Who Are You To Judge?

(Matthew 7:1-6)

(Matthew 7:1) "Judge not, that you be not judged." (ESV)

In our modern culture we often hear who are you to judge?  Matthew 7:1 seems to be a favorite verse of secular postmodernists and many professing Christians.  Secular postmodernists do not believe the Bible is true but they still quote this verse.  It is used to mean that people should not make judgments about the views or lifestyles of others.  So is this passage a Biblical call for moral relativism?  Did Jesus not want us to make any judgments?  

First of all Jesus is not telling us not to make any judgments.  In (John 7:24) Jesus says, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment" (ESV).  Matthew 7:2 teaches us to treat others the way we want to be treated.  We should not be arrogant or self righteous and we should have the right spirit toward others.  In Matthew 7:3-5 Jesus tells us not to be hypocritical judges.  He even uses humor to make his point.  Jesus asks why we see the speck in our brothers eye, but do not see the log in our own eye.  In Matthew 7:6 we are actually told to make judgments.  We are told not to give to dogs what is holy, and are told not to throw our pearls to pigs.  Both dogs and pigs were considered unclean by the Jews.  "What is holy" and "pearls" refers to the things of God and the gospel.  If people continue to reject the gospel there comes a point when we should not keep sharing it with them.  

In the passage we are told not to be hypocritical or self righteous judges.  Jesus does not tell us to not make any judgments about others.  In fact no one can live without making moral judgments.  If you call someone else judgmental you are actually making a judgment about that person yourself.  You would be wrong to call someone else wrong.  Without judgments society could have no laws.  No behavior or action could be condemned, not even murder or child abuse.  The view that we should not make any judgments is absurd.  

Since God exists there is absolute truth.  There are things that are right and wrong.  These standards apply to everyone, we are all accountable to God.  Jesus tells us that he is the truth (John 14:6).  Those telling us not to judge do not want to be confronted with the reality of their sin.  They reject God and his authority.