It was Halloween night. Amidst a flurry of Frozen princesses and Walking Dead, our perpetually late letter carrier showed up. My first thought was to drop a candy bar in his bag and snark, “Well, don’t you just look like a real mailman in your little costume!”
But I didn’t. Because one of the worst things I’ve experienced in life is the judgment of others, so God forbid I should do it myself. But, oh, I was tempted! Why? Because we’re wired to make judgments. We judge whether to go to the market or wait till the rain lets up. Whether to open our front door to the guy in the Metallica t-shirt who says he’s “from the gas company.”
So, where did it come from, this ban on something we so frequently do? Jesus. He’s the one who famously said, “Judge not, lest ye be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Result? Untold numbers of conversations like: A. “I saw you take that new laptop from the company mail room!” B: “Do you know how little they pay me? Stop judging me!” But is that what Jesus meant?
Not exactly. He went on to say, using an intentionally sarcastic metaphor, “Why do you focus on the speck in your brother’s eye and ignore the log in your own? First pull the log out of your own eye, and then you’ll be able to see clearly to pull the speck out of your brother’s!”
His point? It’s why we judge, not whether to judge, that’s at issue. In fact, elsewhere he commands us to “judge with right judgment” (John 7:24). But judging in the Matthew 7:1 sense is judging with wrong judgment–because its purpose is condemnation. And Jesus’ objective is correction, not condemnation.
Why?
Because condemnation doesn’t fix anything, it merely makes the accuser feel superior, and in dong so, harms both. “I’m better than you” is the small print Jesus exposes when he says, “Why do you focus on the speck in your brother’s eye?”
Three words in the Old Testament are translated “judge.” The first two mean to “govern” (shaphat) or “correct” (yakakh). But the third (duwn) signifies “final judgment,” and is used exclusively of God, with one ominous exception: Genesis 49:16-17 prophesies that a descendent of the tribe of Dan “will judge (duwn) like a serpent.” Because of this verse, Saint Irenaeus concluded that the Antichrist would come from the tribe of Dan! And Jesus used the equivalent term when he warned, “Anyone who says ‘you fool’ (i.e. passes judgement on another’s character) is in danger of hellfire!” (Matthew 5:22)
I once produced a short film entitled The Limited, in which a “good man” dies and finds himself boarding a train en route to see The Judge. On board, he ends up seated across from a hungry, unpleasant woman. He avoids conversing with her or offering her food. When the train arrives, he climbs a long set of stairs and finally meets his Judge…
The woman from the train.
People who love to say “don’t judge!” never seem to have read the rest of that passage, where Jesus says to take the log out of your own eye, so you can see clearly to help remove the speck from your brother’s eye. I guess if we examine ourselves first, we won’t be so ruthless in judging others
Where can we watch “The Limited”?
The only place I know where you can see “The Limited,” Annie is on a DVD anthology of three short films called Trilogy of Parables – https://www.amazon.com/Trilogy-Parables-christian-Limited-Destiny/dp/B005V08K9W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7UFELTHRP14C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GqlU9pU0BPC0Z-IW5a0grsiFXWBvHWr_0Pw8fHH47ms.EHL6QTI1TLMGSBJA1qvNZ-dUKse7dv3hXGt-O4cvnoc&dib_tag=se&keywords=trilogy+of+parables&qid=1722550662&s=movies-tv&sprefix=trilogy+of+parables%2Cmovies-tv%2C133&sr=1-1
I found the exploration of the different Hebrew words for ‘judge’ fascinating. It’s intriguing to see how these nuances in language reflect broader themes of morality and divine judgment.
They do indeed, John.
I’m glad you call out the difference between “judge” and “condemn.” In fact, the word that Jesus uses κρίνω (krinó) is at times interpreted as “judge” and other times as “condemn.”
An example of the first: Luke 7:43: Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
An example of the second: John 3:17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Personally, I think it likely that what Jesus told his disciples was “Condemn not, that ye be not condemned.” That removes any contradiction with other injunctions, such as to “judge with right judgment.” Also, it fits much better with the responsibility of Christian discipleship. I am supposed to judge, so that I might choose the good and renounce the evil, but it is never my responsibility to condemn. That is God’s, and God’s alone.
Exactly. And well parsed, Abe.
I would add that the Matthew 5:22 is important in another way too. In order to judge in the negative sense, you need to be superior. That judgment comes from a sense that I am better than you, so I can pronounce judgment. This is very different from removing a speck from your brothers eye. If we humbly try to help each other see Jesus better, we have done a great thing. If we can “correct” each other in a way that says, “I’m no better than you. In fact, I’m probably worse,” We will go far. In fact, I often think that the “log” in our own eye is the desire to be judge and jury.
Allen
Yes! And well said, Allen.
We’re so quick to quote Matthew 7:1 and forget to mention Matthew 7:2.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
Right, Steven!
Thank you for the reminder and the clarification of the different types of judgment. Valuable information! But….I think you were harsh on yourself by using the postal carrier story as an illustration of judgment. I thought it was hilarious and had you gone through with it, I hope the mail carrier would have had a good enough sense of humor to enjoy it as a prank. We could all use less judgment–and more humor! 🙂
Thanks for letting me off the hook, Sandy. ;>)
Hey Mitch,
While I like your story a lot, in fact it goes along with a bible study I just completed with a friend. However, I don’t see you opening comment toward the mailman as a judgement. He was doing his job and as it was Halloween would have probably gotten a laugh our of your comment and may well have needed it. Thanks for your blog.
blessings to you and your family,Joe
Joseph Yakovetic 4480 Powderhorn Place Drive Clermont, Florida 34711
mobile: 909.241.6088
SDG Soli Deo Gloria “To God Alone the Glory”
Hey Joe! Actually, my opening story was trimmed from an earlier version in which I mentioned that he routinely missed days and came at all hours when he did show up. Blessings to you and the fam too!
If you had made the mailman joke because you were annoyed (and snarky), he may have taken offense to it. If it was said all in good fun, he likely would have realized it by your pleasant demeaner and had a good laugh-and a candy bar! Thanks for your thoughts on judging and condemnation, Mitch. 🙂
Of course, it would be her!!!
Excellent and thought provoking post, Mitch. Every decision we make involves an element of judgment, but the judgment of people themselves is rightly reserved for God and God alone. Thanks also for the informed exegesis of the Hebrew variations on the judgment theme. Not to pick nits, but I think the Genesis scripture you meant to quote is Genesis 49:16-17 vs. Genesis 4:16. NBD.
You’re judging me! ;>) Fixed it. Thanks for the catch, Russell! Not sure how that crept in.
A good word, but a hard one.
I’ve been spending a lot of time lately working through how to get past my offense at those who do wrong in order to understand what grace they need (from me/God) to do better. Which is precisely the grace I have been resisting by refusing to see the beam in my own eye…
Mitch, judging folks for their actions is a tough one, but we all try to adhere to the word.
That’s a good explanation of judgement. Because if we have no judgement, it sort of implies that “anything goes,” which is not good. But when we judge to condemn, or make ourselves feel/look better, then we aren’t acting as Christians at all. Then there’s always that scripture, “Judgement is mine, says the Lord,” which suggests that judgement is God’s domain. I do think the world would be a better place if we all worried more about our own behavior and where we fall short and a little less about the behavior and shortcomings of others. Great post!
Thanks, Ann, and amen.
Great point, Mitch, about wrong judgment being condemnation. As you say, the key is our motive. I wrote something similar about this a while back; you can take a look here if you’re interested: https://keithpetersenblog.com/2020/08/11/who-are-you-to-judge/
Thanks, Keith, I’ll check it out!
Judge oneself first…then others
Right you are, my friend.
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