Jesus said, “Do not judge.” Let’s discuss what both the world and Christians get wrong about that commandment.
I recently made a YouTube video where I responded to David Lee Roth’s flippant statement about having a drink with Ozzy Osbourne in hell. In that video, I said, “I’m not here to judge anyone’s soul—that belongs to the Lord alone.”
The response to that part was split. Many said I was too soft. It’s okay to step on toes. It’s okay to quote Scripture. If they’re wrong and condemned by Jesus, we need to tell them! On the other hand, many said they were grateful that I was gentle. Condemnation from Christians has driven a lot of people away from the gospel. We need more gentle, careful delivery of the gospel online these days. So, who’s right? Both.
Here’s what surprises many people in the world: Jesus does not condemn all judgment.
Here’s what surprises many Christians: Jesus does not approve of all judgment. In fact, He warned that, sometimes, it’s the judgment that Christians dish out that is the very sin that will condemn them for eternity. Let me explain.
The gospel is certainly “one size fits all.” It’s the same message that can save both the person in the village and the CEO in the skyscraper. It can also save you and me. But it’s not always one approach fits all.
To one group of people, Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:15).
To another person, He said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11).
In neither case did Jesus ignore falsehood or sin. But one was harsh and to the point, while the other was gentle and coaxing. So, which one is right? Well, we’re talking about Jesus here. So, both…right?
When Jesus flipped tables and condemned His audience, who was He talking to? The religious elite who put themselves in leadership positions. When they led the vulnerable, however, they did not lead them to God. Even though they claimed to be the best of the best at following God’s Law, they actually led their students to a false religion, to condemnation, which condemned themselves in the process. In a word, they were hypocrites, which Jesus called them on multiple occasions.
On the other hand, when Jesus spoke the truth slowly and softly, He was speaking with the vulnerable—those who were searching for truth or those who had been abused by the self-appointed religious elite.
How should we approach each situation? In short, if they should know better, they’re playing the hypocrite, and they are leading others astray, we should be like Paul who withstood Peter to his face. If they, however, are searching for the truth, we should be like Philip, who carefully led the man from Ethiopia in a journey through Scripture that led to Jesus.
It should be in our highest interest to lead others to Jesus. If there is anything preventing that person from seeing the truth—whether it be sin, false teaching, ignorance, whatever—we should do what it takes to help them see the error of their ways. James said:
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
James 5:19–20
Most people, including non-Christians, are familiar with what Jesus said in Matthew 7:1:
Judge not, that you be not judged.
Most Christians ignore what Jesus said next. Oh, if you’re a Christian, you may be familiar with verses 3–6. But are you familiar with verse 2? Before we get to that verse, here are verses 3–6, which often goes ignored by the world:
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye”; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
Matthew 7:3–6
As Christians often correctly point out, we cannot stop reading at the part that says, “Judge not.” We need to keep reading, as Jesus isn’t condemning all judging, just hypocritical judging. To help your brother, you must use judgment. First, though, make sure you’ve taken care of your own sin before pointing it out in other’s lives. That’s true. But before you barge into a situation with all Scripture blazing, don’t forget verse 2.
For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
If someone is wrong with God, yes, it is the disciple’s job to try to lead them to the truth. In Ephesians 4:15, Christians are commanded to speak the truth in love. As I said in another study, truth is the content; love is the delivery. How would you like someone to point out sin in your life? With a smack upside the head with a Bible verse? Or with a, “Hey, man. Can we talk?” The message is one size fits all, but it’s not one approach fits all.
The problem is many people (especially online) jump to the smacking part. Condemning people is lazy because it’s easy. It doesn’t require emotional investment in another person. It builds ego. Don’t be just another arrogant keyboard warrior. Take the time to ask questions and show the love of Jesus.
Everyone needs to know the problem of sin, as well as the solution. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The gospel isn’t about just modified behavior or good advice. The gospel is good news. Jesus came to blot out that sin, cover us in His own righteousness, and offer us eternal life instead of death. Repent and believe the gospel today. With faith in your heart that God will work to save you, be baptized into the death of Jesus to be raised to a brand new life.
Looking back, should I have been harsher towards David Lee Roth? Probably. He was on stage. Although some people pointed out that maybe this was just a joke, even so: heaven, hell, and eternity are no joking matters. He needs to be sternly warned about what he’s doing and the dangers of leading people astray. But Roth wasn’t my audience. He’ll likely never see that video. The video was meant to touch your soul. What kind of approach do you need? Do you need the sense smacked into you, or do you need to slowly and carefully consider the grace of God? Either way, when it comes to the judgment day, let me remind all of us:
We make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.
2 Corinthians 5:9–11
Instead of being concerned how God will judge others on that day, have you spent the time to see if you are ready yourself? Let’s study together. Request a free personal Bible study here.