Christian Discipleship Course 49.

Question and answer: “Should I be judging my brother?”

This subject can be very confusing, and misunderstandings can arise unless we read all the scriptures within their context. We can judge people, but we are also warned not to judge! Most people judge negatively and this is sin. It is best to make sure that your own life is right with God before you go and point out a brother’s mistake, because your brother may tell you many of your own faults! Always tell the truth in love, because you want them to grow into a deeper relationship with God, Mat. 5:23-24, 6:14, Eph. 4:15.

Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgement you use it will be measured back to you... consider the plank in your own eye! Or how can you say to your brother, ‘let me remove the speck out of your eye’; and look a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite first remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”

To judge someone biblically is to talk with a brother lovingly one on one (and not telling others!) (Titus 3:2, James 4:11) regarding their fault, hopefully leading to their restoration. It is best that either a leader (Galatians 6:1) or a close friend (Proverbs 27:17, James 5:16) tells a brother about his fault. If the brother has committed sin against you or vice versa then you have to speak to him on your own, Matthew 5:23-24, 18:15-22, Luke 17:3-4.

Wisdom: If you are not right with God or a fellow brother, then judge no one. There is a big difference between the gift of discernment and suspicion.

There are three types of judging and correction: John 7:24.

1. To restore the offender so that they can repent, change and be restored, because you want the best for them, 2 Corinthians 2:1-11, Galatians 6:1-5.

2. To protect the body of Christ from false teachers. Matthew 7:15-23, Acts 21:29-31, 10-22. (1 Timothy 1:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:17-18), 2 Peter 2:1-3.

3. To correct those who set a bad example and could shake a young believer’s faith, (Acts 23:3), 1 Corinthians 5, 8:7-13, 10:23-32, James 4:1-4.

Fact: Most people judge with a wrong heart and motives, Romans 2:1-5.

Think: Do you do to others, as you would have them to do to you?

More Info: Matthew 3:8-10, 19:13-15, Luke 12:54-59, Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 4:4-5, 6:1-10, 14:29, 2 Corinthians 13:1-2, Galatians 6:7-8, Ephesians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Timothy 5:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:14-19,23, 3:1-9, Titus 3:9-11, 1 Peter 4:8, Revelation chapters 2 and 3.