Bible Verses about Judging

The theme of judgment appears frequently in the Bible, notably including the instruction in Matthew 7:1 to “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” which emphasizes a redirection of focus from the faults of others to the examination and correction of one’s own transgressions. This perspective suggests that energy spent in judging others could be more fruitfully invested in personal growth and repentance. However, the biblical understanding of judgment also includes a call for discernment regarding the influences we permit into our inner lives, urging believers to be vigilant against the deceptive strategies of the devil that aim to lead them astray.

The Bible speaks of a future when all will stand before the great judgment throne of God, underscoring the ultimate authority of God as the sole judge of humanity. This anticipation of divine judgment calls believers to live each day with a primary desire to please God, motivated by the profound love He has shown. Exploring the numerous Bible verses concerning judgment within the scriptures offers further insight into this significant aspect of faith.

Matthew 7:1-5 NIV

The passage from Matthew 7:1-5 cautions against the act of judging others, asserting that such judgment will reciprocally be applied to the one who judges, and the standard used in judgment will be the standard by which they themselves are measured. The text employs a vivid analogy of a speck of sawdust in another’s eye versus a plank in one’s own to highlight the hypocrisy of focusing on the minor faults of others while being oblivious to one’s own significant shortcomings. It urges self-correction as a prerequisite for offering assistance or critique to others, emphasizing the need to address one’s own flaws before attempting to rectify those of another.

Read Matthew 7

1 Corinthians 5:10-12 NIV

In 1 Corinthians 5:10-12, Paul clarifies that his instruction not to associate with immoral people does not extend to the non-believers of the world, as such a stance would necessitate complete withdrawal from worldly life. Instead, his directive specifically addresses those within the Christian community who claim to be believers yet engage in sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness, or swindling, stating that believers should not even share meals with such individuals. Paul distinguishes between judging those outside the church, which he deems not his concern, and the responsibility of believers to exercise judgment within their own community.

Read 1 Corinthians 5

John 8:7 NIV

The verse from John 8:7 recounts a moment when Jesus was confronted with a woman accused of adultery. In response to persistent questioning about what should be done, Jesus challenged the accusers by stating, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” This statement served to redirect the focus from the accused to the accusers’ own imperfections, highlighting the principle that judgment should not be cast by those who are themselves culpable.

Read John 8

John 8 of the Bible recounts an encounter where the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, intending to trap him between upholding the Mosaic Law, which prescribed stoning for adultery, and Roman law, which had removed the Jews’ authority to carry out capital punishment. They asked Jesus for his judgment.

Jesus initially responded by bending down and writing on the ground. When they persisted in their questioning, he stood up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” He then bent down again and continued writing.

Upon hearing this, the accusers, beginning with the older ones, left one by one, until only Jesus and the woman remained. Jesus then asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Jesus said, “Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”¹

Later in the chapter, Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”² This statement led to further debate with the Pharisees, who challenged his self-testimony. Jesus defended his claims by asserting his divine origin and the witness of the Father.

The chapter also records Jesus’ teachings in the temple, where he spoke about his departure and the consequences for those who did not believe in him. He contrasted his origin from above with their earthly origin and emphasized the importance of believing in his identity.

Further discussions arose concerning their lineage from Abraham and their relationship with God. Jesus challenged their claim to be children of Abraham by pointing to their intent to kill him, which was not Abraham’s practice. He also addressed their spiritual heritage, suggesting their actions aligned more with their “father,” the devil, whom he described as a liar and a murderer.

The chapter concludes with the Jews questioning Jesus’ identity and accusing him of being a Samaritan and demon-possessed. Jesus refuted these accusations, asserting that he honored his Father, and that it was they who dishonored him. He declared, “Before Abraham was born, I am,” a statement that provoked the Jews to pick up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the temple.

Luke 6:37 NIV

Luke 6:37 presents a concise teaching on interpersonal relationships, urging believers to refrain from judgment and condemnation, with the promise that they will, in turn, not be judged or condemned. The verse further connects the act of forgiving others with the expectation of receiving forgiveness.

Read Luke 6

Romans 2:1-3 NIV

The passage from Romans 2:1-3 asserts that those who judge others are without excuse, for in the very act of judgment, they condemn themselves if they engage in the same behaviors they criticize. The text underscores the truthfulness of God’s judgment against such actions and questions the presumption that one can escape divine judgment while committing the very deeds they condemn in others, highlighting the inconsistency and hypocrisy of such judgment.

Read Romans 2

John 7:24 NIV

In John 7:24, Jesus instructs his listeners to “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” This verse highlights the importance of looking beyond superficial aspects and rendering judgment based on what is truly right and just, rather than relying on outward impressions or biases.

Read John 7

1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

1 Samuel 16:7 records God’s instruction to the prophet Samuel when he was tasked with anointing a new king for Israel from among the sons of Jesse. God cautioned Samuel not to be swayed by outward appearances or physical stature, as these were not the criteria by which God made his choice. The verse emphasizes a fundamental difference in perspective: humans tend to judge based on what is visible externally, whereas the Lord looks at the heart, the inner character and disposition of a person.

Read 1 Samuel 16

1 Corinthians 6:1-10 NIV

In 1 Corinthians 6:1-10, Paul addresses the issue of believers taking legal disputes against one another before secular courts, which he refers to as “the ungodly.” He questions their audacity in seeking judgment from those outside the faith when believers themselves are destined to judge the world and even angels. Paul suggests that if they are capable of such significant judgment in the future, they should certainly be competent to handle trivial matters within their community. He expresses his shame that there seems to be no one wise enough among them to mediate disputes between believers, leading them to resort to public lawsuits before unbelievers. Paul argues that the very existence of such lawsuits signifies a defeat, suggesting that it would be better to endure wrong or be cheated than to bring such disrepute upon the Christian community. He concludes by reminding them that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God, listing various sins as examples of conduct incompatible with God’s kingdom.

Read 1 Corinthians 6

James 4:11-12 NIV

James 4:11-12 cautions believers against slandering or judging one another, asserting that doing so is equivalent to speaking against and judging the law itself. The passage explains that in judging the law, one positions oneself not as an observer but as a judge over it, thereby failing to keep it. It emphasizes that there is only one Lawgiver and Judge, who holds the power of salvation and destruction, questioning the authority of individuals to judge their neighbors.

Read James 4

James 1:26 NIV

James 1:26 highlights the importance of controlling one’s speech within the context of religious practice. It states that individuals who believe themselves to be religious but do not diligently guard their tongues are deceiving themselves, and consequently, their religious devotion is without genuine value.

Read James 1

Galatians 6:1 NIV

Galatians 6:1 provides guidance on how believers should respond when a fellow brother or sister in faith is overtaken by sin. It instructs those who are living according to the Spirit to gently restore the erring individual. However, it also includes a crucial warning for those offering restoration to remain vigilant, lest they themselves be tempted.

Read Galatians 6

Titus 3:1-4 NIV

Titus 3:1-4 offers instructions to remind believers to be submissive to governing authorities, to be obedient, and to be prepared for any good work. It further urges them to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to demonstrate gentleness towards all people. The passage then reflects on the past state of believers, acknowledging a time when they too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and controlled by various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, both hating and being hated. It contrasts this former condition with the revelation of the kindness and love of God their Savior.

Read Titus 3

Romans 16:17-18 NIV

Romans 16:17-18 contains an exhortation for believers to be vigilant concerning individuals who create discord and place stumbling blocks that contradict the established teachings they have received, urging them to distance themselves from such people. The rationale provided is that these individuals are not serving Christ but their own selfish desires, and they employ persuasive language and flattery to mislead the minds of the unsuspecting.

Read Romans 16

Romans 12:3 NIV

Romans 12:3 presents an instruction grounded in the grace given to the apostle Paul, addressed to all believers. It advises against having an inflated sense of self-importance, but instead to cultivate a mindset of sober judgment, aligning one’s self-perception with the measure of faith that God has apportioned to each individual.

Read Romans 12

Romans 2:21-24 NIV

Romans 2:21-24 poses a series of rhetorical questions to those who instruct others, challenging them on their own consistency in practicing what they preach. It asks why those who teach against stealing would themselves steal, or those who condemn adultery would commit it, or those who abhor idols would rob temples. The passage points out the hypocrisy of boasting in the law while simultaneously breaking it, leading to the consequence that, as Scripture says, “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Read Romans 2

John 7:24 NIV

John 7:24 reiterates the call to move beyond superficial evaluations and instead exercise righteous judgment. This implies a need to consider the underlying truths and principles rather than being swayed by outward presentations or initial impressions when forming judgments.

Read John 7

1 Corinthians 2:15 NIV

1 Corinthians 2:15 states that the individual who possesses the Spirit is able to discern and make judgments about all things, yet that same person is not subject to the judgment of those who operate solely on a human level of understanding. This suggests a distinction between spiritual discernment and worldly evaluation.

Read 1 Corinthians 2

1 John 4:1 NIV

1 John 4:1 urges believers to exercise discernment regarding spiritual claims, advising them not to readily accept every spirit but to instead evaluate or “test” these spirits to ascertain whether they originate from God. The reason given for this caution is the widespread presence of false prophets in the world.

Read 1 John 4

Ephesians 5:1-10 NIV

Ephesians 5:1-10 calls believers to emulate God’s example as beloved children and to live a life characterized by love, mirroring Christ’s sacrificial love for humanity. The passage strongly cautions against any form of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed within the community, labeling such behaviors as inappropriate for God’s holy people. It also discourages obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking, advocating instead for expressions of thankfulness. Believers are assured that no immoral, impure, or greedy person, whom the text equates with an idolater, will inherit the kingdom of Christ and of God. They are warned against being deceived by empty rhetoric, as God’s wrath is directed towards disobedience in these matters, and consequently, they are urged not to associate with those who practice such things. The passage reminds them of their transformation from darkness to light in the Lord, encouraging them to live as children of light, whose actions are characterized by goodness, righteousness, and truth, and to diligently discern and practice what is pleasing to the Lord.

Read Ephesians 5

John 8:16 NIV

In John 8:16, Jesus states that if he does judge, his judgments are accurate because he does not act independently but in conjunction with the Father who sent him. This declaration emphasizes the divine authority and truthfulness of his judgments, rooted in his unity with God.

Read John 8

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