Have you ever been in a situation where you knew something was wrong but someone quoted Jesus saying that you shouldn’t judge? If you’re ever in that situation, here are some things to consider.
First we do well to consider several things Jesus said about judgment. When we only consider one statement He made, apart from the others, it gets pulled out of context where it’s easily misinterpreted.
Anytime we take the text out of context, all we’re left with is a con.
For example, here is something else Jesus says about judging.
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
— John 7:24 (NKJV)
That’s a game-changer when it comes to how we handle life’s messy situations. We’re not meant to ignore wrongdoings or pretend everything’s fine. Instead, we should look deeper, guided by God’s standards, not our own biases or snap decisions.
Think about it like this. Imagine you’re a gardener pulling weeds from a flower bed. If you yank out everything without checking, you might destroy the good plants too. Jesus wants us to be careful, wise gardeners, examining things with His truth as our guide.
Walk in Maturity
This ties into living as mature believers. We all face moments where we need to make calls, maybe in relationships, at work, or in our communities. Righteous judgment means basing those on Scriptural truth, not emotions, or culture’s loud voices.
For example, Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 2:15, saying the spiritual person can discern all things. It’s about aligning with God’s heart, not playing judge and jury on our own.
So, here’s the encouragement. Next time you’re in a spot where judgment is needed, pause and pray for God’s perspective. Consider what the Bible has to say about the issue. Doing so transforms how we interact with one another and builds His Kingdom.
Why not commit to begin judging righteously today?
