Judge Or Not To Judge

Today’s topic is to judge or not to judge. There is a right way to judge and a wrong way to judge.

“What’s the difference between being a judge or being a fruit inspector?”

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” 

Luke 6:37NIV

“Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.”

Luke 6:44 NIV

You will see shortly what the Bible means by that. 

WRONG WAY TO JUDGE…..

John 8:1-11

“but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.”

John 8:1–4 NIV

    *Picture this, This woman was caught in the act of adultery. Can you imagine how she feels? She must be terrified and ashamed. Did you know, back then (in the old testament) you can get stoned for adultery , blasphemy , false prophets etc  so we can imagine that she was fearful for her life as well. So when she was caught, I can imagine one of the men grab her by the arm and they all head out to where Jesus was and put her in the middle with all the men standing around her with Jesus next to her. Can you imagine how she’s feeling at that moment? Especially with Jesus there too?

(The Pharisees said to Jesus) “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.”

John 8:5–6 NIV

“When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.”

John 8:7–9 NIV

• I find that it was interesting that not one of them “tried pretending” that they never sinned and even tried to act like they would stone her. However they knew Jesus wasn’t stupid and that he already  knows the truth which is why he said what “he that without sin”. They were already embarrassed or ashamed of their own wrongdoing and so they wouldn’t even dared to bring it up or even speak up. Obviously no one throw stone at her because they all are guilty of their own sins too. Just like her. They weren’t any better than her.

“Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

John 8:10–11 NIV

The reason I’m sharing this story is to remind you, including myself, that we are all sinners which we know that. 

How would you feel if someone judged you for your sin?  Thankfully Jesus loves us so much that he died on cross for for our sins and that we are forgiven when we repent.  It’s not our place to judge their sins. It is God’ s place.

We cannot judge and wonder if that person going heaven or hell too, only God will know that and judge that. He knows their intent and motive as well.

“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 4:12 NIV

“As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;”

Romans 3:10 NIV

We shouldn’t be pointing fingers at others that have sinned when we do the same thing. However..let me read this verse 

““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. “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 7:1–5 NIV

Do you notice at the end of this verse 5, “it says first take the plank out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”. It’s saying you need to take care of your own sin(confess and ask for repent to God)  first then to help your brother or sister. 

The Bible also says if our brothers and sisters were caught in sin, we should help them with love and compassion and prayer.

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”

Galatians 6:1 NIV

RIGHT WAY TO JUDGE…..

Remember I mentioned earlier about being fruit inspector? 

“The bible tells us to avoid evil people or don’t hang around with the wrong crowd. In order to that we would have to excerise good judgement of their fruit.  So how do we do that?”  In Luke said 6:44-45

“Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from bri ers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Luke 6:44–45 NIV

For example, would you eat an orange if there was a few black spots on it? Molded? No, because you know its bad. Same thing with people you need to judge them by their fruit for reasons of concerns. Here are some examples.

Bad Fruit Examples

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Matthew 7:15 KJV

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.”

1 Corinthians 15:33–34 NIV

(This one is basically saying stop hanging around with bad people especially the ones that are bad influence to you. If someone is causing you to sins, its time to step away)

“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.”

Galatians 5:19–21 NIV

We need stay away from this.  

If you have salvation, and if you listen to the Holy Sprit, will warn you of someone to be mindful of. This can be that you need to witness to this person or a person to be mindful of. I remember one time several years ago, I met this person and automatically I had bad feeling about her and although I planted several seeds, she made the decision to walk away from the Lord.

The important thing is to be open and listen to God.  

Good Fruit Examples 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….

Galatians 5:22–23 NIV

Here’s the conclusion I’m trying to get across with this. We live in a world where people are judged quickly. We see this all around. The world is cruel, cancel culture, social media, and just human nature can be cruel and unforgiving. So many false news out there, so many false “Christian’s” that preach/ share wrong messages.

So we as fellow believers of Christ need to stand apart from this world. We need to be the good fruit of spirit. We are followers of Christ and we need to be kind and compassionate to one another especially to each other in this church as well. 

“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.”

James 4:11 NIV

“You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”

Romans 14:10–13 NIV

So hopefully this devotion help you understand when to judge (by their fruit) and when not to judge. 

Praying for you today!