Distinguishing Judgment from Godly Reproof

It is difficult to think of a verse more misused than “Do not Judge” (Matt. 7:1). The number of times it has been used to censure Godly reproof would be impossible to count. If you are in the habit of reading the Word of God and upholding Godly standards, then you have most likely had this verse thrown your way while commenting on some behavior or trend of which God disapproves.

To many people, this verse means that no one is ever allowed to reprove or correct someone’s behavior or beliefs. If you speak, even in love, against things like sexual deviancy, drunkenness, or false religious beliefs, then according to these people, you are judgmental and therefore violating Christ’s command. Of course, they are making a judgment about you, which means if their interpretation is correct, they are also being judgmental in their reproof of you. If they believe correcting people is judgmental, they should stop correcting judgmental people.

With only a tiny amount of exegesis, we will see that Christ is not saying it is always inappropriate to correct someone with the word of God. In fact, this is something Scripture commands us to do, and reproof and correction are two proper uses of God’s word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

So what is Christ telling us when he commands us not to judge? He is telling us of people who correct others but do not hold themselves to the same standard. We are all under the same requirements and should not act as if we are exempt from the rules we apply to others. This definition of judging is illustrated in the following verses when Christ tells us to remove the plank in our eye before looking at someone else’s speck.

There are a few different ways people might try to rebuke someone with the word of God. Only one of them is correct. First, we could act as if all standards of conduct are relative and not correct anyone except those who try to correct others. This self-refuting judgment, of course, is hypocrisy at its finest. Second, we could act as if the moral law does not apply to us and condemn anyone who violates it, but this type of condemnation is the actual definition of judging. Or, finally, we could look at our shortcomings under the moral law and approach the one who is erring by saying there is a standard God wants us to follow because of His love for us, and neither of us is above that standard. Along with both of us being under the same moral requirements, we both fall short, so let us work on our shortcomings together. After all, His standards are an expression of His love.

When we think of a judgmental person, we also tend to think of their attitude as much as we think of their actions. This critical attitude is often seen in the first two approaches as well. The first person, who believes that it is always wrong to reprove, usually has a judgmental attitude because as they criticize, they are acting as if they are allowed to rebuke when the person they are reproving is not. Hence, they are proudly unaware of a plank in their eye. The second person also tends to succumb to a judgmental attitude because they do not think the rules apply to them and therefore carry an attitude of superiority. Both will have tendencies toward harshness. Only the third person, the one who believes God’s moral standards can be known, that they are not above the struggles with sin, and believes that reproof is an act of love, will be able to avoid the judging Christ is speaking of in this passage.

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. – 2 Tim. 2:24 – 26

-D. Eaton