Fourth Sunday Of Advent: To Judge Or Not To Judge That Is The Question

Christians are not to judge other Christians. And Christians are to judge other Christians. That’s what the Scriptures teaches. In fact, the apostle Paul says both things in the same letter. In our Epistle readings for today he says:

Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Just a few paragraphs later Saint Paul says, to judge other Christians.

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? (1 Corinthians 5:12)

Judge other Christians. Don't judge other Christians.

Is Paul contradicting himself? No. Paul is simply instructing us that there are things we must not judge and things we must judge.

What We Must Not Judge

We must not judge “the hidden . . . purposes of the heart” of other Christians based on their decisions, actions, perspectives, words, or personality that concern us if those things themselves are not explicitly sinful (1 Corinthians 4:5). We must not assume sin if we suspect sin, given how biased our suspicions can be.

When Paul wrote, “do not pronounce judgment before the time,” he was referring to a debate among Corinthian Christians over whether Paul, Apollos, or Peter (Cephas) was the best apostle (1 Corinthians 1:11–12; 3:3–4). Why were they quarrelling over such a thing? We don’t know. All we know is the Corinthians had personal knowledge of and experience with these apostles, and the second thing we know is how we tend to judge leaders based on our observations and experiences.

Like different leaders we know, Paul, Apollos, and Peter had different personalities. They likely had different speaking and leadership styles, and may have exercised or emphasized different spiritual gifts.

We know Paul was a “planter” and Apollos was a “waterer” (1 Corinthians 3:6–8). Perhaps some simply much preferred Apollos or Peter to Paul. Perhaps some misunderstood something Paul said or did and took offense. Whatever the factors were, certain Corinthian Christians judged Paul uncharitably, calling his ministry and character (his “hidden . . . purposes of the heart”) into question (1 Corinthians 4:3).

We can understand this because we’ve all done this. We know how fast we can move from misunderstanding or disagreement to concern, then to suspicion, and then to judgment. If we think we perceive smoke, we can too quickly assume there’s a fire.

In such cases, we must remember Jesus’s words, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24).

What We Must Judge

Christians must judge the explicitly sinful behavior of a professing Christian.

Jesus said a “tree is known by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). When do the hidden sinful purposes of the heart reveal themselves? In a person’s explicitly, clear, sinful behavior. Leaving no room for confusion and doubt. That’s why Paul didn’t even have to be present to pass judgment on a man who engaged in sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5:3). And he explicitly instructed the Corinthian Christians to pass judgment on him as well (1 Corinthians 5:12–13).

When we sin, our Christian brothers and sisters have an obligation to judge us. They must not condemn us, but they must, out of love, call us to repent. Such judgment is a grace, an expression of God’s kindness (Romans 2:4), and we only compound our sin if we take offense. If our sin is very serious and the Church determines that we must be disciplined according to Matthew 18:15–17, we must keep in mind that the purpose is to pursue our redemption not damnation (1 Corinthians 5:4–5).

Be Slow to Judge

When blatant sin is confirmed, Christians must lovingly judge Christians. But in most situations, we must be very slow to judge, exercising great care and restraint. Our sinful flesh has a hair-trigger to judge others. We must have a healthy suspicion of our own pride, and keep Jesus’s words ringing in our ears: “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1).

This is especially important because many situations we face are not as clear-cut as the two Corinthian that we mentioned. Often the line between judging hidden heart purposes and calling out sin looks blurred and unclear. And when it is, it is best to be slow to judge.

Where sin is explicit let us judge with bold, loving clarity. But let us not judge other hidden purposes of the heart. We may discuss and persuade, but we may not judge. Jesus will judge. It is for him alone to bring to light what is now hidden and to commend or rebuke (1 Corinthians 4:5). Let us “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, [bear] with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

One writer captures this well when he writes: “What our Lord means to condemn is a censorship and fault-finding spirit. A readiness to blame others for trifling offenses or matters of indifference, a habit of passing rash and hasty judgments, a disposition to magnify the errors and infirmities of our neighbors and make worst of them – this is what our Lord forbids.” And then he adds: “It was common among the Pharisees.”

And so Jesus does not prohibit us from making moral judgments. We must discern right from wrong. We must teach God’s commandments. We must proclaim the truth. But he does forbid you from having a critical, judgmental spirit that exalts yourself while looking down on others. That’s the problem Jesus tackles, and it’s a big problem that we all must address.

Why shouldn’t you judge others?

We now know what Jesus means when he says in Matthew 7, “Do not judge.” He is forbidding a critical, judgmental spirit that looks down on other people. Next, Jesus goes on to tell us why you shouldn’t judge others. And he gives us four reasons that you can find in Matthew 7:1-5.

You’re not the judge.

The first reason is a real simple one. You’re not the judge. Look at verse one: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (Matthew 7:1) Guess what, if you are going to be judged yourself, then that means you are not the judge. Little hint here: if you’re in the courtroom, and someone else is sitting at the bench and holding the gavel, and it’s your life that is being evaluated, then don’t fool yourself – you’re not the judge. You’re not the judge; God is.

Unfortunately, some people like to set themselves up as judge, jury and executioner. They have a harsh, critical spirit. They are always looking at other people’s faults. They like to play the role of judge.

But there’s a reason God is the judge and you’re not. You’re not qualified. You don’t know the other person’s history or background. You don’t know the extenuating circumstances. You don’t know how far they’ve come. Most of all you don’t know the other person’s motives. You can see their actions, but you can’t see their heart. Paul writes in Romans 14: “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.” (Romans 14:4) What is Paul saying here? You’re not the judge! You are not qualified to be the judge. Only God can judge perfectly.

We read in James 4: “Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:11-12) James says there is only one Lawgiver and Judge, and it’s not you!

Why shouldn’t you judge others? The first reason Jesus gives us in Matthew 7 is because you’re not the judge.

God will judge you the same way you judge others.

The second reason is this. Because God will judge you the same way you judge others. Verse 2 says: “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 7:2)

God will judge you the same way you judge others. Are you harsh and overbearing toward others? Then God will judge you harshly. Are you loving and merciful toward others? Do you have a generous spirit, overlooking the faults of others? Then God will show you mercy. God will treat you as you have treated others.

Jesus has already taught this principle several times in the Sermon on the Mount. Right at the beginning in the Beatitudes Jesus taught: “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) And then again in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)

We find this same principle in other parts of Scripture as well. Paul writes in Romans 2:1: “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things” (Romans 2:1) In other words Jesus says you may expect to receive judgment on the same basis as you give it.

This is the second reason Jesus gives why you shouldn’t judge. Because God will judge you the same way you judge others.

You should judge yourself first.

The third reason why you shouldn’t judge others is this. You should judge yourself first. We see this in Matthew 7: 3-5: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)

The emphasis in these verses is on those two little words “your own.” Three times in three verses Jesus speaks about “your own eye.” We are very good at judging others but not so good at judging ourselves. It’s been said that we are good judges for the mistakes of others, but good defense lawyers for our own mistakes. If you are quick to find fault in others, Jesus asks you: “Are you just as quick to find fault in yourself? Do you realize that your very quickness to find fault in others is in itself a great fault?” The third reason why you shouldn’t judge others is you should judge yourself first.

You know your own sins better than anyone else’s.

Jesus gives us three reasons in this illustration why you should judge yourself first. The first reason is this: You know your own sins better than anyone else’s. Look at verse 3 again: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)

The “plank” in this verse refers to a large piece of wood. The same word was used of the main beam in a house or a large sailing mast or even a battering ram. The battering ram is a telling image, because the person who judges others often uses the truth as a battering ram rather than as a means to gently lead someone to Christ.

So this plank in your eye is not just a two by four, but rather a large beam maybe several feet wide and forty feet long. Jesus says you’ve got this huge beam coming out of your own eye, and you’re looking at the speck in your brother’s eye? Are you nuts?

And the reason Jesus pictures your sins as the plank, and your brother’s sins as a speck is because you know your sins so much better than theirs. Whatever sin you may see in someone else, you know your own sins so much better. You only know what you see of your brother, but you know your own long history, your own sinful words and actions, your own sinful thoughts. Your sins are a plank to you, but your brother or sister’s sins are only a speck.

When you ignore your own sins and you concentrate on the sins of others, you will develop the harsh, critical, judgmental spirit that Jesus forbids in this passage. But when you are truly conscious of your own sins before God, you will grow to be far more generous and loving towards other people and their sins.

Jesus says you should judge yourself first. Why? First of all, because you know your own sins better than anyone else’s.

It’s hypocritical to care about others’ sins more than your own.

The second reason Jesus gives is this. Why should you judge yourself first? Because it’s hypocritical to care about others’ sins more than your own. Look at verse 4: “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite!” (Matthew 7:4) It’s hypocritical to care about others’ sins more than your own.

It’s hypocritical because you are appearing to care about the other person when you really don’t. Think about it. Why do you care so much about the other person’s sin? Is it because you care about God and his glory? Or is it because it makes you look so much better? The real reason we put other people down is because we are trying to lift ourselves up.

It is hypocritical to place yourself in the role of judge when you have sin of your own. We need to ask ourselves: “Am I equally concerned about all sin against God – including my own?” If you are truly concerned about God and his glory, then you will be more concerned about your own sins than anyone else’s.

You can’t help others with their sins until you’ve first addressed your own.

Why should you judge yourself first?

One, you know your own sins better than anyone else’s.

Two, it’s hypocritical to care about others’ sins more than your own.

And then finally three, you can’t help others with their sins until you’ve first addressed your own.

In Matthew 7:5 we read: “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)

How can you possibly help your brother with the speck in his eye when you’ve got a plank in your own eye? You’ve got this huge beam, forty-feet long, popping out of your eye, and you’re walking up to your brother or sister and saying, “Here let me help you with that.” It’s a ridiculous idea. It’s impossible. Jesus says you’ve got to take care of your own sins first. It’s like when you’re on an airplane, you’ve got to secure your own oxygen first before you can help someone else’s with theirs.

Now this doesn’t mean you need to be perfect before you can help others, otherwise no one could ever help anyone. But it does mean you need to confront and confess your own sin to God before you are in a position to help others with their sin. Why shouldn’t you judge others? The third reason is Jesus says you should judge yourself first.

God calls you to help others rather than judge them.

And then the fourth reason you shouldn’t judge others is this: God calls you to help others rather than judge them. Looking at verse 5 again, and especially the second half of the verse: “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)

In other words, you should not ignore the speck in our brother’s eye. The speck does need to be removed. It is not loving to ignore another person’s faults. One writer puts it this way: “If I really have my brother’s welfare at heart, then love itself requires that I wink not at his sins, but rather endeavor to save him from them – just as much as it would demand me warning him when I perceive the first wisp of smoke issuing from one of his windows: why wait till his house be half burned down before giving the alarm?”

If we truly love our brother, we will want to help him with his sin. But Jesus says we must approach him as a brother or sister rather than as a judge.

The world will have nothing of this. You try to help someone with their sin and they come back at you with: “Do not judge.” But I want you to understand that when Jesus says “Do not judge,” he does not forbid helping each other when we sin; rather he forbids a harsh, critical spirit that gets in the way of helping each other.

It has been said, “It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge, and my job to love.” That’s the fourth reason why you shouldn’t judge others.

God calls you to help others rather than judge them.