THE JUDGMENT PIT

"If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." ~ Mark 3:25

The principle is simple...it is like condemning in others what you condone in yourself. It is hypocrisy. Such is the practice of all who condemn judging by means of passing judgment. A simple examination of the context of Matt. 7, shows what the Lord condoned and condemned in the matter of passing judgment. Anyone who has a love for truth (2 Thess. 2:10), will discern truth from error.

Many cite Matthew 7:1 as to why passing judgment as humans is wrong (and obviously a sin) It reads, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Why do those who "quote" verse 1 not address verses 2-5? They are connected to Jesus' statement in verse 1.

Verses 2 through 5 read: "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."

It is clear that Jesus is NOT meaning that it is wrong to judge each other in verse 1; but explaining the WRONG way to pass judgment on one another, while ALSO explaining the RIGHT way to pass judgment on one another.

That this is correct is also seen from another statement of Jesus in John 7:24 ~

"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

Here, Jesus explained the RIGHT and WRONG way to pass judgments.

Those that pit Jesus's words in Matthew 7:1 against Jesus' words in John 7:24 need to understand that making judgments IN THE CORRECT WAY is not WRONG, nor a sin. It is what Jesus taught; BUT DO IT IN THE CORRECT WAY!

Wrong way: according to appearances; with a beam in your own eye.

Right way: with righteous judgment; first casting out the beam in your own eye TO SEE CLEARLY HOW TO CAST OUT THE MOTE IN A BROTHER'S EYE.

The MOTIVE? To save; to restore fellowship; to keep unity.

The teaching is simple: don't judge as if you are exempt from God's judgment; for you are not:

Romans 14:10 - "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."

Passing judgment is NOT for the purpose of condemning those who differ from us but to encourage one another to look into, and follow the "perfect law of liberty", which is THE STANDARD by which we will, one day, ALL be judged (John 12:48; Romans 2:16).

When anyone rejects the word of God (i.e., the standard), the apostle Paul said they pass judgment on themselves, as unworthy of everlasting life (Acts 13:46).

Paul also told the Corinthians how to pass judgment CORRECTLY in regard to their observance of the Lord's Supper. He wrote, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

This is getting the beam out of our own eyes first, so that we may HELP others with a mote in theirs. It edifies, and promotes unity and harmony as brethren.

In these words, we see the purpose and benefit of RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT.

As Paul told Timothy, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” ~ 2 Tim. 2:25

Making judgments is a double-edged sword. It can promote the Lord's cause and result in the salvation of souls, or it can cause the name of the Lord to be blasphemed, and result in the death of someone's faith.

May God's people rightly APPLY the word of truth, as they seek to rightly DIVIDE the word of truth in judging one another.

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