What does the Bible say about judging others?

Answer Request:

HAVE WE BEEN WARNED NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS, is this correct? Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matt.7:1,2)……. Then Paul says: “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;” (Phil.1:9,10).

So what is it then? Judge or do not judge?

The following is my personal understanding and stance on "judging others" in this grace dispensation. 

When reading from the Gospels (or any book outside Paul's epistles), one must always remember that the advice or commandments given there belong to the Law dispensation. Your quote above from Matt.7:1-2 is a classic example of law. Notice the conditional statements given by Jesus. Paraphrasing, Jesus is saying, "If you judge, you will be judged by the same measure". Anything connected to the Law is conditional. If this, then that! Think also of forgiveness. If you forgive, your Heavenly Father will forgive you, but if not, He will also not forgive, (Matt.6:12-15).

Having said this, one must also be aware of trans-dispensational truths. In other words, what Jesus said above, regarding judging others and forgiveness, does it agree with, or line up with what Paul writes in his epistles? (Remember, Paul’s epistles constitutes the grace doctrine of the Body of Christ. The 13 epistles are written and address to you and I in the church (1 Corinthians 14:37)). Let's find some content in Paul's epistles that speaks of these topics.

First, let's see what Paul says about individuals judging one another. The context here is individuals in the church in Rome. The church was a mix of Jews and Gentiles. The Jews were still practicing their kosher laws, while the Gentiles were under no such laws and they exercised more freedoms. Naturally, this caused disputes and tensions among the two parties.

Romans 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. ......... 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ......... 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

From the above we can see that an individual believer should never judge another believer based on what they are doing. In a practical way, we are all on different levels of conviction regarding sin and what is right and wrong. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts of sin and righteousness and judgement, so this is NOT our job. If I judge someone for smoking a cigarette because I am convicted that it is a sin, it does not mean that that person is convicted of it 'yet'. The Holy Spirit might be working out other issues in their life which are more important than smoking. In the reverse, that person might say that something I'm doing is wrong, yet I have no conviction in that 'yet'. We cannot judge each other based on our actions and level of position in sanctification. Only the Holy Spirit can do this. So, this lines up in a measure with what Jesus said. Though we will not be judged in the same measure that we dished it out, ie: an eye for an eye (in the terms of law), there is a measure of synergy with judgement between what Jesus said under law and with what Paul said under grace. We should NOT judge one another, but rather build each other up in the faith and in grace teachings, encouraging one another to grow in grace.

But, there is another form of judgement that Paul deals with in the Corinthian church. This is different and is connected to corporate discipline. In this context, the elders can judge the guilty believer who is not walking in a righteous manner within the local ecclesia. Judgements here can be to any extent to help this person recognize their error and turn from their ways. Paul writes,

1 Cor.5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.

The church elders are responsible for the spiritual well-being of its members; those inside the ecclesia only, and not of anyone outside it. In the context of church discipline, Paul says, "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?" (1 Corinthians 5:12). The candidate for church discipline has to be "inside" the church and accountable to the church. In this context, between a group of elders who have a responsibility over their members, judgement is important and advisable. Even here though, there is a pattern of judgement to follow. The goal of church discipline is the restoration of the individual to full fellowship with both God and other believers. The discipline is to start privately and gradually become more public. It is to be done in love toward the individual, in obedience to God, and in godly fear for the sake of others in the church.

In summary, individuals should not judge one another, but in the local assembly, there is a responsibility from the elders who oversee the assembly to judge its members if they stand in violation of grace living.