Summary
Bible verse about judging others
Bible verse about judging others
Part 1: The Scriptural Standard – 40 Bible Verses About Judging Others
Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”
Matthew 7:2 “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 7:3 “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?”
Matthew 7:4 “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?”
Matthew 7:5 “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.”
Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
John 7:24 “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
James 4:11 “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.”
James 4:12 “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”
Romans 2:1 “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.”
Romans 2:3 “So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?”
Romans 14:4 “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 14:10 “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.”
Romans 14:13 “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.”
1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”
1 Corinthians 5:12 “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”
1 Corinthians 5:13 “God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked person from among you.'”
Galatians 6:1 “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.”
1 Samuel 16:7 “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Proverbs 31:9 “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Leviticus 19:15 “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.”
Proverbs 18:17 “In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.”
Proverbs 21:2 “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
Isaiah 11:3 “He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears.”
Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Matthew 12:36 “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”
Matthew 12:37 “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
John 8:7 “When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'”
John 8:15 “You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.”
John 5:22 “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.”
John 5:30 “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”
Acts 10:42 “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.”
Romans 12:19 “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 2:15 “The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments.”
1 Corinthians 6:2 “Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?”
1 Corinthians 6:3 “Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!”
1 Corinthians 11:31 “But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
James 2:13 “Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Part 2: Expert FAQ – Bible Verses About Judging Others
General Questions on Biblical Judgment
1. What is the meaning of “Judge not, lest you be judged”? This phrase from Matthew 7:1 warns against hypocritical, self-righteous, or condemning judgment. Jesus is not forbidding all moral evaluation, but rather prohibiting the attitude of moral superiority where one ignores their own faults while criticizing others.
2. Does the Bible say we should never judge anyone? No. The Bible distinguishes between “condemning judgment” (which belongs to God) and “discernment” (which believers are commanded to have). Christians are called to judge righteously (John 7:24), identifying fruit (Matthew 7:16) and discerning good from evil, but never with a spirit of condemnation.
3. What is “righteous judgment” in the Bible? Righteous judgment (John 7:24) is an evaluation based on God’s truth rather than personal bias, appearance, or rumor. It is judgment exercised with humility, mercy, and the goal of restoration rather than destruction.
4. What is the “speck and plank” analogy? In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus uses hyperbole to illustrate hypocrisy. The “plank” represents a large, obvious sin in one’s own life, while the “speck” is a minor fault in another’s. Jesus teaches that we must first deal with our own major issues before we are qualified to help others with theirs.
5. Who is the only one who can judge? According to James 4:12, there is only one Lawgiver and Judge: God. He alone has the authority to save and destroy, and He alone knows the motives of the human heart (1 Corinthians 4:5).
Practical Application & Nuance
6. How do Christians hold each other accountable without judging? Accountability is based on love and restoration, while judgmentalism is based on pride and condemnation. Galatians 6:1 instructs believers to restore those caught in sin “gently,” watching themselves so they are not tempted. The motive must always be the well-being of the other person.
7. Can we judge false prophets? Yes, we are commanded to. In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus warns against false prophets and says, “by their fruit you will recognize them.” This requires believers to exercise judgment regarding the teaching and lifestyle of leaders to ensure they align with Scripture.
8. Is it judging to call something a sin? No. Stating that an action contradicts God’s law is not judging; it is agreeing with God’s judgment. Judgment occurs when you condemn the person or assume their eternal destiny, rather than identifying the action as sinful.
9. What does it mean to “judge by appearances”? To judge by appearances (John 7:24) means to form conclusions based on surface-level traits—such as clothing, social status, or race—rather than the heart or the truth. God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), and believers are called to do the same.
10. Should Christians judge those outside the church? No. The Apostle Paul clarifies in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 that it is not the church’s business to judge those outside the faith (“God will judge those outside”). The church’s responsibility is to maintain purity and accountability within its own community.
Theological Deep Dives
11. What is the “Judgment Seat of Christ”? The Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) is the future evaluation of believers. It is not a judgment for salvation (heaven/hell), but a judgment of rewards based on faithfulness and stewardship during one’s life on earth.
12. How does mercy triumph over judgment? James 2:13 states that “mercy triumphs over judgment.” This means that God’s desire to show mercy is greater than His desire to punish, and for believers, showing mercy to others is the evidence of having received God’s mercy.
13. Why did Jesus say “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone”? In John 8:7, Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the accusers. He was not saying the woman’s action wasn’t sinful; He was establishing that only a sinless judge (God) has the right to execute final judgment. He followed this by telling her, “Go and sin no more.”
14. What does Romans 2 say about judging? Romans 2 warns that when we judge others for things we also do, we are “storing up wrath” for ourselves. It highlights the impartiality of God and the danger of moral hypocrisy.
15. How does the Holy Spirit help us judge? 1 Corinthians 2:15 says the person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things. The Holy Spirit provides the gift of discernment, allowing believers to understand spiritual realities that the natural mind cannot grasp.
16. What is the difference between conviction and condemnation? Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit (John 16:8) and leads to repentance and life. Condemnation comes from Satan (the “Accuser”) or the self, leading to shame, hopelessness, and death (Romans 8:1).
17. Are we supposed to judge angels? Yes, 1 Corinthians 6:3 states that believers will judge angels. This refers to the future authority believers will have in the Messianic Kingdom, implying that if we are destined for such high authority, we should be competent to handle small disputes now.
18. Why is judging associated with pride? Judging places the judger in a position of superiority over the judged. C.S. Lewis noted that pride is essentially competitive; judging is a way of asserting, “I am better than you,” which is the antithesis of Christian humility.
19. Can silence be a form of judgment? Sometimes. While silence can be wisdom, ignoring sin in the life of a brother or sister when you have a relationship that allows for correction can be a failure of love (Leviticus 19:17).
20. What is the “Great White Throne Judgment”? This is the final judgment of the unrighteous dead described in Revelation 20:11-15. It is distinct from the judgment of believers and represents the final separation of evil from God’s presence.
