Judging
Pastor Jerry Wilhite,
author
Judging keeps one in bondage to whatever or who ever they are judging.
To avoid judging is the same as avoiding debt judging is bondage of a yoke no lighter than that of debt.
Judging keeps one in bondage to whatever or who ever they are judging.
To avoid judging is the same as avoiding debt judging is bondage of a yoke no lighter than that of debt. If you judge you will not forgive what is the first step to forgiveness in general is ending judging.
When you judge you are condemning and condemning is not forgiving, so to judge is to throw forgiveness and salvation out the window. It is saying you do not believe, because if you did you would believe His word and judge.
But more so judging ties one into bondage first un-forgiveness, then into revenge, anger, even hate.
Matthew 7
1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
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?
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?
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.
If you judge another you are saying you are superior to them in some way. And then when you meet the Lord on judgement day you have to meet up to the level of judgement you met out to others here.
A good way to avoid judging others is to judge your life in and with God in His love.
It is in the nature of mankind to judge. This is not of God; it is something that came along with sin and is a part of sin.
I could go on and list a lot more, but hardly ever do people hold themselves to the same high standard by which they judge others. The sad thing is that most are wrong, incorrect, because they do not know all there is to know about another person.
Let’s consider someone who is taking drugs. No I am not in favor of anyone taking illegal drugs, but before you judge them based on it, learn the truth about them. In some cases people got hooked on painkillers and the doctor stopped writing them prescriptions. So they seek out those who can supply their need. Doctors for the most part do not help the patient with their addiction or even try hard enough to find out if the patient is even addicted to the drugs that THEY prescribed for them. In some rare cases the person was addicted at birth or has some rare disease that is extremely painful and they need help. Some addicts are professionals such as interns and doctors who took pills to help them stay awake during long hours of studying or on duty. They were just trying to do their job, not get "high".
Let’s consider smokers. People who do not smoke will judge them, but some smokers do not indulge in other activities that would be considered as vices like drinking alcohol, doing drugs, cheating on their spouse, gluttony, etc. But to the one judging them they are terrible simply for smoking while the one judging has their own skeletons in their closet and some are a lot worse than smoking.
Now do not take what I am saying as if I am for or support any of this. I am just pointing out a few facts.
Matthew 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?
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?
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.
When Jesus stated what He did in Matthew 7:3-5 He did not say it to mean that some form of judging is ok, but to point out that before you ever judge another first make sure you are pure. None of us are pure, but Jesus was and when He had the chance to judge and should have, based on the law, but He did not; He forgave.
John 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.
8. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11. She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
It seems unnatural to be expected to live without judging anyone for anything, but it is natural. Judging is unnatural. Judging was something that came with sin and is a part of the world. We learn to judge from the world.
Matthew 7
1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
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?
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?
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.
Do not judge so that you will be not judged. If God judges us we will fall far short of where we need to be for our salvation. Did you know that Jesus did not come into the world to judge but to save?
John 3
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The word "condemn" in the above verse in the Greek means to "judge". So if Jesus did not come to judge, who are we to judge anyone?
Why do I write so much about not judging and forgiveness? They are two of the most important parts of our salvation and the next life for each of us.
We are to confess Jesus, not judge, and forgive. If we judge others and do not forgive them then it is questionable whether or not we ever knew Jesus.
Matthew 6
14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
I have consolidated all other studies about Judging below, so if you continue you will see some things already mentioned, mentioned again.
Satan has us judging and condemning each other and divided over issues that have nothing to do with our salvation.
To judge is to condemn damn, conclude or to avenge as well as judge. So when we judge others we are condemning ourselves to the same judgment as we judge others. If we judge ourselves we will first be too busy judging our selves to judge others, and we will also see that there is so much wrong in us, it is hard to judge others for any reason.
Think about Satan laughing at you, and all he can control. If you are any part of the above, or what I am going to talk about, you should be angry at Satan and want to change and be in the drivers seat instead of being driven.
Ask yourself the following:
1. Do you judge others?
Do you judge, condemn or tell others they are wrong for their belief?
Are you sure you are right? Because if you are wrong and change someone else you have taken them with you on the wrong path in their growth in the Lord. I have found that telling anyone else to change usually just keeps us tied up in a debate that most of the time will not change anyone's belief, but may, instead, send those watching away from the Lord.
2. Are you unforgiving?
Have you anyone that you have not forgiven?
Have you forgiven yourself in all areas?
3. Doubt and unbelief will keep someone from growing but not like the first two do.
Here are the top three things we should do:
1. Never Judge
Matthew
1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
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?
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?
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.
John 3
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
It is sad how many believers know John 3:16 and not 3:17. If Jesus did not come to condemn, and to condemn means to judge, so if He will not judge what right do we have?
Oh, you say, it says to judge the fruit. Well, let's look at that and let's see what fruit it is we are to judge.
Matthew 7
12. 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.
Here is more reason for us to treat others right. Would you want someone to kill you, or a loved one, or steal from you, or worse? Well, think about what v12 means in how you treat others.
Matthew 7
13. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Some of you may think, based on the above verse, we have a right and a need to judge others. It does not say judge, but that as you observe them they will have the fruit evident in their lives. Isn’t that the fruit of their labors? Isn’t it stated that faith without works is dead?
Matthew 7
21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
As you can see in verses 21-22 these people had fruits of their labors and they even said they did it in the name of Jesus. But Jesus tells them to depart that He never knew them. So, if it is not the fruit of our labor what fruit is it?
First understand God is a Spirit, and when we talk about the Spirit we are talking about God.
John 4
24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Galatians 5
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
So, the true fruit is that of God, that of the Spirit. It is the fruit you cannot produce without the Spirit of God in you. And so the only fruit that counts is this fruit.
But if you have the fruit of God's Spirit you will also produce all the other fruit as well. His fruit must come first, and then the other fruit will be true fruit, the kind that will survive and grow and not wither and die.
Here is a bonus section: have you ever, felt guilt about something that you know you should not.
I have a bad back and we have a pool and one of the reasons we got the pool was to help me so I could exercise in the pool. But during the week while my wife is at work I feel guilty about using the pool, so I don't and that means my back is getting worse and will need surgery. But if I had been using it my back might be better, the muscles that are not being used may be helping if I had used the pool. Do you see how Satan turned my guilt against me, and I allowed him to hurt me?
If whatever you think or feel is of confusion, doubt, negative in any way the opposite of any of the fruit of the Spirit then it is not of God but of Satan.
2 Corinthians 10
5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Paul warned us that our thoughts were where our problem was at, that we accept the thoughts as our own and then acted upon them. But the truth is thoughts come from one of two sources, either they are forced on us by the world and everything of the world(Satan). Or we seek the Father's thoughts taking any that are not of God and cast them down and take the rest into captivity to the obedience of Christ. And since Christ is the spirit via the anointing that would be into obedience of God.
John 4
24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
If we live our lives for the Lord we will live in love, joy, peace and all the fruit of the Spirit and live a happy life. But if we do not, we will bicker, argue, and fight over the smallest of things. Our marriages will collapse and our families will suffer.
I have known, and consulted with, Christians who have had two, three and more marriages and cannot understand why they do not work. The problem is they are not living their life for the Lord first and foremost, allowing Satan to get in and mess up the works.
Read Matthew 6,7 - Mark 11:22-26 - Hebrews 11:1,6 and John (the entire book) over and over until it gets down into you.
You can find faith in Romans 10:17, salvation in Romans 10:9-10 and proof of your salvation in Romans 8:16
These will help you grow, but first and foremost put God first. Spend time every day listening for that tiny voice to grow and when it does keep listening and follow it. But test it to be sure it is God. We are told to do so and how to do it in I John 4:1-3.
And remember to turn all cares and concerns over to the Lord. If He has them and you do not, then you have more time for Him.
If you do not start living your life for the Lord and stop for everything else you will miss the whole boat. And ask yourself, "What Would Jesus Do?"
Remember people judge God based on our lifestyle how we live, act and what we say.
.
Unfortunately there are those who will judge and condemn based on the law and have not learned that grace is not a time to judge but to forgive.
Romans 8
1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.