Judge not lest ye be judged?

[soccerdad57]

Does the word judge always connotate the negative and if not then aren’t we judging when we (the Church) determines that someone is a saint as in they are in heaven. I mean I know we cannot “judge” someone to be in hell or to be going to hell but are’nt we judging also when we say that someone is definitivley in heaven?

 

[Godfollower]

Does the word judge always connotate the negative and if not then aren’t we judging when we (the Church) determines that someone is a saint as in they are in heaven. I mean I know we cannot “judge” someone to be in hell or to be going to hell but are’nt we judging also when we say that someone is definitivley in heaven?

Well, here’s what Jesus had to say on the subject:

Judge not, that you may not be judged, For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye; and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye? Or how sayest thou to thy brother: Let me cast the mote out of thy eye; and behold a beam is in thy own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam in thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-6.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.

Luke 6:36-37.

St. James seemed to think so, to:

Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that you may not be judged. Behold the judge standeth before the door.

James 5:9.

I would say that it does appear to be a condemnation of condemning. To put it another way: if you’re harsh to your fellow man, don’t expect mercy when it’s your turn. That would seem to fit in with His general philosophy:

And the Pharisees seeing it, said to his disciples: Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners? But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.

Matthew 9:11-13.

When the Church exercises her power and states that a certain person is in Heaven as a saint, she is not condemning anyone; so I would not call that a violation of Jesus’ commands.

 

[Della]

Far from “judging” the lives of those the Church declares saints, it is acknowledging the fact that they have lived according to the Gospel:

Matt.5 [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Acts.9 [36] Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.

Eph.2 [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Heb.10 [24] and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Matt.5 [14] "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. [15] Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

So we see that Jesus and the Apostles want us to be examples to others so that God might be glorified in us and our actions.

 

[lizaanne]

Does the word judge always connotate the negative and if not then aren’t we judging when we (the Church) determines that someone is a saint as in they are in heaven. I mean I know we cannot “judge” someone to be in hell or to be going to hell but are’nt we judging also when we say that someone is definitivley in heaven?

The ability to judge is one of the things that separates us from the animals, it allows us to have free will. Judging is not bad or wrong, as long as it is done prudently, and not judging the sate of someone’s soul.

Judge not LEST YE be judged. So don’t go around judging unless you yourself are prepared to be judged equally. It does not mean never ever judge at all.

~Liza

 

[WesleyF]

I do not think Jesus prohibited all judgment. Jesus, for example, said,

“Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6)

How are we to know who is a dog or a pig unless we judge that person?

Jesus also told the pharisees, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (Matthew 7:24)

Paul said in 1 Cor 5:3-4, “I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing.”

Also, Aquinas said something really insightful on this subject -
lonang.com/exlibris/aquinas/sum22060.htm

I am reading it right now. Will give you my thoughts later.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

1 Cornithians 4v3-4: (NIV)

“I care very little if I am judged by you or any human court; indeed I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.”

 

[Church_Militant]

The New Testament words for judge are different depending on the translation you use.

From a Greek word study I once saw I discovered that the difference is that where Our Lord spoke of judging, the act has 3 parts. (Krino)

1. 
   *]Examines the facts.
   *]Determines if it’s a sin.
   *]Declares the penalty.
   
   The word used by St. Paul is actually different and is often and better translated “to discern” and has the following parts which will explain the difference. (Diakrino)
   
   1. 
      *]Examines the facts.
      *]Determines if it’s a sin.
      *]-]Declares the penalty/-].
      
      The first is much the same as a judicial judge, while the other is actually more like a detective.
      
      Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

 

[Nita]

The ability to judge is one of the things that separates us from the animals, it allows us to have free will. Judging is not bad or wrong, as long as it is done prudently, and not judging the state of someone’s soul.
Judge not LEST YE be judged. So don’t go around judging unless you yourself are prepared to be judged equally. It does not mean never ever judge at all.

~Liza

With you, I think it is the judging of someone’s soul that Jesus is prohibiting.
We cannot say they are guilty of mortal sin and do not have the life of sanctirying grace in their soul - because it’s impossible for us to see/read their soul (mind and heart) at the time they committed the act. That kind of judging belongs to God alone.

 

[steve_b]

I do not think Jesus prohibited all judgment. Jesus, for example, said,

“Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6)

How are we to know who is a dog or a pig unless we judge that person?

Jesus also told the pharisees, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (Matthew 7:24)

Paul said in 1 Cor 5:3-4, “I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing.”

Also, Aquinas said something really insightful on this subject -
lonang.com/exlibris/aquinas/sum22060.htm

I am reading it right now. Will give you my thoughts later.

• **1749 **Freedom makes man a moral subject. When he acts deliberately, man is, so to speak, the father of his acts. Human acts, that is, acts that are freely chosen in consequence of a judgment of conscience, can be morally evaluated. They are either good or evil.
• **[Gal 5:19…] **The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

We are to make judgements all the time. We need to know which judgement is good and which judgement to avoid.