How do you balance discernment with “judge not” without falling into hypocrisy?

General Faith
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I’ve come to see “judge not” less as a ban on discernment and more as a warning about self-righteous judgment. Scripture clearly calls believers to exercise discernment—Jesus Himself says we’ll know people by their fruit—but the posture matters.

For me, the line gets crossed when discernment turns into condemnation or when I apply standards to others that I excuse in myself. The moment I stop asking “How do I need God’s mercy here too?” is usually the moment hypocrisy sneaks in.

Discernment should lead to humility, caution, and wisdom, not superiority. If it produces pride or distance instead of love and truth together, something’s off.

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The type of judge used in “krino” usually means to put to trial and condemn. Discernment is still retained with;

Mat_7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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Absolutely.

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log 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 brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5

When talking to the Pharisees, Jesus said this.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” Matthew 23:27

Why?

“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good.” Titus 1:16

Simply put, we are told to “Judge rightly.” John 7:24 It really is simple. What Jesus is talking about is being a hypocrite.

“Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?” Romans 2:3

We must judge rightly. We must tell people there is a better way. His name is Jesus. We must call sin sin and good good. However, we must be careful not to excuse the “sins” we commit.

Peter

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By knowing that one is also a sinner, that God will judge the hypocrite far more harshly than an ‘ honest sinner ‘.

As the old saying goes, “ for every finger you point at someone there are three fingers pointing back at you. “

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And…

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I concur, in love, humility, caution and wisdom.

J.

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and…

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My point?

The clearest and most explicit command to self-examination is 2 Corinthians 13:5:
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
This verse is foundational because it explicitly ties self-examination to whether Christ is truly in a person, not merely whether they profess belief, and it assumes that false assurance is a real danger even inside the visible church.

Closely parallel in intent is 1 Corinthians 11:28, though in a sacramental context:
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
Here self-examination is required before participation in the Lord’s Supper, implying that careless or unrepentant participation is spiritually dangerous, not neutral.

A broader but still direct call appears in Galatians 6:4:
“But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
The verb “prove” again carries the idea of testing authenticity, not self-esteem, and it assumes objective standards rather than subjective feelings.

Old Testament wisdom literature is relentless about this theme. Lamentations 3:40 states it bluntly:
“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.”
Notice the sequence: examination leads to repentance, which assumes examination can reveal misalignment with God.

The Psalms repeatedly frame self-examination as something God Himself performs and invites. Psalm 26:2 says:
“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.”
This is not anxiety-driven introspection but covenantal testing under divine scrutiny.

Similarly, Psalm 139:23–24 reads:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
This text explicitly links self-knowledge, divine examination, and perseverance in the way everlasting, which is not accidental wording.

Wisdom literature also warns against self-deception, which is why Proverbs 14:12 matters here:
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
This verse explains why self-examination is necessary: internal perception is unreliable apart from God’s truth.

The New Testament intensifies this theme in light of the cross and resurrection. Romans 8:10 says:
“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
Paul assumes that the presence or absence of Christ in a person is a real, examinable condition with observable implications.

Romans 8:16 adds an internal and external witness:
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”
This is not mere emotion but testimony that accords with the Spirit’s sanctifying work.

John’s epistles are basically a multi-chapter diagnostic test. 1 John 2:3–4 states:
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
That is examination language whether people like it or not.

Likewise, 1 John 2:15:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
This is not poetic exaggeration; it is a binary test of allegiance.

1 John 3:24 continues:
“And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”
Again, knowledge of salvation is tied to obedience and indwelling, not bare profession.

James, never one to soften the blow, adds James 1:22:
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Self-deception is the explicit danger, and examination is the implied remedy.

Jesus Himself issues the most terrifying examination warning in Matthew 7:21–23:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven… And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
This passage assumes that false assurance can persist all the way to final judgment, which is why Scripture insists on self-testing now, not later.

Finally, the resurrection frames the seriousness of all of this. 2 Corinthians 5:10 states:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
Self-examination is preparation for appearing before the risen Christ who judges, not merely a therapeutic exercise.

Put together, Scripture does not teach morbid introspection, nor does it teach carefree assumption. It teaches sober, text-governed self-examination grounded in the cross and confirmed by resurrection life. Anyone who says the Bible discourages examining whether one is truly in the faith has not actually read it carefully, or has read it selectively to preserve comfort.

Shalom.

J.

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The example I look at in the Bible that explains discernment to me is found in Acts 16. A slave girl with a spirit of divination was following Paul around and what she had to say about them was true. She said they were servants of the most High God and were proclaiming the way of salvation. All true. At first Paul did nothing even though he was grieved and distressed by it. This went on for many days until Paul cast the demonic spirit out of her. I think in that many days, Paul was praying. The Word doesn’t say that, but knowing of Paul, I’m sure he did.

Discernment is the knowledge found behind the facts and Paul discerned where her words were coming from. If you’re given discernment about a person or situation, the right response is to pray about it and not jump into judgement. Judgement involves a verdict. Discernment should lead to prayer. Through the gift of discernment we’ve been given a knowledge of what we would otherwise not know. What we do with that knowledge is revealed when we pray about it.

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Jesus never instructed His followers to stop correcting falsehood. He instructed them to stop acting “holier than thou” while correcting it. That’s the distinction.

Jesus wasn’t shutting down discernment when He said, “Judge not.” He was calling out hypocrisy. Jesus followed that statement with, “…first take the plank out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” ~Matthew 7:5 Correction wasn’t abolished. It was defined.

The Bible doesn’t tiptoe around false teaching. It declares war on it. Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets.” ~Matthew 7: 15 Paul said a spiritual man “judges all things.” ~1 Corinthians 2:15 Paul commanded Christians to correct others who were in error ~Ephesians 5:11. Titus 1: 9 instructs us to use sound doctrine to both encourage believers and refute those who oppose it.

To say that Christians shouldn’t correct someone’s false teaching is not humility. It’s anarchy passing as unity. Silence will not protect your church family. It will protect the wolves in sheep’s clothing. False doctrine is never treated lightly in Scripture. It is called leaven and said to infect the whole loaf if not removed ~Galatians 5:9.

Biblical love does not avert its eyes. Biblical love corrects with truth, “that we may speak the truth in love” even when it hurts ~Ephesians 4:15. If we are wrong to correct others, then Jesus, Paul, and the apostles were WRONG. You cannot come to that conclusion using Scripture.

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And…

J.

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Amen! Hoping that @Tillman may learn this someday.

Peter

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I do like to read and listen to Leonard Ravenhill and Charles Spurgeon**

“None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.”** ~ Charles Spurgeon. This quote is true. And Scripture cuts deeper than it sounds. The quote condemning pride is not aimed at the man who submits to Scripture. It is aimed at the man who trusts himself.

A man is not unjust because he discerns. He is unjust when he exalts his own understanding above God’s Word. Scripture says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” ~Proverbs 3:5. When a man filters Scripture through scholarship, theories, and other men’s opinions, he is no longer submitting to the Word. He is sitting in judgment over it.

The Bible does not praise that posture. It condemns it. “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” ~2 Timothy 3:7. Knowledge without submission hardens the heart. It does not humble it.

God’s Word is not clay to be reshaped. It is a sword that judges us. “If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise” ~1 Corinthians 3:18. When correction comes, the issue is settled one way or the other. A teachable man opens the Bible. A proud man questions motives and hides behind quotations.

This is not about tone. It is about authority. Scripture alone is judge. And when a man insists on judging Scripture instead, the fog lifts and the problem stands exposed.

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You do realize Spurgeon had a library of “commentaries” @bdavidc ?

Spurgeon’s approach to commentaries was practical, pastoral, and evangelical. He used them to clarify Scripture, resolve textual difficulties, and see how earlier writers wrestled with the text, but he rarely allowed a commentary to dictate his theology. His own interpretation remained grounded in Scripture first, experience second, and commentary as a guide or comparison.

Some of the specific commentaries and writers Spurgeon read and recommended include:

Matthew Henry’s Commentary – Spurgeon frequently cited Henry for pastoral insights and clear exposition, though he was critical of Henry’s occasional over-allegorizing.

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown (JFB Commentary) – He referred to it for concise notes and cross-references.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible – Spurgeon admired Gill’s deep scholarship, particularly on lexical and doctrinal points, but did not always follow Gill’s hyper-Calvinist conclusions.

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible – Spurgeon used Barnes for clarity and practical application ideas.

Expositors and preachers of earlier centuries such as Richard Baxter and Jonathan Edwards – not formal commentaries in every case, but their works served similar exegetical and devotional purposes.

Spurgeon also read modern (for his day) scholarship critically. He had a working library of hundreds of volumes in Greek, Hebrew, systematic theology, and church history. He drew from these sources in his preaching while filtering everything through his commitment to Christ, the cross, and practical pastoral care.

You did know this, didn’t you, or not?

Would you place the prince of preachers also in the “other camp?”

J.

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Don’t try to flatter yourself. You are not in the same camp as Spurgeon. You’re hiding behind Spurgeon instead of answering the question. Ownership of commentaries does not equal authority. Submission to Scripture does. Spurgeon used commentaries as servants, never as judges. He didn’t consult scholars what the text was permitted to mean. He cracked open God’s Word and bowed before it. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” ~Isaiah 8:20

There is a huge difference between confirming what Scripture says AND correcting what Scripture says. One is humble. The other is prideful. Scripture even says so, “Lean not unto thine own understanding.” ~Proverbs 3: 5 When a man filters God’s Word through academic voices and then decides what God really meant, he has already crossed the line.

Spurgeon did not build theology by collecting opinions and asking the Bible to agree. He preached the Bible, and tested every resource by it. That is biblical! “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:21 The Word proves. Not man.

The issue isn’t reading commentaries. The issue is sitting in judgment over the Scripture. Do you know what God never called us to do? Refine His Word. He called us to RECEIVE it. “Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” ~James 1:21

Stop making this about Spurgeon. Focus on the spine of this issue. Submission. Scripture is not yours to shape and mold how you see fit. It is a sword. And when a man keeps trying to reshape it instead of letting it cut him, the fog lifts and the heart is exposed.

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You are very “narrow minded” my dear Calvinist friend, you are from the Calvinist camp, are you not @bdavidc ?

Probably a “hyper-Calvinist” judging from the way you keep on repeating the same handful of verses, out of context, may I add.

Correct?

J.

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We’re to use righteous discernment when judging someone. I think that means we’re to recognize error and in a way wherein we offer guidance rather than condemnation of one another.

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In my view, it would be valuable to list our denominations in our profiles.

J.

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Quit lying. I’m not a Calvinist nor Hyper-Calvinist. Stop putting labels on me. Scripture reveals truth, not some convoluted designation you created. You want to talk about camps and caricatures because you refuse to address what the Bible actually says. “Thou shalt not bear false witness” ~Exodus 20:6 covers doctrine as well as people.

Labeling someone “narrow-minded” because they won’t add human philosophy to the Words of God is not biblical discernment. It is rebellion. Jesus Himself said, “Narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” ~Matthew 7:14. Deal with it. If Scripture is narrow, then so be it. I didn’t write it.

I am not repeating a handful of verses. I stand on every Word God gave us. That’s why the same verses keep popping up, because they keep refuting your same errors. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction” ~2 Timothy 3:16. You get reproof when Scripture is standing in opposition to your camp. Calling it “out of context” won’t make that suddenly true.

Men. Labels. Systems. All you want me to appeal to are men. I’ll take Scripture anytime. That is the problem with you. “Lean not unto thine own understanding” ~Proverbs 3:5. Fits you to a tee. “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” ~2 Timothy 3: 7 describes a man who studies ABOUT the Bible more than he studies the Bible.

If you had discernment, you would take time to crack open the Word itself and see what it says instead of hiding behind strawman accusations and theological branding. Scripture judges us both, and it will NOT be fooled by how many “other people” we quoted to prop up our side. Only by whether or not we submitted to what GOD said.

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So what denomination are you affiliated with, or are you going to react for asking you a direct question @bdavidc ?

J.

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That question exposes the problem. Scripture never asks for a denomination before it listens to truth. You’re still hunting for a label because you don’t want to deal with the text. “God is no respecter of persons” ~Acts 10:34, and He’s no respecter of camps either.

I am affiliated with what is written. That’s it. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” ~Isaiah 8:20. The moment a man needs a label to decide whether Scripture is valid, he has already placed himself above it.

This isn’t reacting. It’s refusing a false frame. Paul didn’t ask, “What denomination are you?” He said, “What saith the scripture?” ~Romans 4:3. That question still settles everything.

If the Word stands, it stands regardless of the name you want to pin on the messenger. And if it doesn’t, no label will save it. Are you afraid to go to the Bible and find an answer? You need to think about who you follow. You need to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not your made-up version. Read the bible.

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@PeterC @bdavidc

If you are wrong… then Jesus and Paul were wrong…? Sounds like putting the cart before the horse, doesn’t it? Do you not hear the self-elevation in your own words?

Rather than accept someone’s correction, or leaving room to be wrong, you double down on sin and suggest that you yourselves cannot possibly be wrong. Because if you are wrong, it cannot be because you are in error, having misunderstood Biblical Teachings. No, it has to be because your Teachers are wrong and that God is wrong!

In doing so, by saying that you yourselves cannot possibly be without error, you leave so much room for God’s Own Judgement when you do discover how wrong you are.

Again, I am only attempting to show you the error of your ways in hopes you might change course. But by your own words, you judge yourselves. And Pride comes before the Fall.

Again, I am only doing what you accuse me of not doing or supporting. Bringing sin into your awareness so that you might look within and change course before it is too late. And I am showing you a way that does please God- To LOVE others as you LOVE yourself, rather than to Judge yourself as you Judge others.

Only one of these is affiliated with an actual Commandment. The other is a warning. So if you are going to error, error on the correct side of things. One appeases God, the other acts like the devil, putting himself on God’s throne.