Judge Not?
Matthew 7:1


The Meaning of Matthew 7:1-5
“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.”


The foregoing scripture is often quoted to silence those who expose error in the Church.  Its misappropriation implicitly promotes false doctrine and groups that bring a "different gospel" (Galatians 1:6-9). The current Unity Movement is making great advances as a result of misinterpreting Matthew 7:1-5.  The refusal to judge (and discern) is eroding the foundations of the Church and defiling its very essence, which is Truth (1 Timothy 3:15).  Does the Bible really tell us never to judge?

    But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother,
who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an
extortioner - not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame.  Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?”
- 1 Corinthians 5:11-6:5

Paul later told the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 14:29) that they must judge (see also Luke 12:57).   So is the Bible contradicting itself? Not at all. Rather than telling us that we should never judge, Jesus is telling us that we should not judge unjustly or unrighteously, i.e., hypocritically. This is not an indictment against judging, but rather a call for righteous judgment (John 7:24).  Remove the plank from your eye and then you will see clearly to
remove the speck from your brother's eye.  We must judge ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:31) before we remove the speck from our brother's eye. Having done so, we are then qualified and commanded to judge "righteously" (Matthew 7:15). He who is spiritual judges all things... (1 Corinthians 2:15)

Righteous judgment is not intended to defame or hurt, but rather to protect; that is why it "begins at the house of God." Ananias and Sapphira learned this in the fifth chapter of Acts. We must judge, police and monitor ourselves for the sake of the flock (Acts 20:28,29). Abdicating this mandate provides an entrance for Satan, allowing him to defile the loaf (1 Corinthians 5:6) and destroy our faith (2 Timothy 2:17,18).  Albert Dager observes, "It is a sad thing to see sin go unjudged in the Body of Christ because those in leadership are either spiritually deficient, or are too cowardly to address that sin.  They would rather ignore sin for the sake of peace, thus bringing the leaven to full loaf. In all cases of judgment we must focus on the real sin, not on the heart of the sinner."  We are not to judge the motive or the heart of another person (1 Corinthians 4:5), yet we must judge behavior, doctrine and false teachers.




Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.                     
                   - 2 Timothy 4:2-4






Don't Name Names!
In his letters to Timothy, Paul named ten different individuals who were teaching contrary to the Faith once for all delivered to the saints. The following is a short list of those individuals:
 
Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works (2 Timothy 4:14).

This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes (2 Timothy 1:15).

And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort (2 Timothy 2:17).


Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.  But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all...      
-    Galatians 2:11-14

These, and several other scriptures make it abundantly clear that it is not only biblical, but also necessary to "name" and identify individuals and groups that deviate from sound doctrine and pose a threat to the faith (1 Timothy 5:20).  This is in accord with Jude 3 and Philippians 1:17, which tells us to "earnestly contend for the faith" and come to "the defense of the Gospel."    Paul summed it up in Romans 16:17:

Now I urge you brethren, note (mark, name) those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.  For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (innocent, unsuspecting).

Here Paul explicitly says that we must mark those who bring offense to the doctrine (the opposite of "defense of the Gospel").  How can we "mark" and "note" if we don't identify by "naming"?  Ephesians 5:11 says, And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. If we don't, the hearts of the unwary will be deceived. In 1706, noted theologian and Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, noted the following on Romans 16:17:

Whatever varies from the form of sound doctrine which we have in the scriptures opens a door to divisions and offenses.  If truth be once deserted, unity and peace will not last long. Now, mark those that thus cause divisions.  Observe them, the method they take, the end they drive at.  There is need of a piercing watchful eye to discern the danger we are in from such people; for commonly the pretenses are plausible, when the projects are very pernicious.

Some misinterpret Romans 16:17 as meaning that those who are marking and avoiding the purveyors of false doctrines are themselves causing division.  Dear saint, the division occurs when truth (sound doctrine) is discarded. Our oneness is based on the Word and the Truth (John 17:17-19) - not on "getting along."  Departing from the truth makes genuine unity impossible.  The unity that is promoted today is not biblical unity - it is renegade unity, after the fashion of Nimrod (Genesis 11). The same attempt to "turn the tables" in the Old Testament is reflected in 1 Kings 18:17,18:

Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, "Is that you, O troubler or Israel?" And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals.”

Today's "kings of the Church" are following in the "king of Israel's" footsteps in belittling and mocking the prophets.   As Ahab forsook the "commandments," so Christian leadership today is forsaking "sound doctrine."  Those that would "contend earnestly for the faith" are branded as divisive "heretic hunters" just as the prophets of old were labeled "troubler's of Israel."

The "troubler of Israel", however, did not back down or cower - the reason he (and his compatriots) were eventually killed.  Elijah scorned and mocked the false prophets of Baal, as David did Goliath. Some say that we should use diplomacy and "love" when dealing with false teachers and false prophets; that we should never employ sarcasm or scorn.  Jesus and John the Baptist, however, did not agree: 

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers!" (Matthew 3:7).  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe to you blind guides...Fools and blind! (Matthew 3:15-17). 
“Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers...whose mouths must be shut, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true.  Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith (Titus 1:9-13).  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! (Philippians 3:2).


These are just a few of the biblical examples of rebuke and name-calling concerning false prophets, promoters of unsound doctrine and brothers who are departing from the "faith once for all delivered to the saints."

The Prophet's Role
Christians often misapply 1 Chronicles 16:22, Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm.  According to their interpretation, Paul was in error when he publicly rebuked Peter, James and Barnabas (Galatians 2:11-14). Paul's public rebuke teaches us two things: 1) we are all called to accountability to God's Word (Galatians 1:8, Acts 17:11) and 2) God's "anointed" is he (or she) who keeps His Word (Revelation 22:7) and proclaims its truth (2 Timothy 4:2).

A prophet's word is to be judged (1 Corinthians 14:29) and his predictions verified (Deuteronomy 18:20). If either is found to be false, then he (or she) must be considered a "false prophet," and avoided (Deuteronomy 18:22).  Jesus warned there would be many false prophets and false christs that would come in His name in the last days, saying that they are the Christ, "thus saith the Lord..."  The mere mention of Jesus' name is not evidence that God is speaking - even the demons believe and "tremble".  Sadly, many if not most of those considered to be prophets by the contemporary church are not true prophets of God. Several individuals, including pastor John Hinkle, Benny Hinn and Kim Clement have prophesied things that did not come to pass.  Clement's prophecy was that the U.S. President would be speaking in tongues and leading the nation in revival by the year 2,000.

The Full Life Study Bible comments on Mark 13:22: These ministers on the outside appear to people as righteous. They come 'in sheep's clothing' (Matthew 7:15).  They may base their message solidly on God's Word and proclaim high righteous standards.  They may appear sincerely concerned for God's work and kingdom and show great interest in the salvation of the lost while professing love for all people.  They may appear to be great ministers of God, commendable spiritual leaders anointed by the Holy Spirit.  They may perform miracles and have great success, and multitudes may follow them (Matthew 7:21-23; 24:11,24, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15).  Nevertheless, these people find their spiritual ancestors in the false prophets of the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 13:3, 1 Kings 18:40, Jeremiah 14:14) and in the pharisees of the New Testament.
False prophets confused Israel's search to know God's will... Such prophets proclaimed the word audiences wanted to hear (Micah 3:5).  Such words came 'out of their own imagination' (Ezekiel 13:17) and were usually words of peace (Jeremiah 28:5-9)...Clearly, such prophets were false.  Still, they preached, and the people applauded.  Why? Because no one could prove them wrong.  They carried the same title as those we call the true prophets.  They often served the king faithfully (1 Kings 22).  Their message of peace sounded good.  They made few demands on their listeners.
   
As Jesus taught us in the parable of the wheat and tares, it is very difficult to discern between a true and a false prophet.  You often won't know until their prophecy is proven false, which can take a considerable amount of time.  Any prophecy, however, that deviates from recorded Bible prophecy, can and should be categorically dismissed as false.  Moreover, the Old Testament depicts the false prophets as those who prophesied peace (well being, victory), etc.

Too many people hear what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3,4) and there is a plethora of "prophets" who are willing and ready to deliver the goods to today's church (such as Trump would win the last election).  Unfortunately, many will be overthrown and destroyed in the last days as a result of soliciting "words" from the "peace (revivalist) prophets" (Jeremiah 23:19,20).

Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you.  They make you worthless; they speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord. They continually say to those who despise Me, the Lord has said, 'You shall have peace;' and to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, no evil shall come upon you.' I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran, I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
                   - Jeremiah 23:16-17,21

Is the role of "prophet" obsolete today?  “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).  Here we see specific ministries, represented by certain individuals, given by Christ to His Church for propagation (apostle), direction (prophet), multiplication (evangelist), provision (pastor) and edification (teacher).  Since all of these functions are reflected in the New Testament writings, and since all these ministries are necessary for a healthy and effective church - all of them should be recognized and respected today.  The office of prophet should not be relegated to the Old Testament, since Paul and Jesus brought it into the new.  The office of apostle did not die out with the last one who walked with Jesus; both Paul and Barnabas (and others) never knew Jesus during His earthly ministry, yet the Bible refers to them as apostles.  Neither did the offices of apostle and prophet end with the canonization of scripture at the Catholic Council of Nicea in the fourth century.  Why should they?  Is the church of Jesus Christ no longer in need of propagation and direction?  I submit that it is, more than ever! 

A prophet warns and directs God's people and makes known the will and intentions of God.  The prophet of the New Testament church differs somewhat from that of the Old Testament, in that he (or she, Luke 2:36, Acts 21:9) confirms and brings people back to the truths and prophecies of the Scriptures.  There are 332 recorded prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the first coming of Christ and hundreds more concerning the second coming.  Old Testament prophets brought the people back to the law (Deuteronomy 1:3-5; 34:10) but also provided much original, predictive revelation.  Today, new or contradictory revelation must be rejected (Galatians 1:6-9, Revelation 22:18).  We have the Old Testament prophecies, the writings of Paul and, in particular, the apocalyptic book of Revelation, which provide for us all the information we need concerning the future.  "Personal prophecy" is sometimes viable (Acts 11:28, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10), although often exaggerated and abused in these last days.  So the primary function of a true prophet today is: 1) to keep God's people in remembrance of recorded prophecy concerning the future, and 2) to expose false prophets and false teachings (Matthew 7:15, Acts 20:28, 2 Timothy 2:16-18).

Heed the Watchman
“Son of man, speak to the children of your people and say to them; When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.  He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself.  But he who takes warning will save his life.
- Ezekiel 33:2-5

The watchman's ministry is essentially the same as the prophet's - to warn the people of impending danger.  God sets this ministry among His people.  He supernaturally enables certain individuals to detect error, discern the times and give direction to His people (1 Chronicles 12:32).  If the people refuse to heed the watchman's warning, which ancient Israel typically did, they would be destroyed by the invading force; be that by a standing army, idol worship, false doctrine, false prophets or counterfeit revivals (Proverbs 29:1).  Each of these is able to destroy and/or defile God's people (2 Timothy 2:16-18, 2 Peter 2:1,2,19, Revelation 2:14-16, Jeremiah 23:16). 

The question is, will the people heed the watchman's warning or malign his person and denigrate his message in an attempt to pursue their own agenda?  Unfortunately the latter generally prevails, which invariably results in judgment upon the people (Hosea 6:4,14, Matthew 7:26,27).  God consistently backs the words of the prophet; therefore, whoever resists the prophet or ignores the watchman, resists God Himself (1 Thessalonians 4:8).  We must realize that prophetic warnings and/or righteous judgment is for our own ultimate good (Hebrews 12:11). 

“Without a vision (prophetic view, prophecy), the people perish” or "cast off restraint" (Proverbs 29:18).  As stated previously, the New Testament prophet emphasizes the prophecies recorded in the scripture, as opposed to originating new and different prophecies.  Peter specifically noted that the Scripture contains the sure word of prophecy and that private or subjective origination of any prophecy, new or old, is not acceptable (2 Peter 1:19,20).  He tells us in this passage that we need Bible prophecy to have light (the result of which is clarity of vision), “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Notice in Proverbs 29:18 that those without a vision (prophecy) will cast off restraint - they will become "unrestrained".  Compare this Bible truth to the following passage in Exodus 32:25: “Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them to their shame among their enemies).”  The authorized version renders unrestrained as "naked". To cast off restraint is to cast off your clothes!  This has already occurred in the so-called "revival" that started in Toronto many years ago.  Why is this happening?  Because the people have no vision.  Rather than bringing biblical prophecy to their attention, their leaders have brought "a vision from their own heart" (Jeremiah 23:16).  Like Pharaoh's magicians, they provide accompanying signs and manifestations but they do not read or heed authentic prophecy, which itself tells us to do just that (Revelation 1:3)!  I recently spoke with a young man who was raised in the Assemblies of God church.  He said that in all the years he attended Assemblies of God churches, not once did he ever hear a teaching on Bible prophecy.  It seems even basic Bible teaching is also being neglected.   

Without the prophetic Word, the people cast off restraint.  Because the children of Israel saw that their master (Moses) delayed his coming down from the mountain (Exodus 32:1), they cast off restraint and began to play, dance and sing themselves into debauchery, believing they were serving God (Exodus 32:4-6,18,19)!  Because God's people today are saying in their heart, "my Lord delayeth His coming" (Matthew 24:48), they too are dancing and singing themselves into altered states of consciousness, causing them to fall backward (Isaiah 28:13), levitate, gyrate and become totally "unrestrained".  Its genesis is found at the base of Mt. Sinai in Exodus 32; a people without a vision, oblivious to the nearness of our Lord's return. They resist the recorded prophecies that say in the last days the church will be lukewarm and anemic - not revived (Luke 18:8, Revelation 3:16,17, 2 Thessalonians 2:3). 

Thus the need to judge and prove all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21).  If we sit back and say nothing, in fear of "judging", God's people will die (Exodus 32:28), lose their salvation (Exodus 32:33) or suffer the plagues of the Great Tribulation (Exodus 32:35).  Do you care?  Are you willing to be "branded" for the welfare of God's people?  Is it not obvious that the watchman must blow his shofar?  May God grant us the ability to recognize His voice and to discern and resist the wolf who cries out in these last days - "Judge not"!

“...Judge with righteous judgment”
-    Jesus Christ,  John 7:24

“He who is spiritual judges all things...”
-    Paul, 1 Corinthians 2:15

ENDNOTES  __________________________


The fourteenth chapter of Romans is also misapplied in an effort to quell those who would expose error and defend the faith.  Romans 14 deals with foods, observances of certain days and various personal habits.  Paul tells us that we should not hold one another in contempt (judge) for our eating habits and what day of the week we choose to worship on, etc. (Colossians 2:16).  These matters are of a personal nature, not germane to the Faith and not adversely affecting the Body of Christ at large. Therefore, people should not be "judged" in these areas, let each man be persuaded in his own mind. Paul limits his comments to habits and observances of a personal nature - he is not teaching that we should never judge anything.
Albert Dager, Media Spotlight (P.O. Box 290, Redmond, WA 98073, Volume 20, Number 1, 1997), p. 15.
Matthew 23:13-36, Luke 13:31,32, 1 Timothy 1:18-20, 2 Timothy 3:8-10, Titus 1:9-13, 3 John 9,10 These scriptures not only name people but also reflect instances of public rebuke.
Matthew Henry's Commentary (McClean, VA: MacDonald Publishing, Volume VI), p. 500.
Holman's Bible Handbook (Holman Bible Publishers, 1992), p. 418.
John C. Hagee, Beginning of the End (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996), p. 48.
Larry Thomas, The Inkhorn (Amazing Grace Ministries, Box 563, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024, October, 1996), p. 35.
Exodus 32:6 records that the people rose up to "play" (Strong's #6711).  This Hebrew word means to dance, leap and laugh outright, often with a haughty air. There is no account of "dancing in the spirit" in the New Testament and it is not listed among the gifts/manifestations of the Holy Spirit.                  Watchman G’s Videos     elijfire2003@yahoo.com