We’ve all heard it said, “It’s wrong to judge others.” Not that this seems to stop the human race from judging. Judging which was once done in the heart and maybe shared with close confidants is now viral, public and global, clogging up comment sections by the gigabyte. Judging others is so prevalent it is the essential plotline and entertainment of most reality tv shows and untold numbers of youtube videos. Judging is a public sport and pleasure.

Given that repeated admonitions not to judge don’t seem to be working. Perhaps going deeper into the reality of judging might help us. And for this, we can turn to Romans chapter 2, in which the apostle Paul aims to persuade ancient Jews and the pagan moralists, that though they judge the debauchery of the world, they are in no better position. In proving this, Paul lays out the nature and basis of God’s judgement.

God’s judgement

1. God’s judgement is based on truth

‘God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth.’ (2v2)

2. God’s judgement is in the future on the day of wrath

3. God’s judgement is righteous

‘you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed’ (2v5)

4. Judgement will be based on what has been done!

‘He will repay each one according to his works’ (2v6)

5. There will be no preferential treatment. None of those factors that influence us, like ethnicity, heritage, wealth, poverty, skin colour or contacts, will be a factor.

‘For there is no favouritism with God’ (2v11)

6. Nothing will be hidden from this Judgement

7. Jesus Christ is the one appointed to judge

‘on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.’ (2v16)

Why we shouldn’t judge

Putting this together, we can see the problem of us judging others.

• It is the role of Christ to judge, given by God the Father, not our role.

• Christ will judge in truth and nothing will be hidden from him, unlike us who don’t know the truth and can’t find it, for it is secret.

• Christ’s judgement is on the day of judgement. Judging now is getting the timing wrong!

• Christ’s judgement will be righteous. Unlike all of our judgements.

• Christ’s judgement has no favouritism and will be utterly just based on what has been done.

Which is why the warnings in scripture against judging are so severe; judging is taking the place of God’s appointed judge, Jesus Christ and doing now unjustly, what he will do in the future justly and perfectly.

And so what is the judgement against those who sit in the judgement seat of Jesus Christ? They will be judged by their judgements.

Jesus said, “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use. (Matthew 7 verse 13)

Our judgement of others will be judged by our judgements. This is sobering and frightening.

But judgement has not fallen yet. It is still to come. And so, we should recognise God’s kindness is at work here. He has not judged us, yet. God is showing this kindness so that we can repent.

In this repentance, we need to come to Jesus Christ. And, we need to throw away our self-righteous judgment and self-protecting judgement. For salvation is found through trusting only in what Christ alone has done for us on the cross. This will save us from the judgement we deserve.