“Judge Not”

Written by Warren |Posted on June 15, 2008 | Comments

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaching from the context of The Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew:

At a time like this, then it is of the utmost importance that we should be able to interpret correctly this statement concerning judging, because there are many who say that “judge not” must be taken simply and literally as it is, and as meaning that the truly Christian man should never express an opinion about others. They say that there must be no judging whatsoever, that we must be easy, indulgent and tolerant, and allow almost anything for peace and quiet, and especially unity. This is not a time for these particular judgments, they say; what is needed today is unity and fellowship. We must all be one together. This is often argued in terms of the danger of Communism. Some people are so alarmed at Communism that they say that, at all costs, all who in any sense use the name Christian should be accepted. We should all agree because of that common danger and common enemy.

The question arises therefore as to whether that is a possible interpretation. I suggest, in the first instance, that it cannot be; and it cannot be, quite clearly, because of Scripture teaching itself. Take the very context of this statement and you will surely see at once that that interpretation of “judge not” is quite impossible. Look at verse 6, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearl before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” How can I put that into practice if I do not exercise judgment? How do I know which kind of person can be described as a “dog” in this way? In other words, the injunction that immediately follows this statement about judging at once alls upon me to exercise judgment and discrimination. Then again, take the more remore connection in verse 15: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” How is that to be taken? I cannot “beware of false prophets” if I am not to think, and if I am so afraid of judging that I never make any assessment at all of their teaching. These people come in “sheep’s clothing”; they are very ingratiating and they use Christian terminology. They appear to be very harmless and honest and are invariably “very nice.” But we are not to be taken in by that kind of thing – beware of such people. Our Lord also says, “Ye shall know them by their fruits”; but if I am not to have any standard or exercise discrimination, how can I test the fruit and discriminate between the true and the false? So, without going any further, that cannot be the true interpretation which suggests that this just means being “free and easy”, and having a flabby and indulgent attitude towards anybody who vaguely uses the designation Christian. That is quite impossible.

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taken from the book “Studies in the Sermon on the Mount” by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones