Judge Not
Many secular sources often quote today’s scripture as proof that we are to allow all types of behaviors. When they are confronted with the truth of scripture which states their behavior to be sin, they instantly fall back on Jesus’ words to “Judge not, and you will not be judged…” However, when we look at scripture as a whole, we can understand this was not the intent of God’s words.
The Greek word used here for judge is krino. Throughout scripture, it is used to mean the act of separating or choosing, to prefer one over the other. It has been used to mean to be of an opinion, and even to rule. This is what Jesus warns us not to do, though sometimes it must be done by those called to this position, for instance a judge in a court of law and even the jury. I believe that is why Christ connected “and you will not be judged” to the prohibition. Consider also James 3:1. Here, we are told: “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.” Both of these admonitions serve to give the reader pause. When we understand that God is the final judge who deals fairly with us, we are more apt to judge righteously and to teach what is true according to scripture and not our own minds.
Before we close the book on judgement, it is important to understand the difference between “judge” and “discern”. Judgment evaluates things based on our perception. We gather information and then separate or choose which is holy and which is not. But what if our perception is flawed? What if we don’t know or see the whole story? It must be, mustn’t it? No one can know the heart of a man except for God. Peter, speaking of Jesus in Acts 10:42 declared Jesus to be the only one could judge when he said: “And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” However, to judge is not the same as to use discernment.
Discernment (aesthesis in Greek) is used in scripture to denote a decision made not only by the senses (what we can see and hear) but by our intellect. It represents an understanding of ethical matters. Discernment is not only applauded in scripture, but also a goal for believers. Philippians 1:9-11 tells us, “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” When we walk in discernment, we rely on scripture and our understanding of the will of God to make our decisions. We are then still placing that judgment in God’s hands. Sin is not what we believe it to be. Sin is what God declared it to be. It is not our judgment, but God’s. The fruit of our life and our choices should reflect our commitment to comparing everything to God’s Word.
Therefore, let us judge not. Let us not separate or prefer one person as worthy of redemption over another. Let us not use our opinions and our preconceived notions to cast a verdict on anyone. Instead, let us measure what we see and hear against what we know God has declared to be true. Let us use discernment to place that judgment into God’s hands. Let us strive to understand ethical and spiritual matters with the knowledge which comes from God.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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