What Does the Bible Say About Being Judgmental?

Many people wonder what the Bible has to say about being judgmental. The Bible is clear that God does not want His people judging one another. Because people do not have the entire picture as God does, and because earthly viewpoints are skewed based upon human limitations, people are not in a position to judge others well. Instead, God calls for everyone to have compassion and forgive one another.

Identification

The Bible is clear that God does not want His people to be judgmental. The most direct passage in the Bible speaking out against being judgmental is found in Matthew 7:1-6, where Jesus pointed out that people tend to judge the "speck of sawdust" in another person's eye when they are oblivious to the "plank" in their own eyes. Being judgmental only makes people hypocrites because they are unable to see their own issues as they judge others.

Considerations

Fallible human beings are not in a good position to judge other people. The Bible points out in that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), which means that nobody is in a position to be judgmental about another person's actions. Even Jesus himself, who was without sin, did not condemn the adulterous woman when others were about to stone her (John 8:1-11). Jesus instead invited the person who was "without sin" to cast the first stone.

Significance

One reason the Bible says not to be judgmental is that human beings are not very good about judging the right things. In II Chronicles 19:6-7, King Jehoshaphat warned the appointed judges to "Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery." Unfortunately, when you appoint yourself a judge, you tend to judge the wrong things. The Bible warns you to "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment" (John 7:24).

Warning

The Bible warns judgmental people that they will be judged by the same measure with which they judge others. (Matthew 7:2) Deuteronomy 1:17 reminds everyone that judgment belongs to God, not man. Because your ability to judge others is impaired by the "planks" in your own eyes (Matthew 7:3), you are unable to see other people's situations clearly. Rather than be judgmental, the Bible instructs people to have compassion for others (Ephesians 4:32).

Benefits

In Luke 6:37, the Bible says, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Nobody wants to be judged themselves, so you need to extend the same courtesy to others. As you view others with compassion instead of judgment, you are better able to help others and bring your life into better alignment with God's plans.

Resources

• Passage about not judging others