{A}   IS JUDGING SOMEONE WRONG?

A1

John 7:24

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

A2

Titus

3:10-11

Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

A3

2Thes 3:6

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

A4

Rom 16:17

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

A5

1Cor 6:5

I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?

A6

1Tim 6:3-5

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

A7

1Cor 5:11

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person

{B}   BIBLICAL PEOPLE WHO WERE JUDGED RIGHTEOUSLY

B1

2Tim

2:16-18

But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

B2

3John

1:9-10

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

B3

2Tim

4:14-15

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words

B4

1Cor 5:1-6

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father's wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

{D}  WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF JUDGING OTHERS INCORRECTLY?

D1

Matt 7:1-3

Judge  not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 

D2

2Sam

12:1-7

Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: "There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.  The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.  And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."  So David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity." Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!

D3

Luke 6:37

The Benefits of NOT Judging:

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

{G}   SUMMARY / APPLICATION

G1

Types of Judgment to Avoid:

·         Hypocritical: Judging others while ignoring personal faults.

·         Superficial: Judging based on appearances or traditions rather than truth. E.g. the Jews sought to kill Him for healing on the Sabbath, even though they permitted circumcision on the same day.

·         Opinion-based: Imposing personal preferences instead of God’s word.

G2

Types of Judgment to Employ:

·         Righteous: judgement based on God’s Word - with humility, truth, and love.

·         Impartial:  Prov 24:23-25 - These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him. But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, And a good blessing will come upon them. 

·         Respectful: Gal 6:3 - For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 

·         Discerning: Jude 1:22-23 - And on some have compassion, making a distinction;  but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

·                           Failing to judge can be just as damaging as judging wrongly.

G3

Righteous Judgment Requires:

·         Self-examination and spiritual maturity.

·         Discernment between good and evil, truth and error.

·         Impartiality, respect, and compassion.

·         Grounding in Scripture and prayer. E.g. Matt 7:1 - "Judge not…" is often taken out of context by those being corrected to avoid accountability or correction. We are not authorized to pass judgment on them (as a true judge would do), we are merely trying to point out their error, out of love and concern for their souls.

G4

Judgment in the Church:

·         Necessary for discipline, doctrinal clarity, and fellowship.

·         Essential for spiritual growth and maintaining the integrity of the church.

·         Leaders must be equipped to refute error and guide wisely.

G5

Ultimate Authority:

·         God is the final Judge; human judgment must never usurp His role.

·         Eccl 12:14 — For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

·         2Cor 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.