I know most all of you have heard this one before, but it’s something that probably bears repeating.

Matthew 7:1-5

1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

I always wondered exactly what constitutes “judging” another believer. I was probably just looking for a loophole! Well, the Greek word translated judge is KRINO, and it means to judge, to decide, to express an opinion about, to pass an unfavorable judgment on somebody, or to condemn, criticize, or find fault with.

Ouch! That’s a pretty broad definition! Jesus commands us not to even express negative opinions about people!

2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. (That’s pretty harsh, isn’t it?)

3 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

4 "Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?

5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

The log in your eye is arrogance! An arrogant believer compares himself to bad, to make himself look good.

Our job as believers is to completely refrain from passing any judgment on our fellow believers in Christ. Paul gives us a great example of this, and brings out one other important principle. Even if our fellow believers are WRONG, we are not to express negative opinions about them:

Romans 14:1-10

1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.

3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.

4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Even though Paul understood that everything was okay to eat now, he warned others not to judge people who had different opinions. Many of these early Christians were former Jews, and were still influenced by the Old Testament Law against eating pork, for instance. Paul realized that they were no longer under the Law, but he didn’t force the barbeque down their throats! If they had eaten it, they would have felt guilty.

I love verse 4: “Who do you think you are?!”

5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.

6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

Do you feel that Sunday is a day we are required to set aside for God? Do you judge other believers who don’t feel the same way?

7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;

8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

That’s the key to understanding this prohibition about passing judgment on other believers. Realize that we will all stand before Jesus Christ and give an account of our time here on earth. That means them, and it means us!

Romans 14:13

13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this -- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.

By judging other believers, you are interfering with their relationship with God. That’s why we are told so many times and so many ways not to judge other believers!

Do you want to stand before Jesus Christ and have Him tell you all the times you distracted your fellow believers from accomplishing God’s will for their lives?!