What Does The Bible Say About Judging Others?

The 19th century British pastor, Charles Spurgeon, once said: “None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.” Being “judgy” is a common vice, and the Bible has much to say about this harmful sin.

Most of us struggle to be fair in how we perceive others, in part because most judgement is done out of insecurity. We tear others down in order to build ourselves up. Of course, all of this is rooted in pride. Thus, God reminded Samuel of the weakness of humans, when it comes to the way that they judge others. He pointed out that “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (KJV 1 Samuel 16:7) Because we all make mistakes, if we were judged by “outward appearances,” we would all be damned. Thankfully, God is more merciful than our fellow humans when it comes to His judgement. Jesus counseled, “Don't judge by appearances. Judge by what is right.” (CEV John 7:24) So, what is “right” judgement? Well, the Bible has something to say about this as well.

In the New Testament, James counseled believers, “let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (KJV James 1:19) One who seeks to “hear” is more likely to understand. One who is “slow to speak” is more inclined to grasp another’s point of view. And one who is “slow to wrath” is uninclined to judge. Rather than being “judgy,” the Apostle Paul counseled us, “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (NIV Colossians 3:12-13) The essence of Paul’s advice is that we should not judge people unkindly or critically but, instead, with compassion and understanding. Paul is advising us to assume the best of others, much like how God assumes the best of us—and therefore forgives us of our mistakes, sins, and inadequacies. Paul also warned us about judging non-believers by the same standards as believers. He reminded the Saints living in Corinth, “It is not my business to judge those who are not part of the church. God will judge them. But you must judge the people who are part of the church. The Scripture says, ‘You must get rid of [or expel] the evil person [from] among you.” (EXB 1 Corinthians 5:12) In this same spirit, Paul adds, “So don't judge anyone until the Lord returns. He will show what is hidden in the dark and what is in everyone's heart.” (CEV 1 Corinthians 4:5)

On a separate note, the Book of Leviticus makes an interesting point about judging “outward appearances.” Recognizing a weakness that would become prevalent in our day, we’re cautioned, “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great [or wealthy], but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.” (ESV Leviticus 19:15) In other words, in a world where people who have wealth or connections are treated differently than the poor or socially unconnected, we’re reminded that you should treat people equally, including in court or in situations involving the law. We’re not acting as God would if we treat people born into privilege as though they are better than those born into poverty or a lack of opportunities. (See Luke 14:7-14)

Of course, the most famous scripture about judging others came from Jesus Himself, Who (during His Sermon on the Mount) commanded: “Don’t condemn others, and God won't condemn you. God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them. You can see the speck in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the log in your own eye. How can you say, ‘My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you don't see the log in your own eye? You're nothing but show-offs! First, take the log out of your own eye; then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend's eye.” (CEV Matthew 7:1-5) In essence, Jesus teaches us that none of us have a place to judge others, as we all see inadequately. We all have a “beam” or “log” in our eyes, blocking our view of reality. So, rather than “condemning others,” Jesus invites us to work on our own “issues” before we try to improve others.

Because so many are inclined to judge others, numerous passages in the Bible remind us of the only Being that has a right to judge. So, for example, in the Book of Isaiah, we are told: “For the Lord is our judge.” (ESV Isaiah 33:22) Similarly, the book of Psalms states, “it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” (ESV Psalm 75:7) And how does He judge? Well, in what’s often referred to as the “Football Scripture,” we’re famously told: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (KJV John 3:16-17) What Jesus was saying in this verse is that God didn’t send Jesus to the earth to damn you and me—to send us to hell! Rather, God sent Jesus to save us. And if that withholding of unkindness and judgement is God’s way of looking at us, it should be the same approach we take when we look at others; assuming the best, looking upon them with kindness, and wishing a blessing rather than a cursing upon them. If that is the way we judge others, truly we’ve grasped God’s away of looking upon His children.

Bible Verses about Judgement

(KJV 1 Samuel 16:7) "...for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

(CEV John 7:24) "Don't judge by appearances. Judge by what is right."

(KJV James 1:19) "...let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."

(NIV Colossians 3:12-13) "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

(EXB 1 Corinthians 5:12) "It is not my business to judge those who are not part of the church. God will judge them. But you must judge the people who are part of the church."

(CEV 1 Corinthians 4:5) "So don't judge anyone until the Lord returns. He will show what is hidden in the dark and what is in everyone's heart."

(ESV Leviticus 19:15) "You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor."

(CEV Matthew 7:1-5) "Don’t condemn others, and God won't condemn you. God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them. You can see the speck in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the log in your own eye."

(ESV Isaiah 33:22) "For the Lord is our judge."

(ESV Psalm 75:7) "...it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another."

(KJV John 3:16-17) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."