Thou Shalt Judge!

Judging Others and Standards of Measurement


Clearing up what it means "not to judge" and what standards we should be using. Let's take a look at the key passages in the Gospels:

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Matthew 7:1-5 1"Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2"For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4"Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5"You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.	Mark 4:21-25 21And He was saying to them, "A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? 22"For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. 23"If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." 24And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25"For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him."	Luke 6:37-42 37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. 38"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." 39And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40"A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. 41"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42"Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

Matthew 7:1-5 - Judging hypocrisy

The context is judging hypocritically and using a hypocritical standard. Jesus is denouncing unfair judging and standards.

Note: Right after this verse it says to not give what is holy to swine and dogs ~ obviously we are to be able to judge and discern evil.

Mark 4:24 - Rewarding faithfulness and judging faithlessness

The things we listen to effect our standards and we will be judged by these standards and we will get more than the standards we judge ourselves by. Jesus is saying to live up to the standard we made from the things we listened to and if we live up to that standard we will be rewarded w/ more than we deserve from that standard and if we fail that standard what we even received from that standard will be lost. So we definitely should be careful on what we listen to - perhaps and indictment to go all the way for God. In Luke's version, this is more clearly spelled out in that if our standard of measure is ultimate love that standard will be used on us as well and we will be rewarded.

Luke 6:37-42 - The Rewards of Ultimate Love as a Standard to Judge Others and it in return being judged on you; contrasted w/ broken hypocritical judgment

Christ talked about loving the ones that hate you, your enemies, and to treat those who treat you badly well. This is the raising of the standard for Christians and the indictment of "For even sinners love those who love them" (v.32). As he transitions into judging, he tells them not to judge, condemn, rather to pardon and give - displays of love. This is the standard of measure (ultimate love) in v.38 and the reward for this is overflowing grain v. 38 (pardon and you will be pardonend; give and it will be given to you). Than he contrasts this w/ hypocritical judgment (log v speck).



[Edit: Ultimate love meaning the standard that Christ raised it to ie to love your enemies vs just loving your neighbor. I am calling this incredibly high standard - ultimate love.]