IS IT ALWAYS WRONG TO JUDGE? (Part Two)

By Bob Myhan

The word for “judge,” in Matthew 7:21, is translated in a variety of ways, as indicated by the following passages. [Note the words in bold face type.]

If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.” (Matt. 5:40, NKJV)

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and de­nied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go." (Acts 3:13, NKJV)

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God." (Acts 15:19, KJV)

And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. (Acts 16:4, NKJV)

But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality." (Acts 21:25, NKJV)

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” (Acts 23:6, KJV)

"Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?" (Acts 26:8, NKJV)

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind (Rom. 14:5, NKJV).

The common idea in these passages is deciding [or, in the case of Matthew 5:40, appealing to others for a decision]. Of course, it is not deciding in general that is objected to, but deciding the spiritual condition of others. However, certain passages demand that we make such decisions.

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortion­ers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judg­ing those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person." (1 Cor. 5:9-13, NKJV)

From the first few verses of this chapter, we see that the members of the church at Corinth were treating a brother who was guilty of fornication as though he were not guilty of anything. Perhaps they thought they were not to be judging people. But they should have judged this individual as being, not only in danger, but a danger to them as well. Because of this danger, they were not to so­cialize with any brother who was guilty of sin and would not repent. This does not mean they should not allow him to come to the place of worship, however, because he may be coming there for the purpose of repenting. We, also, would be in spiritual danger, if we were to associate freely with those who are intent on living in sin. Therefore, we must be conscious of the spiritual condition of those with whom we regularly worship. This necessarily involves judging. Of course, withdrawing is not the first thing we are to do with regard to brethren who are guilty of sin. Paul is dealing with a case of obvious impenitence (the refusal to repent).

"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three wit­nesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. (Matt. 18:15-17, NKJV)

Jesus gives three steps that must precede our withdrawing from those who have sinned against us.

(1) Go to the individual privately

(2) Take with you one or two others

(3) Tell the church.

At whatever step the person repents, "you have gained your brother," and the matter need go no farther. If he will not repent, however, you are to "let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector," that is, you are not to associate with him. Perhaps no two classes of people were held in lower esteem or more steadfastly avoided by the self-righteous Jew than "a heathen and a tax collector." The former was one who did not worship the only true God, while the latter was a Jewish tax collector for the Roman government. Thus, we see how the Lord views [and how we should view] those who will not repent.

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, con­sidering yourself lest you also be tempted. (Gal. 6:1, NKJV)

Here, we see, again, that those who are concerned about spiritual things have a responsibility toward those who have been "over­taken in a fault." The responsibility is to "restore such a one." The manner in which the responsibility is to be carried out is "in the spirit of meekness." The attitude with which the responsibility is to be carried out is "considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Yes, we are judging when we see the need to "restore such a one" who has been "overtaken in a fault." But this is not the judging that Jesus condemns at Matthew 7:1; because "a spirit of meekness" will cause us to make sure there is not a "beam" in our own eye. This is the type of judging Jesus commands at John 7:24.

And have no fellowship with the un­fruitful works of darkness, but rather ex­pose them. (Eph. 5:11, NKJV)

How can we avoid "fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness" without judging which works are fruitful and which works are unfruit­ful? Or without judging which are "of darkness" and which are "of light"? How can we "reprove them" if we do not recognize them? How can we recognize them without judging? To recognize them as "unfruitful works of darkness" is to so judge them. But this is not the judging Jesus condemns; this is the judging Jesus commands. &