Scripture Folios
Do Not Judge
I judge no one.
Genesis 2:17 “but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” Chapter Related Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Chapter Related Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. Chapter Related 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the Lord does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the Lord sees the heart.” Chapter Related 1 Kings 3:9 “Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” Chapter Related Isaiah 11:3 And He will delight in the fear of the Lord . He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, Chapter Related John 7:24 “Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.” Chapter Related John 8:15–16 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone; I am with the Father who sent Me. Chapter Related John 5:22 Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, Chapter Related John 5:30 I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. Chapter Related Matthew 7:1–2 “Do not judge, or you will be judged. For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Chapter Related Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Chapter Related Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Chapter Related Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. Chapter Related 1 Corinthians 4:3–5 I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. Chapter Related James 2:1–4 My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Chapter Related James 4:11–12 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? Chapter Related Jude 1:9 But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Chapter Related John 8:7 When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” Chapter Related John 8:11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.” Chapter Related Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots. Chapter Related 1 Peter 2:23 When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. Chapter Related
The story starts at a tree. The first temptation was to know good and evil and so be like God, and the woman settles it by sight: she saw that the tree was good. Judging another person is still that reach. Solomon asks instead for a listening heart, to judge and to discern between good and evil. We judge by what we see; the Lord sees the heart, and the king Isaiah foresaw would not judge by his eyes or his ears. Then Jesus says something stranger: “I judge no one.” The Father judges no one either. When the Son does judge, he judges as he hears from the Father, seeking no will of his own. Every other judgment, these verses warn, comes back on the one who makes it. Paul will not even judge himself before the appointed time. James catches us judging by a gold ring. The archangel Michael left even the devil’s rebuke to the Lord. Then the teaching is lived: a woman’s accusers drift away one by one, and from the cross Jesus asks forgiveness for those crucifying him. He entrusted himself to Him who judges justly.