In a recent conversation with a friend, I heard for the first time in my life revelation regarding the issue of judging and making judgments, especially concerning two Bible verses which I will share shortly. Growing up, I was very well aware of the verse: do not judge, lest ye be judged. The pretext was simple: God will judge you if you judge freely others, and judging hurts people, so don't do it. To this day I still carry this in my heart, but how I see God working in my heart here is: 1.) giving clarity to the above combined with another verse that Jesus also says that, at first glance, would appear to contradict the first verse; 2.) helping me to understand the actual difference between the two verses.
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37, NKJV
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20, NKJV
The given translations of both passages above actually show the difference between the two. The issue is that, in both passages, the verb judge was used, as in "you will judge them by their fruits."
Here's the key line: from the passage in Luke (which also reflects in Matthew 7:1) the definition of judge is "passing sentence," which kinda gets spelled out in the very next, um, sentence: "do not condemn." Conversely, the passage in Matthew (which also reflects in Luke 6:43-45), judging is more about knowing and discerning, and not being judgmental. Knowing someone by their fruits (i.e. their works, their behaviors, their attitudes, etc) does not mean then proceeding to pass sentencing and condemnation. Calling someone a cockroach or a snowflake, even if a person feels justified in their speaking, is still passing sentence. It's still condemnation. It is so because it's still calling them a name. Words have power. Words have power to bless, and words have power to hurt. Although my primary desire is to indeed bless and encourage others, I'm aware that more often than not lately, my words have been doing the opposite.
“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. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5, NKJV
This right here is why I am staunchly pro-therapy. Correction: pro-Biblical Christian therapy. My modern take on what Jesus said in the above passage is this: do your own work. Work on yourselves. Remove your triggers and preconceptions, and look at the other person not with your own natural eyes but with the spiritual eyes I [Jesus] gave you, through careful cultivation of your walk with Me.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1, NKJV
The above verse from the book of Hebrews also speaks similarly. Laying aside our weight (i.e. baggage) is critical for living more freely for Jesus. Lately, I've been working through a conflict with one of my best friends (a different friend vs. the one I conversed with about Biblical judging) that, in my own opinion, could have been avoided or at least minimized in large part if I had been in a better place, due to pain I still carry. But, the reality is, I was where I was, and the conflict happened the way it happened. We each sinned against one another. But we've committed to working this through and I have hope that it will be resolved, and our friendship once again restored.
One of the things God has been taking me through in terms of deeper learning and closer relationship with Him, is getting His promises to sink in to my being. I still have my hang-ups regarding believing there are rewards for enduring suffering, and that the rewards will be any good. God however makes the below clear:
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6, NKJV
The above can be difficult to hear, but when it's from God, it's for our good, and He does care about us. Remember, the Bible is full of His promises for us which we can hang on to in times of trial. After all, the below shows how Jesus got through His trial of being crucified for the world's sins:
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2, NKJV