“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

It is a phrase that many dread hearing when making an observation about a popular Bible teacher or the actions of another professing Christian. Truth be told, this phrase has been borrowed from the world itself when anyone attempts to examine a practice or a belief constructively or critically. Do not judge. The Bible says not to judge. Many of us have been guilty of using that phrase at some point and in some circumstance, and many of us have taken it a step further in assigning the “P” badge to a seemingly critical and spiritually dry individual: Pharisee! That seems to quiet the naysayers quickly when that term is used to stop someone from “quenching the Holy Spirit” in their questioning and use of critical thinking.

I can raise both hands in admitting that I used those phrases in times past, especially the Pharisee zinger. The problem with making such statements is that Bible verses such as Matthew 7:1-5 are misused without considering the proper context. Rather than this passage telling us not to judge, Jesus Christ instructs how to judge properly and with humility. This passage encourages us not to act in hypocrisy, judging another’s actions and such without first examining our own lives and the logs of sin we possess. If we are unwilling to judge ourselves with the same amount of judgment given to others, then we are hypocrites. But when we exercise humility and we address the log in our own eye, then we can address the speck in our brother’s eye. This helps us to maintain a proper Biblical perspective when we do face challenging situations where sin and even Biblical error are to be addressed.

To say that we should not judge is actually unbiblical. We are instructed to examine fruit in a person’s life. Paul instructed fellow believers to mark and avoid those who would cause division and minister doctrine contrary to what had been taught by the apostles (Romans 16:17,18). In order to mark and avoid, you must make a judgment based on Biblical truth and proper Biblical discernment. This is not to say that we stand in the place of the eternal Judge, who is God. But we are to lovingly warn others based upon Scripture of the judgment incurred by their actions against God if they do not repent and place their faith in Christ to save them and to forgive them of their sins. This most certainly includes false teachers and false prophets. It may sound strange to some, but the most loving thing we can do to a false teacher, or a false prophet is to warn them of God’s wrath and to call them to repentance and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What about the Pharisee badge? This card is played quite often in some areas of the church, particularly when it comes to questioning claimed manifestations and moves of the Spirit. It is also applied to those who would question a specific anointed leader. When one is labeled a Pharisee, what accompanies this insult is the belief that this person opposes the move of God and even God Himself. This individual is viewed as religious, critical, and spiritually dry. What we need to understand is that the Pharisees believed their self-righteous works saved them. They claimed to uphold the law of Moses, but they did not fully obey it. Additionally, they added oral manmade traditions to the people, placing burdens on them that they could not fulfill. The Pharisees opposed and despised Jesus Christ. They trusted in their own self-righteous deeds for salvation rather than in the Lord for salvation and His finished work on the cross. With the exception of those who acknowledged Christ and who came to saving faith, the Pharisees were not believers.

Though there are people who are critical without humility and may not rejoice in the genuine repentance of a false teacher or those they would criticize, it is important to consider that we are to examine and to judge matters in light of Scripture and with humility. Before pulling the “P” badge on a potentially noble modern-day Berean, it should be considered that in telling someone not to judge while calling him/her a Pharisee, that is an example of being judgmental. This in turn becomes hypocritical on the part of the one who detests judgment, which leads back to Matthew 7:1-5. We also must consider our personal motives in engaging such matters and discussions. Is it going to point back to Jesus Christ in glorifying Him and His Word, or is it for our benefit to another’s detriment? Examining spiritual fruit in these situations is not pleasant, but it is necessary, and our fruit is to be inspected as well.

The Word of God is vital for us as believers. It encourages us, and it corrects us. It reminds us of our need for Jesus Christ and for His glorious gospel, and that need is daily. It reminds us of the importance for sound doctrine and proper context while also reminding us of the love we are to have for God and for others. Part of being loving is not disregarding sin or error, whether it be our own or someone else’s. Love rejoices in the truth because the truth points back to Jesus Christ. Let all that we do be done in love, without hypocrisy, and for the glory of God.

Listen to this in-depth episode regarding this teaching and belief: The Lovesick Scribe Podcast: Judge Not, Unless It’s a Pharisee on Apple Podcasts