What on earth did Jesus mean by ‘judge not’?

When it was revealed that Donald Trump, in the first year of his second term, had increased his personal fortune by 2 billion dollars I posted my views on Facebook. Within minutes, I was firmly rebuked for criticising him. “The Lord told us not to judge people!” someone said. “Shame on you!” chimed in an irate supporter, “Pastors like you are ruining the church!”

The Lord’s command that we refrain from judging people is a sacred calling; an essential principle for every pastorally active Christian. We should refuse to judge when the answers seem easy to us, but impossible to those we try to support.

I have judged others in the past only to discover that I was wrong because I didn’t know the whole story or because I was biased. The memories make me wince. My failures tell me one simple truth, I am not good enough to judge anyone.

“Hands off my hero”

In the discussion about Trump’s billions I did notice that my critics had been enthusiastically judgemental of his opponents only a few posts before. I have seen this a lot, “Do not judge…” being used as a cloak of invisibility around the blatant sins of the people we want to defend. Jesus’ words become “Hands off my hero!” or “It’s complicated, so let’s just give him the benefit of the doubt”.

What did Jesus really mean when he told us not to judge others? Read Matthew 7 and two surprising things come to light. First, he wants us to be more self-aware. Are we happily criticising others while guilty of the same things (Matt. 7v3-5). When I feel the need to pass judgement on someone else, I should first ask: “Do I see similar flaws in my own life?”

Dogs and pigs

Now here’s another surprise, one inch down the page (in my Bible) Jesus says: “Do not give dogs what is sacred: do not give pearls to pigs” (Matt.7v6). Who are these “dogs” and “pigs”? You must judge! Four inches further down Jesus says, “Watch out for false prophets…” Matt. 7v15). Who are these people? Again, you must judge!

Throughout the New Testament we are encouraged to discern the difference between good and bad, wise and unwise, noble and base, beautiful and ugly. This includes people as well as things. “The main problem is Diotrephes”, John wrote, “He just loves to be first” (3 John 9-10); “Thessaloniki was tough”, reported Luke, “But the Bereans were more noble in character and listened” (Acts 17v11). “I wish they (the enthusiasts for circumcision) would go the whole way and castrate themselves!” (Gal.5v12). Was Paul being too provocative? I will leave you to judge!

Some experts reckon that Jesus’ phrase “Do not judge” really means “Do not condemn”. New Testament scholar Dick France says it is “the fault-finding, condemnatory attitude which is too often combined with a blindness to ones own failings”. We should not condemn, but we must use our critical faculties to discern what is good and what is not.

Sharpen our thinking

I believe that we need more theological, cultural, and political discussion in the churches. This will help us to sharpen our thinking and expose us to ideas that may cross-fertilise our own and enrich them. If we can show the world how to do this with gentleness and respect, we will be doing the world a favour. Avoid attacking people, but thoughtfully challenge their ideas.

So what do you think? Was I right to suggest that Trump has his snout in the trough, and that the Christian leaders who support him are false prophets? Or was I being judgemental?

I will leave you to judge.