Faith & Reason Nexus

John 7:24 – “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Jesus calls us to judge righteously, meaning that our judgment should be rooted in God’s standards and motives, not superficial appearances or personal bias. Here is a breakdown of what righteous judgment entails:

The Righteous Standard

• John 12:48 – “He who rejects Me and does not receive My words has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”
• Matthew 15:1-9 – Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for making traditions more important than God’s commandments. Righteous judgment is based on the Word of God, not human traditions.
• Colossians 2:14-17 – The righteousness of Christ, which comes through His sacrifice, is the standard by which we judge.
• 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Our judgment should be based on faith in God’s truth, not on what is immediately visible.

The Righteous Motive

• Matthew 6:2, 5 – In these verses, Jesus warns against acting righteously to gain the approval of others. True judgment comes from pure motives that seek God’s approval, not human praise.
• Philippians 1:15-17 – Paul acknowledges that some preach the gospel out of selfish motives, but still, the gospel is preached. Righteous judgment is not about judging the intent of others but discerning the truth and serving God’s will.
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – Without love, even the most righteous acts are meaningless. Righteous judgment is motivated by love, desiring the good of others.

Observing Principles Rightly

• 1 Corinthians 11:20 – Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for abusing the Lord’s Supper, showing that righteous judgment involves examining our actions according to God’s principles.
• 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 – “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.” Judging ourselves rightly according to God’s Word is key to righteous judgment.

Righteous Judgment Demands:

Judgment with Mercy

• Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
• Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Mercy should always accompany our judgment.
• 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 – Paul speaks of judging those within the church, indicating the need for proper judgment based on righteousness, but leaving the final judgment to God.
• 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 – Paul urges forgiveness for a repentant sinner, showing that righteous judgment involves offering mercy and restoration.

Do You Manifest Righteous Judgment?

Righteous judgment is not about condemning others based on appearances or personal biases. It requires us to align our judgment with God’s Word, motivated by love, mercy, and humility. As believers, we are called to exercise righteous judgment in all our interactions, always seeking to bring glory to God.