Put Down That Gavel (James 4:11-12)

Today’s scripture: James 4:11-12

We are told in these verses and others in God’s word that we are not to judge others. It is not our job. Yet how often do we point fingers at others? We judge their behavior. We judge their choices.

But the Bible makes it clear: We are not to judge others.

That’s God’s job.

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy …” God and He alone has the right to judge because He and He alone is holy and righteous. He is perfect and without sin.

We are not—definitely not—holy and righteous. Oh no. We are sinful and fleshly. We should be focused on cleaning up our own acts rather than telling others how they should clean up their own.

So next time you’re tempted to judge someone else, let it go. Let the Judge of all of us do His job. And you do your job of becoming more like Christ.

Don't Judge ... but Rebuke? (1 Timothy 5:19-20)

Today’s scripture: 1 Timothy 5:19-20

Sometimes the Bible seems to contradict itself. We’re told to “judge not” (Matt. 7:1), yet here Paul tells Timothy to “rebuke” the brethren “who continue in sin.”

How do we reconcile this apparent inconsistency?

I believe—and again, I’m no Bible scholar—it’s a matter of the heart. It’s one thing to self-righteously point out the speck in someone’s eye while overlooking the log in our own. (See Matt. 7:2-4.) It’s something altogether different if we’re lovingly attempting to guide a brother or sister away from a habitual sin.

There’s another key in Paul’s exhortation: We’re not to “receive an accusation” without corroboration. In other words, if one person accuses someone of a sin, it may or may not be true. But if two or three—or more—make the same accusation, then we can be certain the accusation is sound.

However, I must interject here. I don’t believe Paul is talking about crime. If someone is raped or robbed or abused, and there is evidence to prove it, then that one person’s testimony is sufficient.

Paul’s heart in these verses is redemption and reconciliation. And that should be ours as well. We should desire that all our brothers and sisters live in relationship with our Lord, not letting any habitual sin prevent them from being all He’s created them to be. 

Restoration Not Condemnation (Galatians 6:1)

Today's scriptures: Galatians 6:1

We Christians tend to be judgmental. Sorry to be so blunt, but it’s true.

We love to point out that speck in someone else’s eye, and we feel somehow superior when someone is “caught in any trespass.”

That’s not the way it’s supposed to be. We should grieve when a brother or sister sins, and we should seek their restoration.

Rather than point fingers or—even worse—gossip about someone’s failings, we should quietly and gently walk alongside her to bring her back to a right relationship with the Lord. And as we do, we need to be extra alert so we aren’t tempted to fall into the same sin.

Righteousness, not sinfulness.

Gentleness, not ridicule.

Restoration, not condemnation.

Should We Judge? (1 Corinthians 5:3-5)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:3-5

Many people say the Bible is full of contradictions, and this very well may be one of those passages that cause issues. Elsewhere, the Bible says “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Yet here, Paul writes that he judged the one who had sinned with his father’s wife.

First, we need to look at Matthew 7:1 in context. It’s really talking about hypocrisy. We shouldn’t be judging others in arrogance. Verse 3 of that same chapter asks the question, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

The Bible does allow for discipline of our Christian brothers and sisters. Jesus Himself talked about this very thing in Matthew 17: “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” (vv. 15-17). However, it’s important to remember that the goal here is reconciliation, not excommunication. Just as we’d share truth with a nonbeliever, we should continue to share truth with a wayward brother.

Now this idea of “delivering such a one to Satan” also causes a bit of controversy. Was Paul really turning this man over to Satan? A commentary responds: Paul “put forth an act of extraordinary power, and gave him up to Satan, nor for his destruction, but for his deliverance, at least for the destruction of the flesh, that the soul might be saved … that [his] spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (Matthew Henry Complete Commentary of the Entire Bible).

We should not arrogantly judge our brothers and sisters, ignoring our own sin. However, we should lovingly, compassionately, and mercifully guide those who are willfully sinning back to God’s truth.

You're Not the Judge! (1 Corinthians 4:3-5)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

Paul writes about judgment in today's verses. We Christians like to quote another verse about judgment a lot: “Judge not, and you shall not be judged” (NKJV, Luke 6:37). But I like today’s verse even better: “… do not go on passing judgment [because] the Lord … will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts …”

We have no idea what’s in a person’s heart. We can point fingers all we want, but God is the ultimate judge. And because we cannot know what goes on between a person and God, we must not judge.

God examines … not us.

There’s something in human nature that wants to be judge and jury. We love it when someone else seems to stumble. Our flesh likes to think we’re somehow better than someone else. But we all have sin of some kind in our lives. And we all have things we do to build God’s kingdom.

And I’m going out on a limb here, but I think God judges the person who does “good” with a wrong motive just as He does someone who practices sin. What I mean is if I’m using a gift He’s given me, but with a prideful heart, I’m sinning. Pride is a sin. Just like anger. Or gossip. Or covetousness. Or murder. Or adultery.

Or what about when I follow God’s will for my life, but I do it grudgingly, whining and complaining all the way? God will judge that as well because He also looks at my heart’s motives. It’s like the parable Jesus told about the two sons:  "Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, 'Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.' The son answered, 'I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went. The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, 'Sure, glad to.' But he never went. Which of the two sons did what the father asked?" They said, "The first" (MSG, Matthew 21:28-32). It’s a tall order: We need to live as sinless as we possibly can, and we need to serve with right motives.

But praise God, we’re not in this alone. We have the Holy Spirit within us to encourage us when we’re struggling and to convict us when we veer from God’s path.

So the bottom line is, we need to watch out for ourselves. We need to focus on our own relationships with God.

And leave all judgment to the only One who has the right to judge … and it’s not us!

When to Judge (1 Cor. 5:9-13)

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
(1 Corinthians 5:9-13, NASB)

Ah, more controversy. It’s times like this when I have to wonder why I choose to base my devotionals on entire books of the Bible. It would be a lot easier to write theme-based devotionals: love, peace, grace, mercy.

But when I started this devotional blog several years ago, I felt led to focus on entire books … in context. And I knew it would mean that I would have to deal with verses and passages that weren’t necessarily the easiest to write about.

Today’s verses make it clear that we are not to judge “outsiders.” But we are to not only judge those who call themselves our Christian brothers (and sisters), but to “remove” them if they don’t repent.

We can’t judge outsiders because they don’t believe as we do. They don’t study and apply the Bible as we do. So how can we expect them to follow its commandments? On the other hand, however, those who call themselves Christians should know God’s word and how He expects us to live. And if they don’t, if they deliberately sin, then we should first approach them as Jesus described in Matthew 17 (see devotional on March 5). Then, if they still don’t repent of their sin, we need to remove them from fellowship—but we still need to pray for them and try to win them back.

So many who call themselves Christians live habitually sinful lifestyles. Sex outside of marriage. Pornography. Cheating. Gossip. Pride. Lying.

The key word here is “habitually.” The Bible says “practice” (see Romans 1:28-32; Galatians 5:20-22; Ephesians 4:17-19). We’re all fleshly, and we battle with sin all the time. The difference is whether or not we choose to practice that sin.

And if a brother or sister chooses to sin, then we need to lovingly, yet purposefully judge them—and seek to reconcile them to their Savior.

The Motives of the Heart (1 Cor. 4:3-5)

But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
(1 Corinthians 4:3-5, NASB)

We Christians like to quote another verse about judgment a lot: “Judge not, and you shall not be judged” (Luke 6:37, NKJV). But I like today’s verse even better: “… do not go on passing judgment [because] the Lord … will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts …”

We have no idea what’s in a person’s heart. We can point fingers all we want, but God is the ultimate judge. And because we cannot know what goes on between a person and God, we must not judge.

God examines … not us.

There’s something in human nature that wants to be judge and jury. We love it when someone else seems to stumble. Our flesh likes to think we’re somehow better than someone else. But we all have sin of some kind in our lives. And we all have things we do to build God’s kingdom.

And I’m going out on a limb here, but I think God judges the person who does “good” with a wrong motive just as He does someone who practices sin. What I mean is if I’m using a gift He’s given me, but with a prideful heart, I’m sinning. Pride is a sin. Just like anger. Or gossip. Or covetousness. Or murder. Or adultery.

Or what about when I follow God’s will for my life, but I do it grudgingly, whining and complaining all the way? God will judge that as well because He also looks at my heart’s motives. It’s like the parable Jesus told about the two sons:

"Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, 'Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.' The son answered, 'I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went. The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, 'Sure, glad to.' But he never went. Which of the two sons did what the father asked?" They said, "The first" (Matthew 21:28-32, MSG).

It’s a tall order: We need to live as sinless as we possibly can, and we need to serve with right motives.

But praise God, we’re not in this alone. We have the Holy Spirit within us to encourage us when we’re struggling and to convict us when we veer from God’s path. And when we serve God with right hearts, He will reward us and bless us.

So the bottom line is, we need to watch out for ourselves. We need to focus on our own own relationships with God.

We need to leave all judgment to the only One who has the right to judge … and it’s not us!

Don't Judge (James 4:11-12)

Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
(James 4:11-12, NASB)

We are told in these verses and others in God’s word that we are not to judge others. It is not our job. Yet how often do we point fingers at others? We judge their behavior. We judge their choices.

But the Bible makes it clear: We are not to judge others.

That’s God’s job.

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy …” God and He alone has the right to judge because He and He alone is holy and righteous. He is perfect and without sin.

We are not—definitely not—holy and righteous. Oh no. We are sinful and fleshly. We should be focused on cleaning up our own acts rather than telling others how they should clean up their own.

So next time you’re tempted to judge someone else, let it go. Let the Judge of all of us do His job. And you do your job of becoming more like Christ.