Often, we find ourselves inwardly contemplating, becoming angry with the people around us for blatant sins exhibited from their mouth and actions. Next come internal blaring words, “Do not judge, lest you be judged.” After contemplating this statement come the silent words, “Then how do we know how to identify right and wrong, if there isn’t judging?” Only to follow up with a lifted prayer on knowing how to judge rightly to keep from being guilty.
We’re taught not to judge anyone. Yet, sin has become rampant among congregations due to saying, “Do not judge,” indicating we do not have this right, thus, placing guilt if we do, keeping silent and causing confusion. Yet, “God is not a God of confusion, but shalom as in all the communities of the kedoshim” (I Corinthians 14:33).
Yahuah has been placing on our hearts to repent of wrongful judging others, but lovingly, teaching and working with us on how to judge righteously. This is and has been a process. Through prayer and study of Scripture we find that Yeshuah teaches that there are two sides of this subject: judging others with righteous judgment (using discernment) and avoiding self-righteous judgment (condemnation).
Going to Yahuwah, we learn that using Torah- is the measure of judgement. Our Teacher, Yeshuah states, “Stop judging, so that you may not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Since Scripture wasn’t divided into chapters when it was first written, we look at the words before and after this statement to understand why it was spoken. In chapter 6 Yeshuah begins with these words, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before others to be seen by them; otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1). He continues with teaching us to do things quietly for our Heavenly Father and trusting Him. Yeshuah follows this teaching with not judging others, warning that how we judge them, we will be judged with the same measurement and explaining that the beam needs taken out of our eye before pointing to our brethren’s speck.
These teachings are about self-righteousness. Yeshuah then follows this up with, ‘“Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” Matthew 7:15. Isn’t this judging? Yet, Yeshuah teaches us how to identify, know the false teachers/brethren, and even states some will not enter the Kingdom of Elohim. Identifying false teachers is by looking at the fruit. The fruit that comes by living righteously through Torah.
Paul also addresses this subject referring to what is taught in the Torah, “But now I am writing to you not to mix together with anyone who is being called a brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy or an idolater or a slanderer or a drunkard or a swindler—not even to eat with such a fellow. For what business do I have judging outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside? But those who are outside, God judges. Put away the wicked fellow from among yourselves” (I Corinthians 5:11-13).
Yahuah is Holy. Yeshuah, as well as Paul, taught us to judge righteously within the “camp,” but this is not to be done in self-righteousness. Too many stay silent to those bringing sin into the “camp” due to focusing on one verse, Matthew 7:1.
Heavenly Father, teach us to know how to judge righteously with the Holy Spirit’s discernment and not with a self-righteous spirit causing condemnation upon us. May we do this by hearing, doing, living and walking in Torah -bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). For in You, “Adonai Elohim, the Holy One of Israel: “By repentance and rest we are saved, in quietness and trust is our strength. (Isaiah 30:15).
Kurt & Wendy Larson
Living Messiah, Mesa, AZ
