"AUTHORITY AND JUDGING"
INTRODUCTION
Seeing that God has communicated to us His inspired word for the purpose of making us complete and that entrance into heaven will be based upon our compliance to His word, we should and must see the importance and the necessity of studying His word (II Timothy 3:16,17; 2:15; Matthew 7:21). One might ask, "What has studying God’s word have to do with understanding the subject of judging?" The answer to this question should be obvious to all. If one is to understand what the Almighty teaches on judging, then he must engage in a proper study of His word. Any misunderstanding concerning the teaching of God on this subject is due to a improper study of God’s word. In order to help one come away with a proper understanding of the teaching of God on judging and so that one can make the proper application of this Biblical subject to his life, let us consider the following—
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8,9).
In God’s word we have His ideas, thoughts, concepts on a variety of subjects. One of the reasons that people misunderstand the teaching of God on judging is that they do not have God’s complete concept of judging.
The Bible teaches that God will judge (Rom. 2:1-3; Heb.12:23) through His Son, Jesus Christ (Acts 10:42; 17:31); that Jesus Christ will judge by His word, the Gospel (John 12:47,48; II Thess. 1:8,9); that the church, which Jesus shed His blood for (Acts 20:28) is to judge those within (Gal. 6:1; James 5:19; I Cor. 5) and without (I Cor. 6:2) in accordance to the word of God (John 7:24).
Failure to understand God’s concept on judging has led to many problems.
Societal: Society has distorted the Biblical concept of judging by focusing on only one verse, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Mt. 7:1), and tells us that we can not and should not judge one another. This man made philosophy has led to the God of one’s choice, the religion of one’s choice, the lifestyle of one’s choice, the salvation of one choice, the worship of one’s choice, the church of one’s choice and the morality of one’s choice. No one is right and no one is wrong, because no one can judge. This philosophy sounds good; but there is only one problem—it is not Bible (I John 3:4).
Spiritual: Sadly and tragically, this man made philosophy has found it’s way into the Lord’s church with devastating results. It has caused many congregations to fail to be obedient to their God given responsibility of church discipline on unrepenting brethren "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (II Thessalonians 3:6). It also has caused many Christians to fail to be obedient in setting forth a godly example.
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: I Peter 4:1-4
May the Lord’s people seek to conform themselves to the teachings of an infallible God rather than fallible man.
Context is "the part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning." Failure to consider the context of a verse causes one to misunderstand God’s word.
Unless all three context’s harmonize, we can know that we have incorrectly interpreted God’s word. There are several passages of scriptures related to judging that people have misinterpreted because they have fail to consider the context.
Matthew 7:1—" Judge not, that ye be not judged."
Immediate context.
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. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Matthew 7:1-6
Remote context.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:15-20
Overall context.
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24)
John 8:7—" So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."
Immediate context.
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:1-12
Remote context.
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24)
Overall context.
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" Galatians 6:1,2
Concurrently is "being in accordance, harmonious." It does a person no good if he fails to apply that which he has studied to his life.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. James 1:22-25
When one studies the totality of God’s teaching on judging, he will discover that this teaching can be summed up with two passages of scripture.
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1,2
Our standard for judging is the word of God (Psalm 119:172) not ourselves (Jeremiah 10:23) for it is only God’s word that has the ability to make a person complete (II Timothy 3:16,17) through his compliance to Scripture (Eccl. 12:13). One must go to the word of God to examine himself to determine if he is faithful (II Cor. 13:5). Faithful in his living, he is qualified to attempt to restore his wayward brother (Gal 6:1,2) which he is commanded to do ( I Peter 4:8; James 5:19,20; Jude 22,23).
Our adherence to the teachings of the Gospel will point others to the Christ and His soul saving message (I Peter 3:1,2). If we do not live it and try to teach it to the others we will be viewed as hypocrites (Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 2:1,21-23) and will cause the name of God to be spoken against (Romans 2:24, Titus 2:5).
May we first look to ourselves to see if we are in right relationship with God, then may we be ever so willing to help others do the same.
CONCLUSION
May we seek to go God’s word to see what He has said concerning judging. Having studied this concept and now with a understanding of God’s teaching on the subject, may we make application to our lives and thereby be blessed in so doing.
Mike Gurganus
PO Box 916
Henderson, NC 27536