Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
"Judge not, lest ye be judged."
Did you know that the Devil has favorite Scriptures? One of his favorites is Matthew 7:1. There, Jesus said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Multitudes of Christian (Xn) ministers refer to that Scripture often, telling their congregations that they should never judge another human being. This is utter nonsense. The flesh would rather that it never be judged so that its deeds may never be exposed and condemned. Those who are "in the flesh" feel the same way. The guilty know that if men are encouraged to make a judgment, then their sin might be exposed, and questions asked that would be very inconvenient. Who knows what the results might be for the body of Christ, if hungry souls were able and willing to judge? It is sin that fears judgment, not righteousness.
From the men who claim to be teachers ordained by Jesus, you will be hard-pressed ever to hear a reference to Jesus' other commandment concerning judging. It is a commandment that clarifies the one Matthew recorded. This commandment reads, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (Jn. 7:24). This is Jesus' commandment as well as the other, but have you ever heard a sermon from this verse on judging? Most of God's people never have.
Seldom, too, is there any mention ever made to Paul's indignant question of the saints at Corinth: "Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?" (1Cor. 6:5). Paul was scolding the saints at Corinth because there was no man in the congregation able to judge! Ever hear a sermon about that?
Jesus based none of his judgments concerning any matter upon what he could hear with his natural ears or what he could see with his natural eyes. The prophet Isaiah foretold this about the Lord Jesus when he proclaimed, "He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears, but with righteousness shall he judge . . ." In every case, Jesus waited for his heavenly Father to communicate to him the truth about anything and anybody. And the way that his Father communicated the truth to His Son was by the holy Spirit that He had given to His Son at John's baptism.
When Jesus commanded his followers to "Judge not", he was saying "Make no judgments based upon what you can see and what you can hear." He was commanding us to follow his perfect example of not trusting our fleshly senses to lead us. On the other hand, when he commanded his followers to "judge righteous judgment", he was telling us to trust the Father as he did, and to rely exclusively on the holy Spirit of God for knowledge of the truth about anything. There is no "righteous judgment" apart from the "righteousness, peace, and joy of the holy Ghost." Jesus knew that. Do we know that?
When you hear a man warning others never to judge others, you may rest assured that he has not been sent from Jesus with that evil counsel. You may also be certain that he has some secret sin and fears the exposure that someone's righteous judgment might bring. Be courageous with the discernment that Jesus gives you, and to all who trust him. "The thoughts of the righteous are right", and if you are walking uprightly and sincerely before the Lord, your heart will be given right thoughts and feelings. Be courageous with them. They are right! The very gates of Hell will not be able to withstand the judgments you make.