Censoriousness

Is a Christian ever allowed to judge? Jesus says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” then pictures a man trying to remove a speck from a brother’s eye while a beam sits in his own, and says, “first cast out the beam out of thine own eye.” Yet elsewhere he says, “judge righteous judgment,” so the target seems to be harsh, hypocritical fault-finding rather than every sort of discernment. Romans 14 applies it to disputes over food and holy days: “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant?” Matthew 7:1-5 and Romans 14 are the passages to read.

138 verses

Numbers

Numbers 32:1

Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;

Numbers 32:2

The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying,

Numbers 32:3

Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,

Numbers 32:4

Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle:

Numbers 32:5

Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.

Numbers 32:6

And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?

Numbers 32:7

And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?

Numbers 32:8

Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land.

Numbers 32:9

For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

Numbers 32:10

And the LORD'S anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying,

Numbers 32:11

Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:

Numbers 32:12

Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.

Numbers 32:13

And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.

Numbers 32:14

And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.

Numbers 32:15

For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.

Numbers 32:16

And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:

Numbers 32:17

But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

Numbers 32:18

We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.

Numbers 32:19

For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.

Numbers 32:20

And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,

Numbers 32:21

And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,

Numbers 32:22

And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.

Numbers 32:23

But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Numbers 32:24

Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.

Numbers 32:25

And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth.

Numbers 32:26

Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead:

Numbers 32:27

But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith.

Numbers 32:28

So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel:

Numbers 32:29

And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession:

Numbers 32:30

But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.

Numbers 32:31

And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do.

Numbers 32:32

We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.

Numbers 32:33

And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.

Job

Job 11:1

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Job 11:2

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

Job 11:3

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

Job 11:4

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

Job 11:5

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

Job 11:6

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Proverbs

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Proverbs 17:9

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Isaiah

Isaiah 29:20

For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:

Isaiah 29:21

That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.

Matthew

Matthew 5:23

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Matthew 5:24

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Matthew 6:14

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matthew 7:1

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Matthew 7:2

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Matthew 7:3

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Matthew 7:4

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Matthew 7:5

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Matthew 18:21

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Matthew 18:22

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:23

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Matthew 18:24

And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

Matthew 18:25

But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Matthew 18:26

The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Matthew 18:27

Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Matthew 18:28

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

Matthew 18:29

And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Matthew 18:30

And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

Matthew 18:31

So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

Matthew 18:32

Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

Matthew 18:33

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

Matthew 18:34

And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

Matthew 18:35

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Luke

Luke 6:36

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Luke 6:37

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Luke 6:39

And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

Luke 6:40

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Luke 6:41

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Luke 6:42

Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Luke 12:57

Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

Luke 17:3

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Luke 17:4

And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

John

John 7:24

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

John 8:7

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Acts

Acts 21:28

Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

Romans

Romans 2:1

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Romans 14:1

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Romans 14:2

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Romans 14:3

Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Romans 14:4

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Romans 14:5

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Romans 14:6

He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Romans 14:7

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Romans 14:8

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Romans 14:9

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Romans 14:10

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Romans 14:11

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Romans 14:12

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Romans 14:13

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Romans 14:14

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Romans 14:15

But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Romans 14:16

Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Romans 14:18

For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Romans 14:19

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Romans 14:20

For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Based on Nave's Topical Bible by Orville J. Nave (1896). Public domain. KJV scripture text, public domain.