I've been thinking on the subject of not judging lately. It was certainly one of Jesus's biggest themes, if not his biggest. In fact, not judging falls under the category of "love one another," especially since to judge one another is only to (metaphorically) eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (which is what messed us up in the first place). So, here's the question of the day: Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-2 (NET), “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive.” However, in John 7:24 (NET), He says instead, “Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment.” So, which is it? Judge not lest ye be judged, or judge righteous judgement?
There's a problem with how the question is presented, however- the question assumes that both are commands given by Jesus. Is this the case? Take a look at both. The first, the command not to judge at all, does not appear to be a quote that he's using to prove a point, it doesn't look rhetorical, and it is complimented by other quotes from Jesus (eg. John 8:15, John 12:47, Luke 6:37). However, when one looks at John 7:24, judge only correctly, one gets different results. I had a feeling when discussing this with some friends that Jesus may have been only quoting (or at least alluding to) the Law (Genesis-Deuteronomy) in such a way as to flip it back at someone accusing Him. With a bit of searching, I discovered I was right. In the original 1611 KJV, I found a marginal note that linked this verse with Deuteronomy 1:16 (NET), "...judge fairly, whether between one citizen and another or a citizen and a resident foreigner." Alright, so Jesus is probably quoting/alluding to the Law. How do we know He isn't just reinforcing a command, though? Who says He's only flipping the Law back at someone accusing Him to prove a point? Why, the context, of course! Take a look:
When the feast was half over, Jesus went up to the temple court and began to teach. Then the Jewish leaders were astonished and said, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?” So Jesus replied, “My teaching is not from me, but from the one who sent me. If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority. The person who speaks on his own authority desires to receive honor for himself; the one who desires the honor of the one who sent him is a man of integrity, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Hasn’t Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law! Why do you want to kill me?” The crowd answered, “You’re possessed by a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” Jesus replied, “I performed one miracle and you are all amazed. However, because Moses gave you the practice of circumcision (not that it came from Moses, but from the forefathers), you circumcise a male child on the Sabbath. But if a male child is circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses is not broken why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment.”
Point well made, Jesus. He made the claim that "not one of you keeps the Law!", and they proved it when they judged Him to be crazy, possessed by a demon, as well as sinful for doing something on the Sabbath, despite the fact that He had just told them the truth about His teaching (blue). He made it clear (red) that they had disregarded their own law, to judge righteously (green); He wasn't making a command at all- only proving what He'd said (red bold).
Thankfully, when it comes to Jesus, the idea is no longer to keep the Law as best as possible, but to love God and each other, which by definition includes lack of judgement. Galatians 2:21 (NET) says, "I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!", said by Paul when rebuking Peter for teaching the Gentiles that they had to obey the Jewish Law to attain salvation.
So, Jesus's point? Live by the Law, and you'll fail. Live by the Law (the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil), and you will live by judgement, and you will be judged for it in the end. Live by Jesus and His love (the Tree of Life), and you will not live in judgement, and you will not be judged for it in the end.
J-Lindo
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