Christ's teachings on judgment, as a weightier matter of the law, emphasize the importance of justice in our daily interactions. He critiques the Pharisees for focusing solely on legal correctness while neglecting fairness, impartiality, and reasonableness in their dealings with others. Christ urges a balanced approach to judgment, insisting that while legal correctness is necessary, it must be accompanied by a broader sense of justice. In addressing the concept of judging others, Christ warns against harsh condemnation, as reflected in the instruction not to judge lest we be judged. The Greek term used here implies condemning or sentencing others, and Christ cautions that such actions will be mirrored back to us. However, He clarifies that judgment is not entirely forbidden; rather, we must evaluate others' deeds with caution, first addressing our own weaknesses and sins to avoid hypocrisy. Only after overcoming our faults can we assist others with their difficulties. Christ further instructs that judgment should not be based on superficial appearances but must be righteous, aligning with the mind of God as expressed in His Word. The manner in which we judge others will be the standard by which we are judged, highlighting the critical nature of our approach to evaluation. Life demands that we make judgments daily, whether in mundane matters or significant decisions like friendships and marriages. These judgments, if made without sufficient information or driven by selfish desires, can lead to grief. The Pharisees erred by abandoning God's standards for their own traditions, leading to biased and harsh judgments that favored themselves. This deviation from godly principles resulted in a loss of justice in their leadership. Christ's teachings call for judgments to be made impartially and objectively, using the entirety of God's Word as the guide to ensure justice is done. Our purpose in life includes learning to render proper judgments, a skill that prepares us for greater responsibilities, as we are trained to evaluate right and wrong with wisdom and discernment.

The subject of judging others is a recurring issue within the church, necessitating ongoing discussion. In Matthew 7:1, Jesus instructs us not to judge, which is translated in The Faithful Version as "Do not condemn others so that you yourself will not be condemned." This suggests that condemning others may lead to our own condemnation. The term "condemn" implies expressing an unfavorable judgment on someone, particularly within the church community. Jesus warns against a fault-finding spirit, which is essentially a negative attitude that leads us to criticize others for their shortcomings. Criticism is deeply ingrained in our society, evident in various forms of critics and their associations. This critical mindset often extends into the church, where we judge and criticize those who do not meet our expectations, including our leaders. Jesus advises against emphasizing the faults of others, possibly because He understands our natural tendency to do so. This behavior might be one of the most common sins among church members, often done unconsciously due to its prevalence. Reasons for judging and criticizing others include feelings of inferiority, pride, envy, and jealousy. Such actions can provide a false sense of superiority, similar to the Pharisee's attitude towards the Publican. However, judging others is sinful and contrary to love, as it stems from impure motives and seeks to elevate one's own righteousness at the expense of another's reputation. Judging others distorts our perspective, a tactic Satan uses to accuse us before God. This distortion can lead to sin, as seen in the examples of Eve, Adam, and Miriam and Aaron's criticism of Moses. Such actions not only lead to personal sin but can also affect the entire community, potentially delaying spiritual growth towards the Kingdom of God. Furthermore, judging others is hypocritical, as it often involves holding others to a stricter standard than we apply to ourselves. Jesus illustrates this hypocrisy in Matthew 7:3-5, using the metaphor of a beam in one's own eye while trying to remove a speck from another's. He emphasizes the need for self-examination before judging others. Instead of judging others, Jesus encourages us to treat others as we would like to be treated, aligning with the principles of loving God and our neighbors. Prayer is presented as a means to counteract the critical spirit, which originates from the prince of the power of the air. Engaging in honest self-criticism and maintaining a relationship with God and Jesus Christ are essential for overcoming the urge to judge others.

God wants us to be cautious in our judgments of others. Judging others is a serious matter with God, as it can cause division and offense within the church. We are commanded not to judge one another, yet human nature makes it difficult to avoid, as we are decision-making beings who often rely on opinions rather than truth. God does not deal in opinions but in factual judgments based on truth and reality. Our judgments, however, are often influenced by our emotions and self-centeredness, leading to unbalanced and potentially harmful conclusions. This is why Christ warned us strongly against judging others, as our judgments can boomerang back on us, and we may be judged by the same measure we use to judge others. Paul emphasized that judging others often leads to hypocrisy, as we tend to commit the same sins we accuse others of. He urged the church not to judge, as it destroys unity and puts the accuser in a position of trying to take the place of Jesus Christ. Instead, we should be kind, generous, and helpful, encouraging others in their Christian walk. In summary, while God wants us to learn to make accurate judgments, we must be very cautious and avoid allowing our judgments to harm others or cause division within the church.