Does the Bible Say “Do Not Judge?”

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

There is a television show I have run into, more like crashed into while I was looking for something “decent” to watch – which usually felt like a losing battle. Anyway, I remember watching just a brief sample of this show when a woman would repeatedly say “Don’t judge me”. Have you ever said that: “Don’t judge me?” Is it biblical? Well, sort of – but it has been taken out of context for so long I don’t think people will believe you if you try to correct them. Let’s consider a few angles on this text.

First of all, for anyone to say to another “Don’t judge me – the bible says you aren’t supposed to judge a person” – well, they are in the act of judging the other person to whom they are uttering those words. You are in the act of pronouncing judgment upon another person when you say “Don’t judge me” – for you in the act of judging them thinking they will judge you. Good G-d almighty, have I made my point?

Second, the bible does not simply say: “Do not judge…” – the scripture above says “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” And in just another verse Jesus says “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.”

It appears that this text is not about judgment, it is about hypocrisy. We are not supposed to be so quick to judge the words or actions of another person until we have our own spiritual and behavioral house in order. In john 7:24, Jesus says “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” If you read a few verses before that passage, Jesus is judging the Jews and the religious leaders telling them they have not kept the law. And he concludes his argument with the words “..judge with righteous judgment.” And this appears to be the key. Jesus is charging all of us to be careful of hypocritical behavior – and hypocritical judgment.

We cannot live in a world without judgment – this is why we have court systems and people who are supposed to be steeped in-laws and “right” punishments. And those who judge are supposed to expect to be judged with the same judgment they have meted out on others. As Christians we are called to rebuke, when it is necessary – but not in a manner where we believe we are more righteous or are “better” people. If we always remember that we are all “sinful and unclean” and that Jesus teaches us to “…judge with righteous judgment”, then our relationships in the church and in the secular world may be just a little better. Perhaps it is better to leave the judging to G-d, and to be careful and prayerful with our rebuking. And in the meantime make sure we have our spiritual and behavioral houses in order. Good G-d Almighty, don’t judge……

Pastor Dave

Does the Bible Say “Thou Shalt Not Kill?”

“Moses convened all Israel, and said to them: Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I am addressing to you today; you shall learn them and observe them diligently. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the fire. And he said: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder.” Deuteronomy 5:1-17 (not inclusive)

It is true, not all killing is murder. That may seem hard to accept, especially anyone who thinks that killing animals for people to eat is a type of “murder”. However, if you have read even small parts of the Old Testament, you will understand that there is plenty of “G-d directed” killing – when the people come in to possess the Promised Land; and when the Israelites are in battle with their enemies, like when David kills Goliath.

There are two different Hebrew words used for the taking of life— “harag” is translated as “to kill”, and “ratsach” which is translated as murder. The word used in the 6th commandment is ratsach and implies the premeditated taking of human life, typically out of malice. The word harag is the term generally used for the killing of animals and the ruthless personal violence of man against man. Even in the Old Testament there was a distinction between “premeditated” murder and the unintentional killing of another human. “Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, then they shall not deliver the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor without premeditation and did not hate him beforehand” (Joshua 20:5). The manslayer could flee to a designated city for protection from an avenger. The Old Testament is hard for many people to read and understand because there is so much violence, and killing, and it seems to be “G-d-ordained” or “G-d-permitted” killing. And I must agree, it is hard to wrap our heads around those stories. As far as we know from the biblical witness, Jesus never called for a holy war against the Roman occupying forces – nor did he advocate attacking his most ardent detractors. In fact he rebuked Peter for cutting off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. All murder certainly involves killing, but not all killings are considered murders. Murder represents an unlawful killing. Soldiers who kill in combat during the course of a “just” war, for example, kill their enemies — but such killings have not typically been considered murder. Of course the argument will always be “What is considered a “just” war?” Similarly, a state may execute murderers for their crimes, but the representatives of such states would not see their execution as equivalent to someone bashing in the heads of a family with the blunt end of an axe. In both of these examples, the “just” war, and the execution of a murderer, the killing is done by representatives of the state and are therefore, technically, legal. But there is also a moral distinction in these examples. In some cases, private citizens can kill someone without charge. A car driver may accidentally hit a jaywalking pedestrian, killing them — but this is not seen as “murder.” Similarly, a woman may shoot an attacker in self-defense, killing them — but killing in self defense is not typically seen as murder.

But Jesus seems to teach just the opposite stance – because he was a teacher of “non-violence”. Jesus taught: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:38-39, 43-44).

Pastor Dave