Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 11/2/2008

Question
Pastor Petty,

I previously asked about the unfortunate situation on Pitcairn Island. In your response, you said "Judge not, that you be not judged." What does this passage actually mean? It certainly can not mean that I should not form an opinion based on the behavior of the people in question. After all, "By their fruits ye shall know them" is also in the Bible.

Paul said that a certain individual was to be "delivered unto Satan..." John said that certain people should be avoided. Paul cursed the Jewish legalists in Galatia.

Consider the various examples and situations in Scripture where people were being judged: Annas and Sapphira, Elymas, and others, how do you understand the admonition of Christ?

Answer
Dear Hansen,

Thank you for your additional question.

The text I quoted is the first in a series, and the entire grouping helps us understand it better:

Mat 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

The Greek word translated here as “judge” is “krino,” which also means “condemn,” or “go to law with.” This seems to be more what Jesus has in mind, as he points out that with the measure we condemn others, we will also be condemned.

I spoke of this in the context of the terrible trauma that was brought to the islanders and all their friends around the world by the actions of these men—and many others like them from the beginning of habitation on that lonely rock.

We need to be very careful what we say about it to others so as to keep from making it worse by spreading it around.

Always be ready for Jesus to come.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
Thurman@PettyPress.com