We live in a day and an age when people are told that they are not to judge. To do this they quote one verse Matthew 7:1. This is the only verse they know. They do not realize that there are more than one verse in the Bible. One verse taken out of context leads to error. A correct rendering of Matthew 7:1 must also take into account through to verse 5 to have the proper understanding of what is being prohibited in verse 1. Matthew 7:1-5 reads, "Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4Or 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? 5Thou 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." The Lord Jesus Christ is obviously not talking that we should not judge serious matters in light of God’s word. The judging here would be hypocritical judging. That is doing the same thing you condemn in someone else.
How is it they quote Matthew 7:1 but not John 7:24? John 7:24 says, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." Here we are instructed by the Lord to judge righteously. One cannot use the Lord Jesus against the Lord Jesus. We are instructed to avoid hypocritical judgment and enjoined to judge according to truth which is according to God’s law.
Application
To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.
In fact, John 7:24 is an application of Leviticus 19:15 which reads, "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour." When we judge a matter, we are to do so impartially and fairly. We are not to judge by economic status but by the actual merits of the case. This is righteous judgment. We would demand the same for ourselves. The Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12 is applicable even in this instance, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Since Leviticus 19:15 comes from the law, this principle of treating others like you wanted be treated is appropriate.
In all cases of judgment, we are not be respecter of persons. Personality is not to be determinative of our decisions. The law of God is our standard by which we make our determinations. To says that we can never judge means that no one can be held accountable for their actions and denies the sin nature in the heart of man. It is antinomianism right out in the open. It is a love of the criminal rather than the victim. It is unrighteous judgment.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:15, "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." This means essentially the same thing as does 1 Timothy 1:8-10, "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." The civil law is not designed for the righteous man because he does not disobey the law. He is righteous, not unrighteous. The spiritual man, likewise judges everything, in determining whether it be from the Lord or no, but no man especially the natural man can judge him because he does not comprehend spiritual matters.
Our chosen text, prohibits unrighteous judgment but commands righteous judgment. Obviously, there are matters to be judged, otherwise, this verse would become absurd. We are to think analogically. This means to follow the example of the Lord. This is explained by Paul in Romans 2:5-8, "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath." Notice how God judges. He does so in righteousness, without showing favor to any man. With the Lord, you get what you deserve. In judgment He has no favorites. Do good and you get a positive judgment. Do wickedly and you will pay for your wickedness.
Conclusion
All matters deserve righteous judgment. Paul passes judgement on the unrighteous in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Paul judges here righteously. He judges and condemns what God has already judged and condemned. Go and do likewise.
No comments:
Post a Comment