"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. Matthew 7:1-2

Last time we considered the fact that the immediate context of Matthew 7:1-2 clearly reveals that the words, “Judge not,” are not a prohibition against every kind of judging at all times. This time, what about the greater context? What do we mean when we refer to the greater context? We are referring to the fact that every verse in the Bible must be interpreted in light of the entire Bible. Here is the principle explained: God cannot contradict Himself. Therefore, God’s Word cannot contradict itself. When an apparent contradiction in God’s Word exists, the problem is not with God’s Word, but with our interpretation. So, each part can only be correctly understood in light of the whole.

This is the beauty and importance of systematic theology. Some falsely allege that systematic theology begins with a presupposed opinion, followed by verses supporting that opinion. Not so, and those who do this sin against God’s Word. True systematic theology begins by looking at everything God’s Word says about a subject, and ends with a biblical opinion of that subject—refusing to ignore any passages in which an apparent contradiction exists.

That said, if “Judge not,” means never judge anything at any time, we would have to throw out vast amounts of the rest of God’s Word that not only allow certain kinds of judging, but command it!

So how do we understand, “Judge not” in light of the rest of the Bible? Rather than discarding the rest of the Bible in light of a literalistic interpretation of Matthew 7:1, we need to discern what kind of judging Jesus was prohibiting. Hear are two simple, and I believe, biblical, answers.

We are in no position to condemn anyone. That is solely God’s domain. When we judge, it is for the purpose of helping someone, never to pronounce an ultimate verdict.
We must not judge others assuming that we are superior to them, because we are not. Truth be told, we are all “prone to wander.” The attitude in which we judge must be humility, never superiority.

This is why Jesus’ first qualifier in Matthew 7:3-5 is to begin by judging ourselves, confessing, and repenting from our own sin before seeking to help another person.

And it must be added that this does not mean that only the sinless can challenge and seek to help a brother or sister. If that were the case, since “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” no one would be able to help anyone else. Therefore, when we challenge one another in loving humility, we must do so not as those who have arrived, but as those who also struggle—saying, “Let’s pray for and help each other!”

Next time, what does this mean: “with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you”?