To Judge or Not to Judge. What did Jesus really say?

If I ever told my son, "Do not laugh", I think I would get backlash from the world because laughing is a great thing to do.  Now, what if I said, "Do not laugh during prayer", and someone told my family and friends that I told my son not to laugh?  Then I would get backlash and what that person said would be a lie.  Every Christian and non-Christian quote this scripture, Matthew 7:1, and write it in their hearts as a complete truth.  Here is what Jesus says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."  Does Jesus actually say do not judge?  hmmmmmm.

There are roughly 31,000 verses in the bible and we pick 1 verse to live our lives by?  I think there is a problem here.  Let's take a look at the verse in the context of what Jesus is talking about.  In order to do this we must read a little further; yes, 4 more verses.  I know this is a lot, but we can do it, right?  Matthew 7:1-5, "1. Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4. How can you say to your brother, 'let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5. You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Now, what Jesus is trying to tell us is this: As long as we have ongoing sin in our lives, we are incapable of judging (helping, rebuking) others righteously.  And if we judge others with this sin in our lives, then we are judging others blindly and out of self-righteousness instead of by the righteousness of God.  If we judge others by this way, then we, too, will be judged this way.  This is a warning, not a commandment.  He IS commanding us to take the plank out of our eye, so we can help those with their own problems.  Therefore, we must take care of the ongoing sin in our lives before we can try to lead others out of their own sin.  And, this is not judgemental, this is OBEDIENCE.

Do not let anyone who is not a Christian tell you what the Bible says, they are lead by sin and will twist scripture to confuse you and fit their lifestyle.  So what if they say they have read the Bible from cover to cover, even numerous times? If they are reading it without the Holy Spirit, they will never begin to understand what God is saying.  What if another Christian tries to tell you something the Bible says and you know that it is wrong?  JUDGE THEM!  If you are living in the Word, JUDGE THEM.  My sunday school teacher said it this way, "Love forbids me to size you up and write you off, but love also forbids me to size you up and walk away."

I'll use one more scripture.  John 8:3-11.  The Pharisees and teachers of the law brought a woman in that was caught in the act of adultery.  They told Jesus, "5. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.  Now what do you say?"  Ah, another case of the scriptures being twisted.  Here is the law they are trying to use.  Leviticus 20:10, "If a MAN commits adultery with another man's wife---with the wife of his neighbor---BOTH the ADULTERER and the ADULTERESS are to be put to death."  Jesus knows the scripture and he knows the hearts of these men.  All he says is, "7. ...Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."  Everyone ended up walking away.  They could not judge her, because they each had sin in their own lives.  However, Jesus, without sin, "judged" her, He did not condemn her.  "10. Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 11. 'No one, sir', she said.  'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared." Let me stop here before I finish the scripture.  Notice Jesus is not finished here.  The scripture keeps going on this topic.  This is very important, because this is exactly what people do with Matthew 7:1.  Jesus is showing us what to do.  After Jesus says, "Then neither do I condemn you", he says this, "11b. 'Go now and LEAVE YOUR LIFE OF SIN'."  He told her she sinned and to leave it behind.

We must take care of the sin in our own lives; This way we can righteously and lovingly correct others for their sinful ways.  God, our father in heaven, how great is your name!  You are the Alpha and Omega.  Your ways are perfect.  Please forgive us of our sin and help us to see clearly, so we can help our fellow brothers, sisters, and neighbors with their problems.  I pray that we will have a heart like David, one who sought your guidance in almost everything he did.  David was not perfect, but he knew when he did wrong and was willing to admit his sins.  I pray we will try to be like your son Jesus, who WAS perfect and did everything you commanded him.  I ask that you bless us with wisdom and understanding of your Word and with Christian friends and family that study your word so we can have earthly companions and support.  I love you, God.  Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us and then raising him from the grave so he lives eternally with you.  Amen.