Judging Others – Scripture

God judges mankind

  • Genesis 2.15-17. The LORD will judge Adam if he eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
  • Genesis 4.9-13. The LORD judges Cain for murdering Abel.
  • Exodus 34.6-7. The LORD God forgives, but also judges the unrepentant guilty—those trained to reject the LORD’s commands.
  • Psalm 62.12. The Lord God rewards and judges according to what a person does.
  • Isaiah 3.13-14. The LORD judges Judah’s leaders and people for their rebellion against him.
  • Jeremiah 17.5-10. The LORD curses and blesses according to what one thinks and does.
  • Jeremiah 32.17-19. The Lord God both shows lovingkindness and repays iniquity—he gives everyone according to his ways.
  • Ezekiel 18.30. The Lord LORD will judge Israel, each person, according to his conduct.
  • Matthew 16.27. Jesus, the Son of Man, will come to earth a second time and then judge and reward those who faithfully served him, even though they may have died serving him and most had gained very little of the worlds wealth.
  • Acts 12.20-23. God judged Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod I (Herod the Great).
  • Romans 2.2-16. God is the absolute judge of all mankind. Romans 2:6-16, refers to the general principle that obedience to God is rewarded and sin is judged, while justification for eternal life is only by faith apart from works. With man this is impossible.
  • Romans 14.12. This is the bema or judgment seat well known in the Greco-Roman world. All believers will appear at the bema and be evaluated. Judgment seat of Christ.
  • Galatians 6.7-10. The general principle that God will evaluate believers and reward or withhold blessings in accord with how they support those who teach God’s word. The harvest will be good or bad.
  • Revelation 20.12. The unbelieving dead are raised and judged. Great White Throne.

To judge someone unjustly is to criticize, to ascribe guilt, and to pass condemnation as if you were the righteous standard and had that authority

  • Matthew 7.1-5. We are not to be critical or judge others, especially since we also sin. But we are to be discerning as shown in Matthew 7.5,6,15.16 in this context.
  • John 7.24. Jews were judging Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. He told them not to evaluate according to what they see, but according to the truth of the situation.
  • Romans 2.1; 14.3,5,10,13. We are not to self righteously criticize or judge others. We also sin. In disagreements or misunderstandings about non essential things, we are to be gracious. The more immature believer needs to learn biblical truth, so do not hinder that.
  • 1 Corinthians 4.2-5. Paul did not want proud self sufficient believers to be critical or judgmental of himself or those God has called to teach them. They were critical of Paul and in effect said we do not need you. He knew of nothing that he has taught wrong. Paul said do not judge the faithful communicators of God’s word. God will evaluate the “stewards” about their faithfulness to Him.
  • Colossians 2.16. Do not be governed by judgment of you in non essential things like food, drink, or special festivals or days. Those things are simply illustrations and not the foundations of God’s word. You need not observe those non essentials.

We are to know the difference between right and wrong and this is evaluating, selecting, and judging based upon evidence

  • Matthew 7.6,15. We need to know who are swine like people, and who are false prophets. Therefore we need to observe, think, and make decisions.
  • Luke 19.22. The one in authority must observe, select, and decide correctly based on facts.
  • John 7.51. Proper authority must judge based on facts and the law.
  • Acts 16.15. Lydia asked Paul to evaluate and make a decision based on what was evident.
  • Acts 26.6. Paul is on trial before Agrippa, the authority. Paul gives his history and the reason the Jews accuse him so that Agrippa may decide based upon proper evidence. King Agrippa was Herod Agrippa II (a.d. 27–92/93), son of Herod Agrippa I (see Acts 12:1). He ruled over parts of Palestine from a.d. 53 until his death. NET note.
  • 1 Corinthians 10.15. In context, Paul asks the Corinthians to listen, think, and come to the right conclusion and application.
  • 1 Corinthians 10.29. Here another person is putting a wrong standard on Paul. This one needs instruction and growth.
  • 1 Corinthians 11.13. Paul wants the people to think correctly and make the right decision about a woman praying with or without the head covering.
  • Hebrews 5.14. Believers are to be able to make judgments about good and evil. This comes through training.
  • 1 John 4.1. Believers need to test ideas and their source because many false prophets are spreading false doctrine.