Don't Judge Others, Part 3

Rom 2:1

1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.(KJV)

Let’s look again at the definition for "judge".

Strong’s Concordance

2919 krino (kree'-no);

properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:

Words used in KJV for the Greek word above-- avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.

Thayer’s Dictionary

2919 krino-

1) to separate, to put asunder, to pick out, to select, to choose

2) to approve, to esteem, to prefer

3) to be of an opinion, to deem, to think

4) to determine, to resolve, to decree

5) to judge

a) to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong

to be judged, that is, summoned to trial that one's case may be examined and judgment passed upon it

b) to pronounce judgment, to subject to censure,

used of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others

6) to rule, to govern

to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment

7) to contend together, of warriors and combatants

a) to dispute

b) in a forensic sense;

to go to law, to have suit at law

Now look at the Strong’s definition and note the last word written there. It says "punish", doesn’t it. Look also at definition # 6 in the Thayer’s definition-to rule, govern with power of judicial decisons, to pass judgement.

Both Strong’s and Thayer’s show that a punishment from a person who is judging is involved. Now how does that apply to us when we are guilty of judging others? Stop and think here. Many times when we judge others, we also figure we have the right to give them their punishment, just like a judge does in a court case. But this is only revenge, not a right we have at all. God says He will handle the vengeance department. Families are particularly guilty of trying to meet out punishment to other members of the family for disappointments, for not living up to their standards. Now this is totally different from dealing with a rebellious child, this judging I am talking about has to do with being offended in one way or another by someone in the family and "making them pay" and that is just being vengeful, getting even. That is the kind of judgmentalness Christians are most guilty of more than any other kind. Husbands and wives will attempt to punish each other, kids will attempt to punish each other, get even, and sometimes is it actually true where parents do this to their kids or kids to their parents. All this is based on the attitude "You have no right to do such and such to me and I am going to make you suffer for what you did." That is the attitude behind the "getting even, or making you pay" behaviour. It can be on a subconscious level-this attitude. And when it is, you may be finding yourself doing mean things to others and wondering why, cause you don’t want to be mean, yet it comes out of you. That is the time when you have to search the subconscious mind in you and find out the actual attitude that causes that. You aren’t conscious of having this attitude, but it seems to show itself in your behaviour toward others. You have to start analyzing what you actually believe. One way is to get it down on paper-especially what you consider to be your rights. Once you have done this, everytime something like vengefulness comes out, you need to keep a record of it and of your thinking at the time. Do that for at least 15-20 of the instances and you will see a pattern emerge which will reveal to you what thoughts and beliefs you have that operate on a subconscious level. You will be surprised at what you learn, and you will be able to deal with the source and get resolution between you and God and likely between you and the next person too. Most of you who do this will find areas of unforgiveness that you haven’t recognized or just have wanted to hold on to, and if you are a Christian, unforgiveness has to be given up as it is a sin. And it will make you cold toward others and God in the long run and lead you into bitterness too.

Eph 4:27

27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.(NAS)

Yes, don’t give the devil an opportunity to damage your relationship with God or with others.

I wanted to share this concept with you this morning because many people fail to see that judging so often includes trying to punish the person they are judging. We have to understand that God says, "Quit it". God does not like it. He hates it. We are not the judge, He is. So don’t userp His authority and make it your own.

This subject of not judging is a tough one because one does have to be discerning about people and situations. There is another verse Paul writes regarding judging which seems to contradict what all I have said to you all so far.

Next week I will get into verses outside of Romans here because I want to exhaust the whole subject of judging to show God’s Word does not contradict itself, like some will claim.. If you want an idea of what I am going to start into next week, use your concordance and look up the word judge where it is used in I Corinthians.

God bless your weekend, The Good News Lady