JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT
Thursday – February 21, 2019, Adar A 16, 5779
Greetings dear partners and friends and welcome back to this in-depth Bible Study of the wonderful Book of John. Our God is so good to give us His Word that we not stumble in the dark but walk in the fullness of light. Again, if you are reading this on Facebook take just a moment and give me a “thumbs up” and hit the “share” button. Thank you. Now, let’s move to read aloud our primary Bible text.
John 7:23-27 (KJV)
23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
We have now come to a point where Jesus speaks of judging. I am sure you have heard and perhaps have even said “we are not to judge” or “don’t judge me”. Are those true Bible statement or statements to intimidate another person? As we start let’s differentiate between judging and passing judgment. Also, let me say up front that we are to judge all things (thoughts, words, and actions especially our own) but we are not to pass judgment (declare an outcome) on persons. The major overarching reason we do not pass judgment (spiritual judgment) on people is that we do not know the heart. The fact that a person is clearly sinning does not mean they know it (ignorance), and it does not mean they are not in deception (spiritual darkness) concerning it. They may know something intellectually but not have light concerning it with regard to sin or their walk with God. We must never hear ourselves saying, “well they were doing so and so and are going to or are in hell”. We simply do not know that, it is above our pay grade.
A person may have committed suicide and in the time, it takes (nothing for God) for the bullet to leave the chamber and impact the brain they repented. When there are people using the word of God to intercede for their children God will set time aside for that person to deal with them (it is His Covenant with us). Of course, each person retains freewill even in that moment but who would refuse salvation when they know with certainty Hell is their destination and Jesus is standing there offering salvation? This is happening out of sight of the human eye but not the spiritual eye. Back to my main point which is that we do not know the heart or spiritual place of another person and therefore we are in no position to declare the consequence of their actions. Same of course is true of Christians doing good things, we do not know their heart, are they doing it in love or some other motive for which there is no reward perhaps they will even suffer loss at the judgment. Let us carefully consider the following passage on judging.
Matthew 7:1-2 (KJV)
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
This particular passage when you examine the words in the Greek is talking about passing judgment, determining, or sentencing. The second verse is quite sobering for it tells us that whatever standard we set for another is the standard that will be set for us, the standard by which we will be judged by Jesus. We can look and see that a thing is not right but we are not to prescribe the consequence for the person.
1 Corinthians 2:15 (KJV)
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
A spiritual person has the capacity to judge all things (thoughts, words, and actions) concerning themselves and others but the natural man cannot accurately judge the spiritual man.
1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (KJV)
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
We are to regularly judge ourselves that we not have the thing judged of God. God is the one who judges or passes judgment as to the outcome of a thing (thought, words, actions) for He knows the heart, how much light a person has. When we judge ourselves and find and issue (sin) the preceding Scripture tells us “we are chastened of the Lord” which is not a whipping but education, instruction. Unrepented and repeated willful sin may lead to condemnation with the world, like the person was never saved. We can judge the thought, words, or deeds but we are not in a position to judge (pass judgment, declare a consequence) the person. This is what right or righteous judgment is, ultimately righteous judgment occurs when we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ or the Great White Throne.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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