It is easy to judge others based on our own experience, beliefs, and values. But in the Bible, it is clear that the act of judging someone else is wrong. The Bible is clear in its instructions to not judge others, with one of the most well known and well quoted verses being Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
This verse is saying that before we judge someone else, we should remember that we shall also be judged by the same standard. Whatever we judge someone else with, will be applied to us. The golden rule of ‘do unto others as you would have done to you’ is often linked to this verse.
Furthermore, in the same chapter of Matthew – verse 5 – Jesus goes on to tell his followers “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”. This further emphasises the point of not judging others, as it tells us to focus on ourselves and our own lives before we try to point out the faults in another.
We may think we are helping by pointing out what we see in someone else, but in this verse Jesus warns us that if we do, we become hypocrites. Only when we have conquered and dealt with our own problems can we look at others and help in the right way.
The Bible does not say it is wrong to help one another and to encourage each other In Romans 14:13 we see “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way”. We can still help and advise each other, but we should not pass judgement. We are not in a place to decide what is right or wrong for someone else.
Overall, the Bible tells us to avoid judging someone else. We should focus on ourselves first and find ways to be less judgemental. Asking questions and being understanding are both better ways to help and encourage each other.
The History of Judging In the Bible
The theme of judgemement is found throughout the books of the Bible and is a concept that has been considered since the dawn of civilisation. In the Old Testament, we are told to not take vengeance or bear a grudge against others (Leviticus 19:18). In all of the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly says that it is wrong to judge someone else. He goes further to explain that, in order to be forgiven by God, we must first forgive the sins of others (Matthew 6:15). In the New Testament, it is clear that judgemement is wrong and leaves us open to judgement and criticism ourselves.
The Bible is full of stories, parables and advice which are designed to teach us the consequences of being judgemental. In Matthew 18: 23-35, the parable of the unforgiving servant is a story about a king who forgives his servant a debt, but then the servant goes and refuses to forgive his own neighbour. This parable teaches us how we must forgive others if we expect God to forgive us. It also serves as a warning for us against passing judgement and being unforgiving.
The book of James supports this throughout with “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons”. This verse is telling us to believe in Jesus and not to judge someone based on their social class. It further tells us that everyone is equal in God’s eyes and no one person can be placed higher than another. In this way, judging someone by the clothes they wear, their job or the car they drive, is wrong as it goes against the teachings of the Bible.
Overall, there are many stories, parables and passages in the Bible which talk about the dangers of judgement. We should learn from them and not feel the need to judge and criticise others.
Judging and Loving Our Neighbors
As Christians we are called to love one another. But when we judge others, it is easy to forget this call. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, it says “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”. Here we see that love is the perfect countermeasure to judgemement.
The Bible also tells us to “judge not, that ye be not judged”. This verse is telling us not to judge others before we have first looked at ourselves. We must always ask ourselves if we truly know what it is like to stand in someone’s shoes and experience what they have experienced. True love doesn’t come from judgemement and criticism, but instead from understanding and acceptance.
The Bible also tells us that we reap what we sow in Galatians 6:7-8. This means that if we judge others, it will only lead to the same judgement being returned to us. God only judges us for what is in our hearts, not what we see on the outside. We must remember this and not focus on judging someone else, but instead love them and love our neighbors as ourselves.
The Bible is clear in its instructions. We are to love one another and not to judge each other. In Luke 6:37, Jesus says “Judge not and ye shall not be judged; condemn not and ye shall not be condemned”. This statement is telling us that judgemement and condemnation will only lead to judgement being returned to us. We should forgive and love one another, despite our differences, as God has forgiven us.
Let us not pass judgement on one another, for we do not know all that has gone into another’s life. Instead, let us learn to love one another, just as God has loved us.
Bad Consequences of Judging
Judging can have adverse effects on our lives. It can lead to bitterness, resentment, feelings of superiority and negative outcomes for all involved. When we judge others, we often forget the consequences that may come from our actions, and the effect it can have on our relationship with those around us.
Moreover, the Bible makes it clear that judgement can also have an effect on our judgement before God. In Matthew 7:2, Jesus says “For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” This is reminding us that if we treat others badly with our judgements, we will be treated the same way. Therefore, we should think twice when passing judgement before we act, to ensure that we are not creating adverse outcomes for ourselves.
In many ways, judging can also show a lack of understanding and a lack of love. If we truly understand and love one another, we will be less likely to judge our neighbours. We may find it is harder to judge someone once we have understood their situation.
Moreover, if we judge someone, we can create a barrier to loving them. We can create a wedge between us and our neighbour, damaging our relationships and bringing more negativity to our lives. There is nothing more fulfilling and rewarding than loving someone, so why should we judge them and create this barrier?
We must remember the effects of judging and be aware of how damaging it can be to our relationships and our lives. One of the best ways to avoid judgemement is to be understanding. By understanding one another, we can bring more peace and positivity to our lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that judging someone else is wrong according to the Bible. We should instead focus on loving one another and understanding our neighbours. We must remember that whatever judgements we pass will come back to us, and that judging someone carries many negative consequences.
It can be difficult not to judgement someone, but it is not impossible. With practice and patience we can learn to be more understanding and loving towards our neighbours. If we do this, we will be following the Bible’s teachings and creating a more harmonious world for all of us to share.
