Sin's Worldly Trap: Judging By Secular Standards

The Bible says 'judge not, lest ye be judged' (Matthew 7:1) and Jesus instructs his audience to make sure their judgment isn't hypocritical. In other words, don't point out a sin in someone else's life before you confront the bigger sin in your own. Jesus also tells his listeners to 'not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment' (John 7:24).

Jesus instructs that you should not point out a sin in your sister's life before you confront the bigger sin in your own

Jesus is clear that we should not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement. In Matthew 18:15-16, Jesus gives instructions about how to confront a fellow believer if they've sinned against you. The apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in Galatians 6:1, telling Christians how to handle a brother who is caught in a sin. He writes, "You who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness".

However, in 1 Corinthians 5, Paul tells the believers in Corinth that it's their job to judge other believers.

Christians are told to judge other believers

In 1 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul tells the believers in Corinth that it is their job to judge other believers. He writes, "You who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness". Similarly, in Galatians 6:1, Paul tells Christians how to handle a brother who is caught in a sin.

In John 7:24, Jesus says, "Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly". This means that Christians should not judge by appearances, but with right judgment.

In Matthew 18:15-16, Jesus gives instructions about how to confront a fellow believer if they have sinned against you. He says to first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. In other words, don't point out a sin in someone else's life before you confront the bigger sin in your own.

Believers are supposed to hold other believers accountable, such as in church order and bringing others back from sinful practice to purity and belief and faith. However, it is important to do this in a non-judgmental way, such as by confronting someone and asserting that what they are doing is wrong without passing judgement on them as a person.

Jesus directs his listeners to 'not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement'

Jesus directs his listeners to not judge by appearances, but to judge with right judgement. In John 7:24, Jesus says: "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgement."

Jesus is telling his listeners to not be superficial in their assessment of other people. Instead, they should make evaluations and be discerning. They should express their opinions on right and wrong, truth and lies, good and evil.

Jesus also instructs his audience to make sure their judgement isn’t hypocritical. In other words, don’t point out a sin in someone else’s life before you confront the bigger sin in your own. The apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in Galatians 6:1, by telling Christians how to handle a brother who is caught in a sin. He writes, “You who are spiritual”—think log-less in the eye—“should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.”

Jesus writes that you should not judge others lest you be judged

Jesus is clear that we should not judge others in a self-righteous and censorious manner. He instructs his audience to "not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment". Jesus also tells his followers to "first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye". In other words, we should not point out a sin in someone else's life before we confront the bigger sin in our own.

Jesus challenges his followers not to retaliate when someone wrongs them, to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, and to forgive those who sin against them. By doing this, we can follow Paul's teaching to the Philippians: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit".

Jesus tells his audience to be careful to make sure their judgement isn't hypocritical

The apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in Galatians 6:1, by telling Christians how to handle a brother who is caught in a sin. He writes, "You who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness". Paul tells the believers in Corinth that it’s actually their job to judge other believers.

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