What are some scriptural guidelines on judging others?

BibleAsk Team

Scriptural Guidelines for Judging Others

The word of God gives scriptural guidelines for judging others. Jesus said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Judging can only be done as the Lord has instructed:

A-Judge by the scriptures: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). The standard of judgement is God’s word, not feelings, traditions, or opinions.

B-Don’t judge when God’s Word is silent: If God’s word is silent about a specific subject, then don’t give your own judgement on this subject. Let God be the judge.

C-Pray for good judgment: When Solomon received his kingdom, he asked God, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people” (I Kings 3:9).  And the Lord promises, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

D-Don’t show favoritism to some persons: “These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment” (Proverbs 24:23). A truly fair judge is blind and deaf to any outer influence (Isaiah 42:1, 19-21).

E-Judge in truth: “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it” (Jeremiah 5:1). Do not judge another when you do not have all the facts.

F-Judge with love and mercy: “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:2). Remember that a person will reap what he sows whether it is good or evil (Galatians 6:7-8).

G-Judge yourself first before judging others: “Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:4-5).

In His service,
BibleAsk Team

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