“Only God Can Judge Me.”
There are a few topics generate more confusion and debate among believers,; and even those seeking— judgment is one.
We often hear statements such as:
"Don't judge."
"Only God can judge me."
"That's between them and God."
While these phrases may sound humble, they are often used to shut down conversations about accountability, repentance, and truth. In some cases, they become a shield against correction, allowing us to avoid difficult but necessary conversations about the choices we make and the consequences that follow.
I embraced a similar perspective. I considered myself a non-judgmental person. My view was simple: people can do whatever they want. In many respects, that is true. YAH has given human beings the ability to make choices. What I failed to appreciate is that freedom of choice does not eliminate consequences. Those consequences are, in a sense, a form of judgment built into the order YAH established. We are free to choose our actions, but we are not free to choose their outcomes.
Judgment in Scripture is not primarily about condemning people; it is about discerning between what is right and wrong according to the Word of YAH and, when necessary, helping one another remain accountable to that standard.
Yes, YAH alone is the final Judge. He alone sees every motive, every thought, and every hidden thing. However, Scripture repeatedly calls us to correct, warn, and encourage one another. Such responsibilities require us to make judgments—not according to our personal preferences, but according to the truth of Scripture.
When we examine the Bible carefully, we discover that Scripture does not prohibit judgment altogether. Instead, it teaches us how to judge rightly.
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
If Messiah instructed His followers to judge righteously, what exactly does righteous judgment look like?
In last week's post, we explored judging by outward appearance.
On Samuel's search for Israel's future king, YAH corrected his perspective:
"For YAH does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but YAH looks at the heart."
— 1 Samuel 16:7
David was overlooked by men because he did not fit their expectations of a king. YAH, however saw what others could not see. This account points forward to Messiah— Many rejected Messiah because He did not appear as they expected. They judged according to outward appearance and missed what The Father was doing before their eyes.
Righteous judgment begins by moving beyond appearances, and personal biases. It seeks truth rather than merely confirming our own opinions.
Paul expands on this principle in Romans:
"Therefore, O man, you are without excuse, everyone who judges, for in which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you who judge practice the same wrongs. And we know that the judgment of Elohim is according to truth against those who practice such wrongs."
— Romans 2:1–2
Paul is addressing hypocrisy— He is speaking to those who condemn others for behaviors they themselves practice. The problem is that they recognize it in others while refusing to acknowledge it in themselves. Romans 2 exposes self-righteous judgment. The self-righteous judge places themself above the standard they apply to others. They assume that because they can identify another person's failure, they are somehow exempt from examining their own. Paul's argument is that the very act of recognizing sin in another demonstrates an awareness of the standard by which we ourselves will be measured. Paul's warning is clear: before we speak about another person's sin, we must be willing to confront our own.
Righteous judgment begins with looking inward. It starts with humility, repentance, and submission to the same truth we would apply to someone else.
Many people quote Messiah's words:
“Do not judge, lest you be judged…”
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 7:1
Only a few verses later however He says:
“And why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the plank in your own eye? “Or how is it that you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the splinter out of your eye,’ and see, a plank is in your own eye? “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to remove the splinter out of your brother’s eye.”
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 7:2-5 TS2009
Messiah does not say to ignore the speck in your brother's eye, nor does He suggest that love requires us to remain silent while others walk toward harm. He instructs us to remove the beam from our own eye first. Before addressing another person's shortcomings, we are called to examine our own hearts, repent of our own sins, and submit ourselves to the same standard we would apply to others.
A person who has honestly confronted their own weaknesses is far less likely to approach others with pride or condemnation. Having experienced the mercy of YAH firsthand, they understand their own need for grace. Rather than speaking from a position of superiority, they speak from a place of humility. This is where the fruit of the Spirit becomes essential. Love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control shape not only what we say but how we say it. Righteous judgment is not driven by a desire to win an argument or expose someone's faults. It is motivated by genuine concern for another person's well-being and relationship with the Most High.
Humility, however, should not be confused with indifference. Loving someone does not mean approving of every choice they make. Nor does mercy require us to ignore destructive behaviors that lead to harmful consequences. If we truly care about our friends, family members, and fellow believers, we cannot remain silent when they are walking a path towards destruction.
The difference is that righteous judgment extends a hand rather than pointing a finger and it recognizes that the same grace available to the person being corrected is the grace upon which we ourselves depend every day.
One of the greatest confusions in modern Christianity is the tendency to treat discernment and condemnation as though they are the same thing. Scripture makes a clear distinction; condemnation seeks to elevate self while tearing down another; discernment seeks to recognize truth so that we can walk in wisdom and help others do the same.
Believers are repeatedly called to test the spirits, examine teachings, identify false prophets, correct error, and encourage one another toward righteousness. None of these responsibilities are possible without making judgments.
The question is not whether we judge, but whether our judgments are shaped by the truth of the Most High and motivated by love for others rather than a desire to exalt ourselves. The biblical call, therefore, is not to abandon judgment but to abandon hypocrisy. A community that refuses all judgment loses its ability to distinguish truth from error.
Righteous judgment begins with self-examination, is guided by the Word rather than personal preference, and seeks restoration rather than condemnation. When we judge in this manner, we reflect the heart of Messiah—One who never compromised truth, yet continually extended mercy, calling people not merely to be exposed in their sin, but to be transformed by His grace.
When you hear the word "judgment," do you instinctively think of condemnation or discernment? Why do you think that is?
Have you ever avoided speaking truth to someone you care about because you were afraid of being perceived as judgmental? What was the result?
How can we hold one another accountable to Scripture while still demonstrating the humility, mercy, and love that Messiah modeled?
