Judge a Book by it's Cover?

"Judge not, that you be not judged"

Matthew 7:1

Many think that there is no judging to be done based on Jesus words found in Matthew 7:1 Does this mean we are never to judge? Certainly not, for Jesus also said:

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment"  John 7:24

We cannot take Matthew 7:1 out of context.  When we read it with clarity, we see that Jesus is saying for us to refuse to be a critic full of bias toward others, and we will not be judged. We’ll be judged by the same standard that we’ve used to judge others. The measurement we use on them will be used on us. So then why would we focus on the flaw in someone else’s life and fail to notice the glaring flaws of our own?  How can we say to our friend, ‘Let me show you where you’re wrong,’ when we’re guilty of even more?  That is being hypercritical and a hypocrite! We must first acknowledge and deal with our own ‘blind spots,’ and then we’ll be capable of dealing with the ‘blind spot’ of our friend.

So then we judge based solely on the word of God; this keeps us free from personal opinion and biases.  Then, a person is free to argue with the word of God instead of with you.  Show them in the bible what you are referring to so that they understand that you are not giving a personal opinion, bias or ideology.  We are not to judge a person based on their appearance.  A good example of this is the prophet Samuel who was looking at the son of Jesse's outward appearance based on what he felt like a king should look like in order to determine who should be the next king.   God let him know that it wasn't about the outer appearance but what was in the heart.

We are commanded to exercise righteous judgment. However, we are forbidden to judge when we are not qualified to do so.

In order to better understand the manner in which we are to judge, let’s look first at forbidden judgment, then commanded judgment.  As stated above:

We do not judge according to appearance: 

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.  John 7:24

This means that we may not judge on the basis of insufficient, superficial information. Outward appearance is often deceptive.

“Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid”.  1 Timothy 5:24:25

®     Righteous judgment must be based on conclusive evidence. 

We may not judge on the basis of appearance, personal opinions or unsubstantiated suspicions.

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.  Matthew 7:1-5

®     Do not condemn someone for something you yourself are doing

If we condemn someone for something we do ourselves, we bring condemnation upon ourselves.

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?   Romans 2:1-3

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  Luke 6:36-38

®     We do not judge in matters of opinion.

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.   Romans 14:1-4

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.   Romans 14:10-13

®     We do not judge with insufficient knowledge.   Apostle Paul wrote:

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.   1 Corinthians 4:3-5

®     We do not take God's place in judgment:

"Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?"   James 4:11-12

®     We do not condemn the guiltless by neglecting mercy:

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.   Matthew 12:5-7

We must keep these warnings carefully in mind.

At the same time "Judge not, that you be not judged" is often the wailing cry of false teachers and hardened sinners who misapply the verse to ward off censure for their evil deeds. Do not be intimidated by such people, for Jesus has commanded us to judge with righteous judgment:

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment"  

John 7:24

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.   Proverbs 17:15

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  Ephesians 5:11

®     It is only in righteousness that we are to judge:

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.  Leviticus 19:15



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