“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.” Mathew 7:1, 2
This text is often time misused in the attempt to justify ones sin or that one should do as they will. The word Judge here simply means to condemn. To condemn someone is to put them in “Hell”; to determine their punishment. And many would use this text, “…For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 samuel 16:7
However is it a sin to judge? Is someone in the wrong to do so?
The Bible does speak of a judgment that is righteous, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24
The Bible also points out that, “by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matt 7:20. We know that in the natural world every tree brings forth fruit after its kind. An orange tree cannot bear apples neither an apple bear oranges. For God have given us the things of the natural to teach us spiritual lessons.
“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” Matthew 7:17, 18.
What are some of those evil fruits?
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
Answer: Sin on a whole
On the contrary God is calling us out from fornication, hatred, strife, envyings. He is calling us to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit.
What are the fruits of the Spirit?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23
Now we have seen that there are two different kinds of fruit someone can bear. A thief is someone who steals, stealing is a sin and someone who sins is a sinner. We do not now say “Do not judge him”, for his actions testify of who he is. He is a sinner. However we do not pronounce him hell bound because of his actions, instead his lifestyle should trigger the realization that he is a sinner in need of grace. Do not condemn but reflect the fruit of love and point him to Christ our savior. But more importantly the question we all should be asking is, which fruit do I bare?