How to Judge People

Yep! You read it right. This really is a blog post on how to judge people. Much as I’d have loved to jump right into it, I think it safe to first clear some doubts on whether or not we should “judge” people.

“Judge not, that you be not judged.”

Matthew 7:1 (NKJV)

How many times have you seen this scripture being brought up, whether directly or indirectly, when an attempt to correct a perceived wrong is being made? More times than you can probably remember. It’s about as effective as actors attempting to ward off a vampire with a cross and holy water steeped in garlic- variable results, depending on who the director is.

But was Jesus really admonishing us not to judge, or correct, or call out wrongs in this verse? He does say “judge not”. But that’s not the whole sentence, is it?

Matthew 7:1 is one of those underrated verses that really need to be read in context, but usually isn’t. It helps to read the first two (the first five, actually) verses of the chapter.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV)

Jesus was in no way prohibiting judgment or the use of godly wisdom, common sense, and moral courage to distinguish between wrong and right and to judge doctrinal truth. In fact, there are multiple instances where believers are instructed to make judgments (see John 7:24, 1 Corinthians 5:5,12, Galatians 1:8-9, 1 John 4:1-3, 2 John 10).

What He did say is that taking on the responsibility of calling out a wrong will be rewarded by a divine inquest into your own doings. But more on this later.

“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.”

John 8:7 (KJV)

This is from the story of Jesus and the woman accused of adultery. It’s not as favoured as Matthew 7:1, but it’s another common pseudo quotation tendered when the issue of “judgment” arises. Again, it’s important to read this very beautiful story carefully and in context.

After Jesus makes the above statement, none of the woman’s accusers cast a stone, and they all skulked off shortly after. Jesus then says something important;

“Jesus… asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”… “Then neither do I condemn you… Go now and leave your life of sin.“

John 8:10-11 (NIV Paraphrased)

See how Jesus differentiated condemnation from pointing out where she was wrong? The power to condemn anyone to (spiritual) death lies only in the hand of God. And as God has justified those who believe in Him through Jesus, who are you to condemn?

When your calling out a wrong strays into condemning a person, you’re beginning to go on a fool’s errand; a business not profitable to God’s Kingdom.

So how do we go about the actual act of judging? Aw snap! We going to have to talk about that next time. 😉