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QUESTION 19:
The Bible says, "Judge not that ye be not judged" Matthew 7:1. Why is there so much criticizing and judging by Christian?

ANSWER:
Because of man's fallen nature he is continually pulling others down so he can lift himself up. This plague of criticism is universal. Regarding the above-mentioned verse, I don't suppose there is a more misused one in the Bible. Many use it to defend themselves when being reproved for something wrong. If you read the context in Matthew 7:1-5, you will readily see that He is not teaching we are NOT to judge, but HOW to judge, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24. Matthew 7:1-5, tells us how to do this. In verse 1, don't judge little things in others when you have big things in your own life. You should take the big things out of your own life so you can see clearly to judge the little things in others. He tells them in verse 4, that they would be disqualified as judges when they are not right themselves. He is speaking to the Pharisees, who were hypocrites in verse 5. The Lord tells His people to judge. In 1 Corinthians 5, the assembly was told to judge the one who was living immorally. Israel's failure to judge caused them to get away from God. Lack of spiritual judgment is why the churches today have such a low standard. Judgment to criticize or condemn, is not in view in any part of the Bible. This belongs to the Lord alone. We must be constructive in our judgments. "He that believeth on the Son is not condemned (judged) but he that believeth not is condemned (judged) already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18.

How about you?

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen