 2 Timothy 3:2-8)

Those who “cause divisions and put obstacles in your way” (Romans 16:17, Titus 3:10-11)

Unrepentant sin and disobedience within the church (1 Corinthians 5, 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14, 1 Peter 4:17)

Those who by their actions bring reproach (shame, disgrace, or that which brings rebuke or censure) to the name of the LORD, to Jesus, and the church (Nehemiah 5:9, Romans 2:24)

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones  “Judge Not”

Matthew 7:1-6

1‘Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces’

We must remind ourselves that Christ taught Matthew chapter 7 primarily to His disciples, to Christian people. It is the final part of His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7. In Matthew chapter 5 verses 1 to 2 we read: ‘And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them saying:’ (Matt.5:1-2).

Our Lord has taught Matthew chapters 5 and 6 already. Now in Matthew chapter 7, Christ’s great theme is judgment and the Christian’s great need for spiritual discernment. He begins His teaching in Matthew chapter 7 with the warning in verse 1: ‘Judge not, that you be not judged’ (Matt.7:1).

The Greek word translated “judge” is “krino” which means: to judge, to decide, to distinguish or choose by means of separating one thing from another, to discern; to come to a choice or decision by making a judgment. Jesus states a principle and then He gives reasons for it. The important question is what does Christ really mean when He says, ‘Judge not’. It is vital that we know the correct interpretation of what Jesus means in this present time.

We live in a time of great confusion and of great compromise in the Christian Church. Many in the Church teach that we should accept anybody who says that they are Christians, and not to use any spiritual discernment to know what they really believe. They refer to Jesus’ words ‘Judge not’ to justify their position. But this is a very wrong understanding of what Jesus is teaching. So, what does Jesus mean when He says, “Judge not”?

(1) Firstly, let us Consider a Wrong Interpretation of Christ’s command “Judge not” which is very common among modern ‘Christians’.

Many people say that the true Christian should never express an opinion about other people. They say that we must be tolerant of everybody so that we can all have “unity”. From the very context alone, it is clearly impossible that this is what Jesus means. In Matthew chapter 7 verse 6 Jesus says: ‘Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces’ (Matt.7:6).

How can we practice that if we do not use judgment and discernment? How can we know what kind of person can be described as a “dog” without using judgment? Immediately after Jesus says, ‘Judge not’, He calls us to use judgment and discernment. Again, in verse 15 of this chapter 7 Jesus says:

‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves’ (Matt.7:15).

You and I cannot ‘beware of false prophets’ if we do not listen to what they teach and use judgment about all of their teachings. The false teachers come in ‘sheep’s clothing’ masquerading as true Christians. They use Christian terminology and outwardly they look honest and sincere, ‘but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.’ We must use judgment and discernment in order to see their lies and deception.

(2) Secondly, the Bible Teaches us that Judgment is Very Necessary.

The Bible warns us that if we don’t use judgment and spiritual discernment then we are not doing our duties as good Christians.

There are 3 Very Important Aspects of this.

1. The First Aspect is that the Bible Clearly Teaches that Judgment in the Church is Absolutely Necessary.

The Apostle Paul told the Christians at Corinth to judge the person living in sexual immorality in 1 Corinthians chapter 5. Again, in first Corinthians chapter 11 verses 23 to 34, the Apostle Paul commanded all Christians to judge themselves before partaking in the Lord’s Supper. In verse 27 he says:

‘Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord’ (1 Cor.11:27).

2. The Second Aspect is that the Bible Clearly Teaches that Judgment Must be used in matters of Doctrine.

The epistles in the New Testament were mainly written to Christian Churches who were facing false teachings and were confused. The best example of this is given in the epistle to the Galatians where false teachers had come in and taught the believers that they needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. In Galatians chapter 1 verses 8 to 9 the Apostle Paul says:

‘But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed’ (Gal.1:8-9).

3. The Third Aspect is that Jesus Christ Himself Commands us to use Judgment.

In John chapter 7 verse 24 Jesus said to the Jews: ‘Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment’ (John 7:24).

Then in Luke chapter 16 verse 15 Jesus said to the Pharisees:

‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God’ (Luke 16:15).

Jesus is teaching judgment the entire time. These are just a few examples from the Bible to prove that Jesus’ statement ‘Judge not’ cannot mean that we should never judge or use discernment to arrive at conclusions.

(3) Thirdly, what Jesus Does Mean When He said, ‘Judge not’.

Jesus warns us of the terrible danger of expressing judgment in a condemning, hypocritical and arrogant way. When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, He was warning His own disciples to be very careful not to become like the Pharisees. The Pharisees were very boastful and wanted everybody to see them and praise them. They were self-righteous, and had a judgmental attitude towards others, and thinking that they were superior to others.

In Luke chapter 18 verses 9 to 14, Jesus gave a perfect picture of this saying:

9 “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others. 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax-collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax-collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat on his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus is denouncing the judging and condemning attitude of the Pharisees towards others. When He said, ‘Judge not’, He is warning us about having a self-righteous spirit that condemns others. It is “self” feeling that we are superior to others. It is this evil spirit that looks down on others, and feels that we are all right while everybody else is wrong.

The best explanation of this kind of spirit is found in Romans chapter 14. The Christians at Rome had been judging one another in things like food and drink and regarding one day as more important than another. The Apostle Paul teaches them that such things are wrong and totally not important. In Romans chapter 14 verse 17 Paul says: ‘For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ (Rom.14:17).

The most important thing that we must remember is that we are all being judged by God. In Romans chapter 14 verse 12 Paul says: ‘So then, each of us shall give account of himself to God’ (Rom.14:12).

God is the Judge. There are essential doctrines in the Christian faith which we must stand for and never compromise. We must emphasize these essential doctrines and not issues that are not important in the kingdom of God. That is primarily the meaning of the spirit of the person who is guilty of judgment.

Jesus does not mean that we should not expose false teachings or not reprove the sins of others. What Christ means is having an overcritical and fault-finding spirit like the Pharisees had, is wrong and evil.

Let us pray that God will deliver us from having an evil judgmental spirit, and give us spiritual discernment to be able to correctly judge good from evil as per the teaching of the Bible.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer  Life Together

Nothing can be more cruel than the tenderness that consigns another to his sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe rebuke that calls a brother back from the path of sin.