Not to Judge

[aball1035]

As Jesus said,
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. … " Matthew 7:1-5

What is the meaning here of ‘judged’? Surely if you see a person murder somebody you don’t have to wait until the sentence to ‘judge’ the person a murderer. I’m confused on this verse. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Alex,

This precept does not tell us to deny the facts. It tells us not to pass judgment on a person’s interior disposition. Only God knows the heart of man.

Verbum

 

[Becks]

As Jesus said,
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. … " Matthew 7:1-5

What is the meaning here of ‘judged’? Surely if you see a person murder somebody you don’t have to wait until the sentence to ‘judge’ the person a murderer. I’m confused on this verse. Any help would be appreciated.

First, I agree with the previous post re: not judging means judging someone’s soul. Only God may do that.

I was just thinking about this passage the other day, and something really interesting (to me at least) came to me. What does “lest ye may be judged” mean? I thought it was a given that we were going to be judged by God regardless of our actions. So our improper act of judging doesn’t bring about that judgment. I have two theories:

1. Our improper act of judging will change the manner in which we are judged. For example, if we feel the need to subject people to our imperfect human judgment, perhaps God will then subject us to improper human standards when we are judged as well.
2. Our improper act of judging will change the time in which we are judged. For example, if we think that we can determine the status of someone’s soul here and now (rather than the time that God chooses) perhaps God will then require us to be judged here and now, rather than the time that he had previously set.

The thought of either one of these scares the **** out of me! As you can probably tell, this is something I have given a lot of thought to because being judgmental is something that I struggle with everyday.

 

[Nita]

The passage clarifies a little by saying “in the same way as you judge… with the measure you use…” So it depends upon the attitude and motivation of the one who was judging (in a way or area that it was not proper for them to act as judge).

Eg. If we judge degree of personal guilt purely on the basis of the seriousness of the action committed, we can expect to be so judged.

 

[redrosetea]

As Jesus said,
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. … " Matthew 7:1-5

What is the meaning here of ‘judged’? Surely if you see a person murder somebody you don’t have to wait until the sentence to ‘judge’ the person a murderer. I’m confused on this verse. Any help would be appreciated.

It means we don’t judge who goes to heaven. That is only for God alone…But we must judge to know right from wrong…Everything must be filtered through scripture…so we can avoid sin and the near occasion of it

 

[Robert_Sock]

Hi Alex,

This precept does not tell us to deny the facts. It tells us not to pass judgment on a person’s interior disposition. Only God knows the heart of man.

Verbum

Good answer!

 

[aball1035]

Hi Alex,

This precept does not tell us to deny the facts. It tells us not to pass judgment on a person’s interior disposition. Only God knows the heart of man.

Verbum

But what if for example they stake out the person and it’s obvious that they were planning it for a long time. Couldn’t we say then that the person’s interior disposition was to murder the other? Or that their heart was set on murdering the person?

 

[Appleby]

The passage clarifies a little by saying “in the same way as you judge… with the measure you use…” So it depends upon the attitude and motivation of the one who was judging (in a way or area that it was not proper for them to act as judge).

Eg. If we judge degree of personal guilt purely on the basis of the seriousness of the action committed, we can expect to be so judged.

That is the way I always interpreted this, and I am happy to be judged with the measure that I judge. That is the basis of “a jury of your peers” after all. I want to be judged by those who hold the same values and standards as I hold.

 

[buffalo]

see Fraternal Correction

True Christian charity demands fraternal correction.

 

[Becks]

But what if for example they stake out the person and it’s obvious that they were planning it for a long time. Couldn’t we say then that the person’s interior disposition was to murder the other? Or that their heart was set on murdering the person?

I still don’t think that you can make the determination of what was in that person’s heart. Only God has the power to do that.

Let me be clear, though. I am not in any way doubting the appropriateness of a judge or a jury in a legal setting declaring that someone’s actions show that his intent was enough to find him guilty of first degree murder, etc. In my mind, it is not a legal judgment that Jesus was speaking of here; it is a spiritual judgment.

 

[Nita]

That is the way I always interpreted this, and I am happy to be judged with the measure that I judge. That is the basis of “a jury of your peers” after all. I want to be judged by those who hold the same values and standards as I hold.

I don’t!!!
I prefer to be judged by God.

I’ve had God reveal things to me about myself that I hadn’t previously recognized. If I can’t even know my own heart fully, how could I possibly know accurately the mind and heart of another person.

And even more than that, God’s love and mercy are far greater than mine or any other human person’s. I much prefer to be judged with His measure, not mine.

 

[Nita]

But what if for example they stake out the person and it’s obvious that they were planning it for a long time. Couldn’t we say then that the person’s interior disposition was to murder the other? Or that their heart was set on murdering the person?

Keep in mind we’re not talking about judging objectively whether or not the person is guilty of committing the act of murder, but whether he was morally guilty of mortal sin in doing it and should be condemned to hell if he dies without repenting. In our earthly courts of law we are called on to judge objectively whether an act of murder is committed - and that we are allowed to do. But judging the degree of sin guilt is something else. We are incapable of doing it with the full knowledge and wisdom needed to do it properly – therefore, God tells us not to do it.

 

[aball1035]

Keep in mind we’re not talking about judging objectively whether or not the person is guilty of committing the act of murder, but whether he was morally guilty of mortal sin in doing it and should be condemned to hell if he dies without repenting. In our earthly courts of law we are called on to judge objectively whether an act of murder is committed - and that we are allowed to do. But judging the degree of sin guilt is something else. We are incapable of doing it with the full knowledge and wisdom needed to do it properly – therefore, God tells us not to do it.

Ahh I think I understand-so were allowed to judge the incident but not what the person was thinking. Am I on the right track? Is it wrong to have an opinion of their hearts though?

 

[Appleby]

I don’t!!!
I prefer to be judged by God.

I’ve had God reveal things to me about myself that I hadn’t previously recognized. If I can’t even know my own heart fully, how could I possibly know accurately the mind and heart of another person.

And even more than that, God’s love and mercy are far greater than mine or any other human person’s. I much prefer to be judged with His measure, not mine.

Ultimately,yes, I agree with you. I was talking about in everyday life, though. You cant tell the judge that only God can judge you and expect him to agree. (I have heard a defendant attempt to tell a female judge that the Bible said women are not to sit in judgemnt over men. She told him to sit down and be quiet.)

 

[Nita]

Ahh I think I understand-so were allowed to judge the incident but not what the person was thinking. Am I on the right track?

Yes.
We can’t possibly know the amount or degree of psychological damage that may have taken place within a person; the degree of his intellectual capability to reason; etc. etc. Also, we don’t know how much grace has been given to that person by God. Perhaps I’ve been given far more grace which strengthens my will - whereas for His purposes, known to Him alone, God has decided not to bestow nearly as many graces upon that person.

Is it wrong to have an opinion of their hearts though?

That is what Jesus does not want us to do. I’m not sure that there is any difference between having an opinion of what’s in their heart and actually judging what’s in their heart.
Having such opinions often seems to occur automatically in us. We should try to reject those opinions. Think instead of the popular saying, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

 

[ready]

Regarding the first post:

There is nothing wrong with judging anothers persons actions as being right or wrong, good or evil; but a sin would lie in judging another persons soul as being evil. Judging the state of another person’s soul is limited to God alone, as only he knows the other person inside and out. We judge Hitler or Nero as being evil based on their actions, but I guess what we are saying is their actions were so purely evil, they must have evil souls…though the state of their souls is really known to God alone. Some people’s behaviors make me tend to believe that maybe they are bad people inside, but I have to catch myself and remind myself that I will never know for sure and should not entertain such thoughts, as they only lead to me judging the other person’s soul, which is sinful. With those souls I remain cautious, without trying to judge them. I can judge their actions as being evil, but not take it any further than that by judging them as “evil” to the point of making a judgement of their soul.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Aball,

But what if for example they stake out the person and it’s obvious that they were planning it for a long time. Couldn’t we say then that the person’s interior disposition was to murder the other? Or that their heart was set on murdering the person?

What you’re talking about is applying the criminal code. This is what courts do, and it is legitimate. “Not judging” in the Christian sense means not to pass judgment based on things that only God can know. Yooi can’t call a person “bad” (or “good”, for that matter) based on what you can perceive from their actions.

Verbum

 

[ready]

Regarding the first post:

There is nothing wrong with judging anothers persons actions as being right or wrong, good or evil; but a sin would lie in judging another persons soul as being evil. Judging the state of another person’s soul is limited to God alone, as only he knows the other person inside and out. We judge Hitler or Nero as being evil based on their actions, but I guess what we are saying is their actions were so purely evil, they must have evil souls…though the state of their souls is really known to God alone. Some people’s behaviors make me tend to believe that maybe they are bad people inside, but I have to catch myself and remind myself that I will never know for sure and should not entertain such thoughts, as they only lead to me judging the other person’s soul, which is sinful. With those souls I remain cautious, without trying to judge them. I can judge their actions as being evil, but not take it any further than that by judging them as “evil” to the point of making a judgement of their soul.

I should mention that to judge means you judge a person is evil and believe they are going to hell. I forgot to mention the second part of my statement in the post above. Sorry.

 

[Appleby]

I had never really thought about this until one day my Daddy asked me suddenly if it was possible his father (who was, by his actions, not immediately obvious as a candidate) could be in heaven. I told him that nobody on earth could know what happened between him and God with his dying breath, and told him about the thief on the cross, which made him feel much more comfortable. My sister got angry and asked me if I thought Ted Bundy could be in heaven and I told her same answer – she thought that whole idea was outrageous and we had quite a heated discussion about it. She was very much one of those people, at that time, who would tell you who was going to Hell. Finally I asked her how many people she thought might be sure SHE was going to Hell and that calmed her down a little bit.

Granny used to tell us that when we started calling down lightning bolts on people to think how many people might be calling lightning bolts down on us. She said prayers like that dont rise very high. Its a good thing, too.

Nevertheless, that man who stabbed and beheaded a stranger on a Greyhound bus and then dismembred him and ate his eyeballs should be kept locked up forever – which he will not be as he is judged not criminally responsible which means as soon as he can fool the doctors he will be released with a naughty boy finger wag…and I hope they will post his picture in every Greyhound station in Canada. I am not judging his soul. I am judging his behaviour with large sharp knives.