Are We Ever Allowed to Judge Others?
Jesus warned: “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.” (Matthew 7:1–2)
That is an important subject in the lives of every believer, and we must adhere to the instructions received from Jesus. In our lives as believers, we need to know when we have the right or permission to judge, and when we are not allowed to give our opinion. Consequently, we must know how to carry out judgment, and how not to make a judgment.
We need to give urgent attention to these precious words of Jesus Christ when He declared: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” Matthew 7:3.
Herein is a vital truth to be received and understood: Jesus gives us the clear revelation that there must be in our lives the requirement of self-assessment, or self-examination in our own hearts. We have no right to cross-examine the faults and failures in a person’s life that may be considered tiny in complete contrast to our own lives having enormous faults that we needlessly hold onto.
This is the exact reason that Jesus said: we are to judge not according to the appearance, but to render righteous judgment. (John 7:24). Our judgment must never be based on what is seen, but on the truth of God’s Word; this leads us to discern what reflects His righteousness over and above our human logic.
True discernment requires humility and a heart aligned with our Heavenly Father; Jesus taught that we must be careful in judging others. He warned us clearly that, when we judge others wrongly, we open ourselves up to judgment.