Allen Church of Christ

Several weeks ago, we began looking at Matthew 7:1-5 and asking the question—Can the Christian judge? We learned that condemning all judging is hypocrisy, in that you have to make a judgment in order to condemn all judging. It is for this reason that Matthew 7:1 cannot be interpreted to mean all judging is wrong (sinful). We showed this by looking at how Paul commanded Timothy to reprove and rebuke (2 Timothy 4:1-2). This would mean that Timothy would have to judge that someone was in a lost condition (living in sin) in order to reprove or rebuke them, but to do this, he would have had to first remove the plank from his own eye to see clearly. Just as Timothy was given these commands, we have been commissioned to do the same. Jesus commanded all His followers to go into the world and teach the gospel (Matt. 28:19-20). In order to teach, one must reprove and rebuke error, which would require us to make judgments whether someone’s doctrine is correct or not. To do this, we must remove the planks from our own eyes so that we are not hypocrites when we attempt to remove the speck from our brother’s eye. If Timothy could remove the plank from his eye to see clearly to remove the speck from his brother, then we can as well.

When we judge someone properly, we love the individual by then rebuking them, but the judgment that they have done wrong (sinned) has to first be made before the rebuke can happen. Right above the verse where Peter commands us to speak as the oracle of God, he reminds us of this— “Above all things have a fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

James tells us what this love is— “Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). This means if we do not judge individuals living in sin by the Word of God, then we do not love them and have not saved them from death. Ezekiel was told if he did not warn the wicked to turn from their wicked ways, that their blood would be required at his hands (Ezk. 3:17-18, 33:7-9). Paul acquaints what God told Ezekiel to his being pure of the blood of all men. “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-27). If a Christian refuses to tell someone they are living in sin by making a judgment based on God’s Word, then he does not love them. By teaching someone they are living in sin and need to repent, a Christian is loving that person, even if it makes them an enemy. “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16).

Jesus said we will know a good tree and a bad tree by its fruit. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matt. 7:15-20). Knowing a good tree from a bad tree demonstrates that we have the ability to judge. If we fail to make this judgment the way we have been commanded to do so, then we are failing at bring the lost to Christ and making proper judgments, and the blood of the lost will be required at our hands.

Just something to consider.