Did Jesus say it's wrong to judge?

July 09, 2022 • Bible Teachings

7 min read

Judge not?

"Judge not" is the cry of every false leader as they attempt to misapply Jesus' words to shake off any censure against their evil. As a result, many believers end up thinking that Jesus told us not to judge others and that calling out false teachers is not our responsibility. However, did Jesus really tell us not to judge others?

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."

Matthew 7:1-6

When Jesus says, "judge not", he is not issuing a ban on judging others. Instead, Jesus is issuing a warning to take great care of how we judge others.

How do we know this? We know this because Jesus did not say it was wrong to judge. He said that we will be judged in the same way that we judge others. We should not judge people as hypocrites. We should not condemn others for the same things we do ourselves. However, if we are judging others for the evil that they do which we take no part in, then that is a proper judgment.

If we are not supposed to judge at all, then why does Jesus say not to give dogs what is holy and not to throw pearls to pigs? How are we supposed to know who the dogs are so that we don't give what is holy to them? How will we know who the pigs are so that we don't throw our pearls to them? We can only know who the dogs and pigs are by judging them with proper judgment based on their words and deeds.

Don't judge by appearances

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

John 7:24

In this verse, Jesus does not condemn judging others. He only says that judging solely on the basis of appearances is wrong, which is something we tend to do on a regular basis as humans.

Jesus teaches us that we must judge with right judgment instead. Right judgment must be based on conclusive evidence. We cannot pass judgment on the basis of appearances, personal opinions, or insufficient information.

Outward appearances are often deceptive. This is why Jesus warns us not to base our judgment on them. The sins of some are clearly visible, but the sins of others only appear later.

The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

1 Timothy 5:24-25

Right judgement goes beyond sheep's clothing to see what is really behind the image that one projects. This is important because false teachers and workers of evil always present themselves with a heavenly disguise.

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:14

We must take a deeper look to see who we are truly dealing with. Looking back, most church abuse survivors will tell you that they never would have thought that their holy-looking leader would have abused them like they did.

We cannot take God's place in judgment and pronounce whether a soul will go to heaven or hell. Only God knows the final condition of their heart. However, Jesus commands us to judge others with a right judgment in order to protect ourselves.

Judge them by their fruits

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Matthew 7:15-20

If a false teacher looks and acts exactly like a sheep, and is only inwardly a wolf, as Jesus says, then how can we figure that out? We can't see deep enough into the contents of their heart. So, how do we do it? Jesus tells us what to look for. He says, "You will recognize them by their fruits."

What are the fruits to look for? The Gospel of Luke helps us answer this question.

For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:43-45

Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. We can know what is in a person's heart by what they speak. The fruit of a fig tree is a fig. The fruit of a teacher is their teachings, and the fruit of a prophet is their prophecy. Jesus guides us to examine the fruit of their mouth rather than their appearance.

It doesn't matter how holy and devoted a person seems to live. It doesn't matter how much they look like a real sheep. The things that they speak, teach, and prophecy will give them away.

If deceit and corruption are in their heart, they will speak lies, false words, false teachings, false prophecies, and other perversions. If their heart is full of greed and selfish ambition, they will speak excessively about money and the collection of donations and offerings. If their heart hungers for power and control, they will speak excessively about the importance of your submission and obedience to them.

Does what they speak, teach, and prophecy bring comfort, healing, and encouragement to all on a regular basis. Or, are their words arrogant, offensive, divisive, and harsh?

The Bible talks about fruits of the spirit and fruits of the flesh. There are “spirit” fruits that become evident in one's life when they let God's Holy Spirit guide them. There are other “flesh” fruits that can be seen in one's life when they are not walking humbly with God. We can use these two lists of fruits to examine where a preacher stands.

If we are noticing more “flesh” fruits than “spirit” fruits in a preacher's life, it's time to seriously start questioning that preacher's integrity.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:19-24