Judgment stands as a weightier matter of the law, as Christ emphasized to the Scribes and Pharisees, urging them to focus on justice beyond mere legal correctness. Justice involves an impartial adjustment of conflicting claims, assigning deserved punishment or reward, and ensuring decisions are factual, reasonable, fair, and morally upright. Christ rebuked the Pharisees for prioritizing only the legally correct aspect while neglecting fairness and impartiality in their dealings with others. Christ's teaching in Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, that you be not judged," uses the Greek word krino, meaning to condemn or sentence. He warns that if we condemn others, we will face the same condemnation. Yet, in context, He instructs us to evaluate others' deeds carefully, first addressing our own weaknesses and sins to avoid hypocrisy before aiding others with their faults. As we judge others, so will He judge us, reflecting the principle that our attitude toward others determines how we are evaluated. In John 7:24, Christ further clarifies, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment," using the same Greek term krino. He commands us to analyze what is right or wrong based on the mind of God as revealed in His Word, applying such judgment critically and without partiality. Life demands daily judgments about people and circumstances, whether in mundane matters or significant decisions like marriage, requiring thorough evaluation to avoid grief from snap or selfish decisions driven by lust, vanity, or greed. Our purpose in life is to learn to render proper judgments of right and wrong, exercising wisdom as preparation to be leaders and teachers in God's family. While God ultimately makes final judgments on all, ensuring justice over a lifetime, He expects us to judge righteously now, looking at the fruits of others' lives to discern their character. Teachers and leaders face sterner judgment, as their influence demands they live out what they teach. The Pharisees erred by abandoning God's standards for their own traditions, relying on carnal reasoning and situation ethics, which led to harsh, unjust dealings with others. Their partiality destroyed godly standards, allowing wickedness to reign. Christ calls us to use the whole of God's Word to render justice, ensuring decisions are objective and impartial, reflecting His mind. Judgment is weighty because it is the very aim of the law—to ensure justice is done. Since we do not yet fully have God's mind, He gave us the Bible as a guide to strive toward perfection, helping us determine the proper course in every situation through righteous judgment.

God is preparing us to be kings and priests in His coming Kingdom, where both roles involve the function of judges, one in civil matters and the other in religious matters. A judge must first consider what is just and true before extending mercy, relying on a standard to measure the merits of each side in a dispute, ruling according to that standard rather than the fervency of arguments or the status of advocates. The standard a godly judge must follow is God's law, along with the statutes and judgments. In controversy, the priests shall stand as judges and judge according to God's judgments, keeping His laws and statutes in all appointed meetings and hallowing His Sabbaths. God promises to restore judges as at the first, and counselors as at the beginning, so that the city shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Being a judge is not easy, as thorny questions must be faced in both significant and routine cases. Matters are not always clear-cut, which is why God takes time to train us in the skill and art of judgment, allowing us to ponder great and small questions and come to wise and godly conclusions.

In the matter of judging, the limitations of human perception are evident. A person's field of view is too narrow, often clouded by subjective experiences, making it nearly impossible to judge another's character fairly. Events crucial to forming a righteous judgment frequently occur beyond what one can directly observe, leading to conclusions swayed by personal bias and a tendency to assume the worst. The act of judging is further complicated by our own imperfections. As sinning beings under judgment ourselves, we are disqualified from passing judgment on others. Our past lives have so distorted our sense of fairness that we cannot judge with the equity of God. While we are empowered to distinguish between right and wrong and must evaluate conduct accordingly, God forbids the act of sentencing or condemning another as incorrigible. To speak evil of a brother indirectly challenges the law to love one's neighbor, thereby passing judgment on God who inspired that command. Passing judgment based on limited perspective is futile and vain, offering no spiritual value. It often stems from a desire to elevate or justify oneself. Even examining one's own conduct does not grant the authority to judge, as salvation comes through grace and faith, not personal assessment. Many things judged in others are trivial, often irrelevant in the long term, and focusing on them to the point of condemnation is unnecessary. There is no definitive rule to identify when one crosses into forbidden judgment, but it remains a perilous area. It is futile due to our inadequate capacity for fair judgment and dangerous as it encroaches on the prerogative of the Father and Christ as Judges. This necessitates a careful study of God's Word to discern our responsibility and approach toward our brothers in Christ when such situations arise.

God's judgments against Israel in the wilderness serve as a profound example for us, demonstrating both collective and individual accountability. As a body, Israel faced judgment for their collective conduct, just as the church today must heed such lessons on our pilgrimage to the Kingdom of God. Individually, God separated the faithful actions of Joshua and Caleb from the rebellion of others, and judged Moses separately for his moment of lost faith, showing that personal conduct is also under scrutiny. When it comes to judging within the church, the matter is deeply serious to God. We are commanded not to judge one another, yet the human mind naturally makes decisions through observation, often clouded by a self-centered, antagonistic nature that breeds negativity and pride. This makes loving, peaceful relationships challenging, as human nature is competitive and defensive, complicating our interactions. God desires us to learn to judge accurately, a skill that does not come automatically but requires diligent effort. Unlike human opinions, which are often mere feelings or passing thoughts, God's judgments are rooted in truth and deep discernment, far surpassing our limited experience. We must grow beyond letting opinions guide our lives, recognizing that God deals in factual judgment, not mere sentiment. Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ, during His first coming, did not come to judge in a judicial sense but to preach the gospel and provide salvation. However, after His resurrection, He was ordained by God as Judge of the living and the dead, and His return will focus on judgment, a shift already underway within the church. We are being judged by Him now, standing before Him as appraisals of our conduct are made. Our authority to judge others is quite limited. Even Jesus Christ, with His unparalleled spiritual equipping, was not deemed ready to judge judicially until after His death and resurrection. This leaves us as mere learners, cautioned to be quick to listen and slow to speak, lest we appear foolish. God's Word assigns judgment primarily to Him and to Jesus Christ, who holds authority over all nations and the church as High Priest, actively judging us now. Direct commands from Jesus Christ, such as "Judge not," underscore the danger in judging others, as it risks sin and opens traps for the judge. The biblical sense of judging often carries a judicial weight, implying finality, which we are not fully equipped to handle. While we are invited to make righteous judgments, our sense of proportion and understanding of right and wrong is often unbalanced, increasing the likelihood of error and bringing judgment upon ourselves. Jesus Christ warns against judging by appearance or superficially, highlighting the difficulty of separating emotions from decision-making, which can lead to grave mistakes. We must ask how capable we are of making wise judgments, given our fallible nature. Though we are not to be unthinking, we lack overall judicial authority from God, and judging beyond this is presumptuous and dangerous. Yet, we cannot avoid judging entirely, as God gave us minds for this purpose, and we are even commanded to judge in certain contexts, with caution to avoid pitfalls like hypocrisy or unbalanced assessments. Hypocrisy is virtually certain when we judge others, as we often commit sins ourselves, rendering our judgments warped and defenseless in a spiritual court. A sinner under sin's power cannot make a righteous judgment by a righteous standard, risking self-righteousness and further sin. God's judgments, based on truth and reality, stand in stark contrast to our fallible, often distorted human judgments, as exemplified by the Laodicean's perverted self-assessment due to spiritual blindness. Within congregations, judging over minor issues can cause major discord, as seen in disputes over dietary practices or esteeming certain days. Such matters, often lacking clear divine mandate, lead to strong opinions and emotio

Judging is an essential and inherent part of human life, vital for survival and decision-making. God created us as thinking beings, endowed with a spirit that enables us to process information, make judgments, and act accordingly, distinguishing us from animals driven by instinct. Every day, we make countless decisions—whether to get out of bed, what to eat, what to wear, where to go, or how to interact with others—all of which involve judgments, assessments, evaluations, or discernments. These judgments are crucial for navigating life and achieving our goals. Judgments can be categorized into different types. Natural or innate judgments are those we make instinctively for survival, such as choosing safe paths or evaluating immediate dangers, like a baseball player deciding in a split second whether to swing or dodge a fastball. Subjective judgments, or opinions, stem from personal experiences, education, and biases, often mistaken for facts but ultimately reflecting individual preferences. Moral judgments involve discerning right from wrong based on a standard, which for some is rooted in God's Word, though others may follow different standards like tradition, philosophy, or personal feelings. In today's society, moral judgments often devolve into subjective, emotional opinions lacking a common, higher standard, leading to hypocritical and unfair criticism of others. Jesus Christ addresses judging in Matthew 7:1-5, commanding, "Judge not, that you be not judged." He warns against a specific type of judgment that opposes the work of Him and His Father in the church, emphasizing the principle of reciprocity: the judgment we mete out will be measured back to us. Harsh judgment invites harsh judgment in return, ultimately before the judgment seat of Christ. He illustrates this with the hyperbolic imagery of a speck and a plank in the eye, highlighting the hypocrisy of condemning minor faults in others while ignoring or justifying one's own greater sins. Jesus urges self-examination and repentance of personal sins before attempting to help others with theirs, promoting humility and unity rather than conflict and disunity in the church. In John 7:24, Jesus clarifies that not all judgment is forbidden, instructing to "judge with righteous judgment" rather than by mere appearance. He emphasizes evaluating situations and behaviors based on the broader spectrum of God's Word, considering spiritual attributes like mercy and goodness, rather than superficial or legalistic standards. This righteous judgment focuses on discerning right from wrong in dilemmas, not condemning others, and requires caution against hasty conclusions based on limited perception, as deeper spiritual realities may be at play. Jesus models this principle in John 8 with the woman caught in adultery, refusing to condemn her despite His authority as the designated Judge. He sets a high standard for His followers, encouraging them to avoid hypocritical condemnation, especially among disciples, and instead to support one another on the path to the Kingdom of God. By prioritizing self-criticism and humility, considering others better than ourselves, we can then assist others with their struggles in a spirit of love and forbearance, fostering growth and unity.

The subject of judging can be challenging to understand. If taken to an extreme, a non-judgmental stance would prevent any evaluation of a person's conduct in relation to God's standards, society's norms, or our own values, creating a hazardous tolerance where nothing is questioned or deemed wrong. God never intended such an outcome when Jesus said, "Judge not that you be not judged." Before deciding whether to imitate or reject another's actions, we must evaluate and judge their conduct. Judging is the process of observing, analyzing, and evaluating evidence to form an opinion or decision, an act we perform frequently in daily life. From morning until night, our minds process information to determine actions, priorities, and quality, shaping our beliefs, preferences, and convictions. The quality of our judgments significantly impacts the quality of our lives, and being prepared to make sound judgments increases the likelihood of success. Yet, there are warnings about judging one another in certain scriptures. The danger lies in the quality of our judgments and the actions we take based on them. Jesus commands us to judge with righteous judgment, highlighting that misguided judgments often stem from using wrong standards or failing to recognize true godliness. Our own carnality can distort our judgment of others in whom Christ lives, making us ill-equipped to assess godly qualities or understand underlying factors in another's conduct. Judging remains a necessary part of life within the church. There are instances where judgment is required to protect the spiritual and moral integrity of a congregation, especially in cases of blatant sin. Christians are called to judge, as they will one day judge the world, and must prepare for such responsibilities even in smaller matters now. Care must be taken in judging, as we often lack the full picture of a person's circumstances, intentions, strengths, or weaknesses. Human experience and understanding are limited, and built-in biases can color our judgments, making impartiality difficult. We must strive to judge lovingly, thoughtfully, and considerately, using God's standards to ensure righteous judgment.

As God's people, we are called to judge situations, our corrupt government, people in office, those over us, each other, and especially ourselves, constantly. The command not to judge, as mentioned in Matthew 7:1-2, does not mean we should lack discernment. God instructs us not to cast pearls before swine, warning that they will trample them and turn to attack, as seen in Matthew 7:6. He also advises us to beware of false prophets in Matthew 7:15-16, implying the need to discern their true nature through their deeds and doctrines. Therefore, God grants us permission to judge right from wrong, but our judgments must be righteous, grounded in the Word of God, the Bible. We must distinguish between judging and being judgmental. Judging, akin to a referee making a call based on the rulebook, involves assessing situations, government, people in politics, each other, and ourselves according to God's Word. Being judgmental, however, is like a court judge passing a sentence, declaring guilt without full understanding or compassion. We should not judge others' motives or rush to condemn, as this oversteps our role. Instead, our judgments must be based on Scripture, not personal feelings or political correctness, ensuring they are righteous and balanced. God instructs us to judge within the Body of Christ, as seen in I Corinthians 5:11-12, where we are told not to associate with certain behaviors and to make judgment calls accordingly. Yet, we must avoid being condemning or seeking to discipline for the sake of fault-finding. Our judgments should aim to discern between good and evil, as the spiritually mature do, according to Hebrews, by exercising their senses through use of God's Word. When judging, we must remember our own sins, show compassion, and pray for others, ensuring our approach is rooted in love and humility. We are to judge various sins and behaviors—cruelty, covetousness, cursing, dishonor, divorce, drunkenness, filthiness, fornication, heresies, hypocrisies, lies, murder, perverseness, pride, anger, rebellion, robbery, scoffing, sodomy, stealing, stupidity, and worthlessness—as God does, since these are addressed in His Word. However, we cannot judge where a person stands with God, as this is beyond our capability. Hypocritical, harsh, unforgiving, and self-righteous judgment is wrong and reflects a judgmental attitude that feels superior and seeks to hurt others. Our role is not to be critical or fault-finding but to judge out of love, with outgoing concern for others, supporting and praying for them through God's laws and commandments. Above all, we must judge ourselves constantly, examining our hearts and actions, seeking God's help to root out sin from our lives. When He reveals our faults, we must repent and make necessary changes. By focusing on our own correction and deepening our relationship with God, we cultivate humility, enabling us to judge others correctly from His Word. We should speak truth in love, gently confronting erring brothers in Christ, and practicing church discipline without causing others to stumble. Living in these challenging times, we must judge the world, situations, government, each other, and especially ourselves righteously, making major changes in our lives to draw closer to God.

Jesus Christ warns us against judging others, as seen in Matthew 7:1, where He instructs, "Do not judge." This is further clarified as "Do not condemn others so that you yourself will not be condemned," implying that condemning others may lead to our own condemnation. Christ cautions against a fault-finding spirit, a negative attitude that drives us to criticize and point out flaws in others, which is deeply ingrained in our society through various forms of criticism. This critical mindset often seeps into the church, where we accuse, judge, and criticize those who fail to meet our expectations or find fault with leaders. Christ questions why we emphasize others' faults, knowing our tendency to do so, and reminds us that this behavior may be one of the most common sins among brethren, often without our awareness due to its habitual nature. Reasons for such judging include feelings of inferiority masked as pride, where criticizing others boosts our sense of superiority, or envy and jealousy over others' attention or positions. This behavior is sinful, the opposite of love, stemming from impure motives and aiming to elevate oneself at the expense of another's reputation. Love, as described in I Corinthians 13, is patient and kind, not arrogant or rude, seeking to conceal rather than expose unrighteousness. Judging also distorts our perspective, much like satan's accusations distorted Eve's and Adam's view of God, leading to sin. Similarly, in the Old Testament, Miriam's criticism of Moses distorted Aaron's perspective, leading both to sin and delaying the journey to the Promised Land. Such actions within the church may stunt our growth toward the Kingdom of God. Moreover, judging others is hypocritical, as Christ illustrates in Matthew 7:3-5 with the imagery of removing a speck from another's eye while having a beam in our own. This highlights the irony of correcting others when our own faults are greater, holding others to rigid standards while being lenient with ourselves. Christ emphasizes examining ourselves first before judging others. Instead of judging, Christ offers an alternative through prayer and a positive approach, as seen in Matthew 7:12, where He teaches to treat others as we would want to be treated, overcoming evil with good. The critical spirit, influenced by the prince of the power of the air, can be neutralized through prayer and a continued relationship with the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, focusing on self-honest judgment rather than criticizing others.