Is it wrong to judge?

Welcome to Midway Church of Christ

What’s Your Question? for August 5, 2009

The statement of Jesus, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Mt. 7:1), is often taken out of context and interpreted to contradict other passages. The kind of judging Jesus was talking about is hypocritical judging – detecting a speck of sawdust in another’s eye, but ignoring the plank in your own (Mt. 7:2-5). Jesus also said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (Jn. 7:24). Righteous judgment involves getting the facts, using the right standard and being consistent. When Jesus said “beware of false prophets” (Mt. 7:15), that demands righteous judgment. He also said a tree is known by its fruit (Mt. 7:16-20). When you judge righteously, you are just a fruit inspector, not the kind of judge that Jesus condemned. Often those who criticize others of judging, are guilty of unrighteous judgment themselves.