What the Bible says about Judging:

Have you ever heard someone say "Your not suppose to judge others", or the famous one "judge not and ye shall not be judged". The above two phrases have been used in TV shows, TV commercials, movies, and even by many Christians for years. The problem is that the majority of the time it is used in a much different way than the Bible uses it.

"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. 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."

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."

What you can see in the above two verses is that it is talking about hypocritical judging. It is when a person judges someone for something that they themselves are guilty of, it is not a blanket command not to judge. The Bible actually teaches that we as follower are in fact to judge many things in our lives. One example is in John 7:24 "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." A good explanation of what is meant here is that we are not to judge someone by their outward appearance, but by what makes them a person. We should look at the words that a person speaks to see if they are true or not and then we should look at the person's actions to see if they parallel what the person has said. By looking at these things you will be able to judge if a person is who and what they say they are. Other types of judging that we are to do is the judging of teachings and teachers. We are to compare the Word of God to the things taught to us by others to see if we have been told the truth or not.

"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed;...."

The reason it is so important to be able to judge is also explained to us in the Bible.

 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

"For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect."

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."

What do we do after we have judged something that is contrary to the Word of God?

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

"A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

Now you should be able to see why it is very important for a believer in Christ to be able to judge things, and that we must always make sure that when we do have to judge that it is done as the Bible instructs.

So always remember,  "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)"