Judging others is a controversial topic in the Bible. There are verses that warn against judging, but also verses that encourage discernment and accountability. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages about judging:
Verses warning against judging
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)
This famous passage warns that God will use the same standard to judge us that we use to judge others. It cautions against hypocritical and unfair judging.
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” (Romans 14:13)
Paul exhorts the Roman church to avoid passing judgment on disputable matters, so as not to cause division.
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:12-13)
James reminds believers that God will judge us without mercy if we have not been merciful to others. Mercy should temper stern judgment.
Verses on discernment and accountability
“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.” (Psalm 37:30-31)
This Psalm praises the righteous person who discerns and speaks God’s wisdom and justice.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)
Paul prays that the Philippians’ love will grow in discernment, able to approve the things that are excellent.
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
Paul instructs believers to gently confront a brother or sister who is caught in sin, for the purpose of restoration.
Principles for judging/discerning well
Based on these and other passages, here are some principles for judging or discerning wisely and righteously:
- Remember that only God is the perfect judge, knowing all motives and circumstances.
- Be quick to show mercy, slow to anger, harsh judgment.
- Focus on judging yourself before others.
- Aim to discern, not condemn.
- Judge actions and behavior, not people’s hearts or value.
- Confront with gentleness and humility, seeking to restore.
- Judge by God’s word, not human standards.
The Bible acknowledges judging is necessary at times for justice and accountability. But it must be done with care, humility, wisdom, mercy, and always based on God’s truth and ways.
Old Testament verses on judging
The Old Testament portrays God as the perfect judge (Genesis 18:25) who stands against injustice (Isaiah 3:13-15). Israel’s judges and kings were meant to emulate His righteous judgment by:
- Applying God’s law fairly (Deuteronomy 16:18-20)
- Caring for the vulnerable (Isaiah 1:16-17)
- Not showing favoritism (Leviticus 19:15)
Examples of Old Testament exhortations to judge rightly:
“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (Leviticus 19:15)
“When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.” (Proverbs 21:15)
However, the people of Israel were often warned against judging unjustly or falsely (Exodus 23:1-9; Isaiah 5:20-24).
New Testament verses on church discipline
The New Testament provides some specific instructions for judging within the church, in order to uphold purity and resolve disputes:
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’” (Matthew 18:15-16)
Jesus prescribes confronting a sinning believer gently at first, then with others as witnesses if needed.
“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked person from among you.’” (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)
Paul instructs the Corinthian church to exercise judgement within the church, separating from any who profess Christ yet live immorally.
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing.” (1 Timothy 6:3-4a)
Timothy is advised to rebuke false teachers who contradict sound doctrine.
So the Bible acknowledges the need for Christians to exercise sound judgment, even requiring separation at times from those claiming to be believers yet living in unrepentant sin. The goal is always restoration and protecting the purity of the church.
Judging Non-Christians
The Bible cautions against judging unbelievers by Christian standards. For example:
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” (1 Corinthians 5:12)
“To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.” (1 Corinthians 9:20-21)
Paul was careful to adapt his methods to the audience. With non-Christians he focused on meeting them where they were at, rather than demanding they live by Christian principles.
Overcoming a Judgmental Spirit
The Bible has strong warnings about avoiding a judgmental attitude. Believers are instructed to overcome prejudice and show impartial love:
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4)
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17)
Showing favoritism or prejudice is worldly wisdom, not God’s impartial wisdom.
Judging Fellow Believers
The Bible encourages mindfulness when judging fellow believers. Christians are exhorted:
“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” (Romans 14:4)
Do not judge critically, since fellow Christians ultimately answer to God.
“Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” (Romans 14:13)
Be careful not to cause unnecessary offense over disputable matters.
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
When confronting sin, do so gently with the aim of restoration.
Self-Judgment
Rather than focusing on others’ faults, the Bible encourages evaluating our own hearts and conduct. For instance:
“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:40)
Honest self-reflection leads us back to God.
“But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged by the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:31 RSV)
If we judge our own sins, we avoid or lessen God’s discipline.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)
Be attentive to your own shortcomings before finding fault in others.
Conclusions
The Bible warns against unrighteous, hypocritical judgment. But it also teaches the necessity of discernment and godly discipline for the sake of truth and holiness. Within the church, judgement should aim for restoration. With unbelievers, judgment should be avoided, focusing instead on grace.
Above all, we are to judge ourselves first with humility and integrity. Our standard for judgment should be God’s word, not human wisdom. And it should be carried out only in concert with mercy, discernment, justice and love.