Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
(Every unsaved hypocrite and phoney “Christian” in the world knows this verse!)
[The context for this verse is in the following verse, 2 “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”]
Romans 2:1-3 “And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?”
[When Matthew 7:1 is lifted from its context it is simply not true. Speaking generally, as opposed to the specific context of this verse; whether or not we judge, we shall all be judged.]
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.”
2nd Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. . . .”
[Correct doctrine is utilized when you know when to apply this verse and when not to apply it.]
FOR EXAMPLE:
Proverbs 26:4 “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.”
v. 5 “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”
[Both of these verses are true in their proper occasion, but they are not both true at the same occasion.]
1st Corinthians 11:31-32 “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.”
1st Peter 4:17 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
4:18 — 5:12 “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?”
1st Timothy 5:20-21 “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”
1st Corinthians 6:1-8 “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”
2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.”
(1st Corinthians 14:29 “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.”)
How To Judge Righteously
1st Kings 3:5-28 “And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked . . . for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold, I have done according to thy words. . . . And the king said, Divide the living child in two. . . .”
[NOTICE: The real issue here for one of the women was envy against the other woman, not love of the child.]
(Genesis 4:3-8 “And Cain . . . rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”) [because of envy]
(Numbers 16:1-3 “And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. . . .”) [envy]
(Matthew 27:11-18 “For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.”)
Ecclesiastes 8:11 “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
Hebrews 3:13 “. . . exhort one another daily . . . lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
[You shouldn’t wait too long for judgment, but also, you shouldn’t be too hasty.]
1st Corinthians 4:5-6 “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. . . .”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. . . .”)
FOR EXAMPLE:
(1) James 4:11 “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law. . . .”
(2) 1st Corinthians 6:5 “I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?”
John 7:37-51 “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?”
[The implied answer is obviously, “No.”]
1st Timothy 5:19 “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”
Λ v. 21 “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.”
Deuteronomy 25:1 “If there be a controversy . . . the judges . . . shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.”
Proverbs 17:15 “He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination. . . .”
Leviticus 19:15 “. . . thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty. . . .”
2nd Thessalonians 3:6,14,15 “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly. . . .”
QUESTION: How can this be obeyed, without first judging who is walking disorderly?
Acts 7:22-28 “But he that did . . . wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?”
OBSERVE:
(1) The guy in the wrong is the one against judgment. (v. 27)
(2) The guy in the wrong is the one doing all the accusing. (v. 28)
(3) The guy in the wrong is trying to change the subject.
Numbers 16:3-33 “Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?”
OBSERVE:
(1) The guy in the wrong is the one against judgment. (v. 14 “. . . we will not come up.”)
(2) The guy in the wrong is the one doing all the accusing. (vs. 3, 13, 14)
(3) The guy in the wrong is trying to change the subject.
Colossians 3:23-25 “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong . . . and there is no respect of persons.”
James 2:1-4 “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”
Exodus 23:6-8 “And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.”
Deuteronomy 16:18-19 “Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.”
Proverbs 24:23-25 “These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.”
1st Peter 1:17 “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. . . .”
Hebrews 12:1-11 “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
John 7:17-24 “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
Leviticus 19:15 “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.”
Isaiah 56:1 “Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.”
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST A STRANGER
Exodus 12:49 “One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.”
Leviticus 24:22 “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God.”
Numbers 15:16 “One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.”
v. 29 “Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.”
Deuteronomy 1:16 “And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.”
24:17 “Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger. . . .”
27:19 “Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger. . . . And all the people shall say, Amen.”