For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
With whatever standard people use to judge others, that same standard will be used to judge them in return. Judging belongs to God and Christ, not to man, for man cannot read the heart or weigh motives and moral worth. Those who would correct another must first examine and correct themselves, removing their own greater fault in order to see clearly to help. The mercy, forgiveness, and kindness shown to others determines what will be received back, and those who show no mercy will face judgment without mercy. This same return reaches beyond words of condemnation to deeds, so harsh, unjust, or oppressive treatment comes back upon the doer, while good done and love given is repaid in kind.
Wording and Sermon Setting
The saying belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, spoken especially for the disciples while the assembled multitude also listened, and its office there is to reprove rash judgment by declaring that the standard laid upon others comes back upon the one who judges. That sermon gives a right conception of the kingdom and of Christ's own character and undoes false education, not by direct attack upon error nor by vivid delineation of the world's misery through sin, but by teaching something infinitely better and telling the conditions of entrance into the kingdom of God while leaving hearers to draw their own conclusions about its nature. Those are foundation principles of the kingdom of God, no less important now than to the multitude that heard Him, and in every way they opposed and virtually contradicted the theories, practice, and doctrines of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees. Though the Jews possessed Scriptures testifying of Christ they could not discern Him in them, and still men wrest the Scriptures to evade their truths, teaching as the Pharisees did the maxims and traditions of men for the commandments of God. The religious leaders had so long set forth human ideas with endless maxims and traditions having no Thus saith the Lord for authority that, while professing to know and worship the true and living God, they wholly misrepresented Him as a stern judge incapable of compassion, mercy, and love. Christ's teaching sweeps away that satanic misrepresentation to restore confidence in God's love, presenting the character of God as revealed by His Son as an original subject and new gift to the world, teaching men to address the Supreme Ruler of the universe by the new name Our Father signifying His true paternal relation, music in God's ears when spoken in sincerity, leading to the throne of God by a new and living way to present Him in His paternal love.
Its principles reach beyond outward conduct to the heart, whose condition shapes the life and character, requiring the law of God to be received in its spirit and far-reaching principles as taught in that sermon. A person quick to discern the errors of brethren may himself be in greater fault while blind to his own errors, as when the mote in a brother's eye is seen while a beam remains in his own eye. The same measure also describes hearing God's Word: the earnestness with which a person listens in order to benefit and instruct others determines the measure of understanding given back. Those who listen intently, store up knowledge, and share it rightly receive more, while those who fail to use their opportunities or practice truth lose even what they have, including the opportunity to receive and impart heaven's light.
Each person's life record and treatment of others will soon be reviewed before God, and the judgment and measure used against others will be returned. Judging another while doing the same things condemns the judge, who cannot escape God's judgment according to truth, so the call is to examine self rather than condemn others' faults. Angels watch every act and God weighs all motives and actions, returning to each the same treatment given to others, with words and acts recorded in the books of heaven. Hard judgment in words and manner is met with judgment in return, revealing a hard heart lacking Christ's meekness and making the heart less fit for heaven. This warns against judging others and supports patience when wronged, with concern for saving souls outweighing sensitivity to personal slights in order to preserve fellowship with Christ. It requires faithfulness in little things and true integrity in every act, with close self-examination, deep heart searching, confession and correction of every wrong, earnest prayer and fasting, and death to self with the life hidden with Christ in God and no iniquity regarded in the heart. It warns especially against unjust and selfish dealing that grinds down hired workers and the poor, which brings God's displeasure and curse and greater loss through sickness and adversity than any sum gained by unfairness.
Reciprocal Judgment Principle
The judgment a person pronounces will be pronounced upon that person, and the standard and measure applied to others will be applied in return to the one who judges. No one who condemns a brother without first examining and correcting self can see clearly to help correct another, for only after removing one's own fault is clear vision and pure service possible. This shuts out unwise, harsh and hypocritical judgment, and it warns those seeking authority over others that harsh or unfair judgments will be turned back on them. In correcting a church member there must be no spreading of suspicions or accusations without clear evidence, but self-examination first, then open, fair dealing within the church that guards reputation. Loving reproof and correction are not ruled out, for correction is needed for the safety of the church when done in Christ's way.
The way people treat and judge others becomes the measure by which they are treated. Good done to others is repaid, sometimes through material help in time of need and through a fuller experience of God's love, while condemnation and discouragement bring back upon the condemner the suffering caused. This reciprocal result is decreed to expose hardness of heart and to lead people to welcome Jesus, so that what first appears as a curse can become a blessing. It is therefore a strong motive to love one another sincerely and fervently with a pure heart, and to do for others under like circumstances what one would wish done for oneself. The measure concerns how others are treated in circumstances like one's own, not doing for self what one wishes others would do, and Christ models it by a life devoted to blessing others and going about doing good, with love beautifying and ennobling every action. Pure love is simple in its operations, distinct from every other principle of action and divine in influence, unlike love of influence and desire for esteem, self-respect, or a selfish heart that may still produce a well-ordered life, blameless conversation, generous actions, and outward humility and affection, yet from deceptive and impure motives destitute of true holiness.
The same spirit used in judging returns to the judger, whether a spirit of faultfinding or a spirit of forbearance. By that choice people shape what comes back to them and make around themselves either an atmosphere fragrant with love and tenderness or one dark with criticism and faultfinding. Every arbitrary exaction toward a fellow reacts back in double measure, and harsh dealing returns doubled retribution, while partaking of the divine nature produces sympathy with Christ that loves others instead of exacting from them. Those who vindicate and justify injustice and double-dealing become helpers of oppression and will feel the fullest weight of their own merciless principles, becoming sorrowful and distressed just to the degree they caused sorrow and distress to others. Those who treat others without mercy, justice, or kindness will themselves receive like treatment, for those who refuse to help people in trouble reap what they have sown, and each act of injustice or unkindness brings a like return.
God's judgment is according to truth, so judging another while doing the same things condemns the judge and offers no escape. Each person's life record will soon be reviewed by God. Seeing and condemning another person's faults does not excuse or cancel one's own errors, for each must answer for himself and must not use others as a standard or excuse for conduct. This forbids excusing one's own sin while harshly rebuking others.
Judging Belongs to God
Judging belongs to God and to Christ, not to any human being, and this shuts man out from the judgment seat. No person has been given authority to pass sentence upon another, for human beings cannot read hearts. They have no authority or spiritual insight to weigh moral worth or discern hidden motives, and Christ alone is appointed Judge because He took humanity and lived a perfect life. Whoever takes upon himself to judge and criticize others lays himself open to the same degree of judgment and criticism, and those ready to condemn brethren should examine their own works and character, where honest examination will reveal their own defects and grave blunders in work. If God dealt with men as they deal with fellow workers, they would regard Him as unkind and unmerciful, and recognizing their own ignorance should make them careful not to speak evil of others.
No one is to make his own opinions, views of duty, or interpretations of Scripture the standard for others, condemn those who fall short of that standard, or criticize others by guessing at motives. Finite human standards, personal impressions of what others must be like to be accepted by God, and pressing one's opinions as if certain truth are forbidden measures for deciding the faults and conduct of others. No one should climb upon the judgment seat to bring accusation against another, estimate the degree of another's guilt in comparison with his own, or make a brother an offender for a word. Rather than searching their own hearts with contrition, faultfinders use their measuring rod on brethren, causing harm and weakening unity, and remembering that one's own sins placed the Saviour on Calvary keeps from criticism and self-exaltation. Those who walk in the shadow of Calvary's cross can have no spirit of criticism or self-exaltation.
Judging after the desire of one's own mind and bringing forward what will condemn another in order to carry out one's own plans is forbidden and is not righteousness. Counsel may be given to a brother when under the sweet influence of Christ's Spirit, but when not under the direction of God's Spirit silence is required, and those responsible for correcting others must act justly, wisely, and considerately, keeping private matters from those they do not concern. Guarding the interests of the churches never authorizes harshness and human control, or one person ruling another while himself ruled by self instead of the Holy Spirit, dictating to fellows and setting up erring man to judge. Such human judging glorifies human capabilities, puts God's power and glory out of sight, brings confusion and dishonor, and permeates churches with a disposition that spoils the work of God, while God as the true Shepherd will overturn human authority until man stands in his appointed place. All heaven beholds the words spoken by one human being to another in such harsh, unreasonable, cruel judging and censure, which does great harm.
The work of judgment has not been given to any minister, conference president, or church member to watch God's laborers and exercise human judgment over them. God has not appointed people to measure their brethren or pronounce sentence on them, and no person is appointed to judge another's labor or to measure and condemn brethren, including in the case of Dr. Kellogg. Doing such measuring and condemning is work God has not given, and the voice and judgment of man is not to be the voice and judgment of God's people. Each worker's business is to discipline self, examine self closely and begin putting his own life in order, look to God for wisdom and counsel line upon line, and ensure his own work can withstand the righteous judgment of God.
Examine Self First
Those who would correct another must first examine and correct themselves, removing the beam from their own eye so they can see clearly to help remove the mote from a brother's eye. The standard applied to others will return upon the one who judges, so condemning a brother without first examining and reforming self brings that same judgment back. One who is quick to discern the errors of brethren may himself be in greater fault while blind to his own errors. Dwelling on others' faults and criticizing them makes a person harsh and self-centered, and a mind absorbed with the faults of others is itself a very serious defect and hypocrisy. No one is appointed to search out and correct supposed errors in others, for such judgment can turn suspicions into unjust accusations, and restraint in judging is required.
Looking for defects in others develops defects in the one who looks, and noticing a mote in another's eye is a sign of a beam in one's own. Words of criticism react on the speaker, stir up the worst passions of the human heart, and stir up antagonism and retaliation, while no one is faultless and wrongdoers remain accountable to God. Focusing on criticism can foster faultfinding in the reprover and do more harm than good, so instead of judging or exposing others' errors, better habits are to be taught through personal example. The talent of speech is too precious to be abused in faultfinding, so believers must refrain from such words and remain silent when irritated, with special restraint when irritated. Obstructing or condemning another by speech brings accountability before God.
Remembering one's own weakness and possible greater faults forbids harshness, criticism, and self-exaltation, requiring correction of the erring with pitying tenderness rather than harshness. One must not censure a brother's integrity of purpose or question his motives any sooner than one would wish to be suspected or unjustly censured himself, nor press deeper the thorn of his mistakes when he already grieves his failure, distrusts himself, and loses courage and confidence to work. When fault is seen and acknowledged, comfort is to be given instead of grief, speaking truth and facts plainly when needed but ever with pitying tenderness and not harshness or severity, with patience, pity, and fairness. All are erring and need God's pity and forgiveness, so each must deal with one another exactly as one wishes the Lord to deal in one's own errors and weaknesses, considering oneself lest one also be tempted, for the judge may have sins greater in God's sight and may also be tempted and fall under temptation. Poor, weak mortals who themselves know little of their own hearts and greatly need mercy from God and from brethren must restore with meekness, offering love, sympathy, help, and prayer rather than standing aloof or claiming superiority, despising or condemning those who are weak or foolish or overborne by temptation.
A man who stands aside as a spectator watching deficiencies and faults, measuring others by his own standard, contrasting their slackness with his own carefulness, saying in his heart he is better than they, feeling self-complacent when they fail, withholding sympathy and doing nothing to remedy the evil, and being exacting and harsh toward those supposed in error in church and family, would be in a bad condition if God dealt with him as he has dealt with them. He is spared only because God is merciful, of tender pity and unchanging loving-kindness, forgiving transgressions, numerous errors, and backsliding instead of casting aside and cutting off. He must stop watching and talking of the pride, vanity, and world-loving spirit of others and neglecting his own soul, remembering he is not accountable for brethren's sins unless his example causes them to stumble, and do the great work of controlling and subduing self, becoming meek and lowly of heart, tender-hearted and pitiful in family, and noble and generous in spirit instead of niggardly. Only as much pity and forbearance as is shown to the offender will be shown to the judge.
Ministers and members are to study the seventh chapter of Matthew most critically again and again for their own enlightenment and not to prove supposed faults discerned in other church members. Unless there are decided conversions, many who think they are lights will prove to be stumbling blocks. Trying to set everyone right by criticizing others and pointing out faults leaves a person without advantage and hinders doing one's own work nobly and well, calling instead for fairness and sympathy rather than prejudice or envy. Each person should attend to his own spiritual life, do his own work nobly, and make sure conduct is uplifting and a blessing to self and church, not condemning or disparaging fellow believers whose standing with God is unknown and whose discouragement by speech does harm.
Every person has an individual work to examine thoughts and feelings, tempers, purposes, words and deeds in the light of God's Word, to prove whether in the faith and an example of holiness, to war constantly against sinful corruptions, and to be a doer of the Word jealous over one's own spirit. No one is safe in being earnest and zealous to set others right while neglecting his own soul, because another person's wrong does not make his own case right, and without diligent heart-searching self-love will give a better opinion of self than is true. Harshness, impatience, and fault-finding toward brethren are forbidden, with no warring against and weakening one another by imagining evil, but guarding one another's interests by doing in every case as one would be pleased to be done by. Those who scrutinize fellow believers, eagerly expose faults, and judge harshly neglect their own character which is being weighed in heaven's sanctuary, and should humbly examine themselves, beware their own failures, and meet others' errors with mercy and patience as they wish to be treated.
Mercy and Forgiveness Measure
The standard used in judging others becomes the standard by which the judger is judged, and those who treat others without mercy will themselves need mercy and face judgment without mercy. The grace, mercy and forgiveness shown to others determines what the Lord bestows in return, for the way of dealing with brethren is the measure of the Lord's dealing. God's forgiving mercy is the measure for human mercy and forgiveness, and a person's attitude toward others shows whether God's unmerited love has become his own. Human beings cannot read hearts and have not been given authority to pass sentence on one another, since all judgment belongs to Christ, so recognizing such ignorance should make all careful not to speak evil or condemn while acting selfishly, suspiciously or without love.
Tender, pitying love calls for forgiveness and restoration of the erring rather than criticism and condemnation, especially toward the repentant who asks forgiveness and toward the weak overborne by temptation. Those who seek God's mercy through Christ must show love, pity, forbearance and forgiveness to fellow sinners, remembering their own weakness, their own need of mercy from God and brethren, and restoring with meekness because they also may fall under temptation. Condemning or discouraging the fallen, treating them without mercy, with coldness or with proud, critical and vindictive spirit, brings judgment without mercy in the same measure of severity used. Refusing to forgive is dangerous, since all depend on God's mercy and pardon and may later lack the mercy they need, and those who have received pardon should forgive others humbly and compassionately.
Dealing unjustly or selfishly with the poor, hirelings, workers and those under authority will be answered in kind, for God justly weighs every motive and action and returns the same treatment given to others. What is gained by exploiting the poor and grinding down hired workers may be taken away through sickness and adversity, bringing God's displeasure and curse and greater loss than any sum gained by unfairness. Harsh judges who abandon a worker judged unsuccessful with his suffering family to want will themselves be judged and measured in the same way, with no excuse for neglecting plain obedience standing in heaven. God has no respect of persons but values the fallen brother as much as the one who judges him, stripping away tinsel, glitter and show to see true character, and He will bring harsh judges over the very same ground where their brother fell to test them on the very points where others failed, letting them know indifference, contempt and scorn because they turned away instead of helping, strengthening and blessing. Those who torture or tyrannize those under their authority will be dealt with by the Creator as they dealt, those who use pressure, selfishness or injustice to deny rights or acquire wealth unjustly at another's expense fail love to God and neighbor and must answer to God, and directors will be dealt with as they deal with workers under their care.
Courtesy, consideration, kindness, sympathy and love given as one would wish them under the same circumstances will be shown in return, while harsh, unyielding, exacting treatment without compassion brings a corresponding measure. Remembering this reciprocity is a strong motive to love one another purely and fervently, to do good as Christ did, and to become more careful in speech, milder in disposition and more forgiving. Fellow believers are as fallible as oneself and should be treated with the same mercy and patience one wants from them, giving sympathy and love rather than excessive criticism, for exposing their faults for others to celebrate takes the judge's place while neglecting one's own character. Refusing to be conciliatory, benevolent, kind and willing to show favors saddens and disappoints brethren and brings back the same judgment, with such harsh, unkind service unaccepted by God. Greater light brings duty to treat less experienced learners with patience, pity and affection, reflecting the tender pity of the great Teacher and the mercy the needy themselves need from God.
Watching like the Pharisees to find something to condemn in brethren, while priding acute discernment, is cold, satanic criticism that charges souls less guilty than the accusers with evil intent and makes men accusers of the brethren like God's enemy. Treating suspicion and jealousy as special discernment, shutting the heart against a supposed offender, questioning motives, misjudging, surmising evil, speaking unkindly and passionately, and claiming condemnation as zeal for truth puts a person on the judgment seat as though above temptation, which is harmful, deceptive and not wisdom from above. Such condemning judges will be treated by God by their own standard and need to humble themselves before Him, whatever their position or experience, for they cannot sincerely pray to be forgiven as they forgive others. God grants no pardon where penitence produces no humility and where faith does not work by love to purify the soul, so the tongue must be bridled by God's help through contrite, faithful prayer, with less talking and more praying, an open heart to kindliness and the Spirit, kindly thoughts, holy affections and the habit of speaking well of others. A true Christian will not indulge a vindictive spirit but will study and follow the meek and lowly One who when reviled did not revile again, going to one thought to be doing wrong only in meekness, kindness, mercy and good fruits, with frank confession of own wrongs and love for those for whom Christ died, since retaining unworthy, judging thoughts taints worship and God will not hear self-sufficient, self-exalted prayers.
Prophetic and Historic Fulfillment
The destruction of Jerusalem fulfilled the warning, for the measure used against others was measured back in return. What had been inflicted on others came back in suffering upon those who inflicted it. Their treatment of the innocent brought corresponding judgment upon them, suffering in measure for the way they had treated others. This included accepting false testimony to condemn the innocent Christ.
Nations that sanction injustice, oppression, and persecution of God's people will suffer the oppression they inflicted. Their own divisions may lead to their destruction, and those who authorize despotic rule foster retaliation that rebounds on them. Those who break down God's law and teach others to reject it face the curse of its transgression, with God's justice working through events to bring consequences upon those responsible. Those who cause pain, persecute God's people, and try to force them to disobey God will themselves suffer in proportion to the harm they have done, for God will judge and punish people in keeping with how they have judged and treated others.
Men who pervert justice and judgment, devise selfish and dishonest principles, and lead others astray will themselves be weighed in their own balances. They will be judged by the very principles they forwarded and advocated with assurance. God will give them opportunity to come under the rules and sentiments they created. They will know by experience how it feels to have their own principles brought to bear upon them.
Condemning those who have less light or are less guilty before God is forbidden, and those who condemn others will themselves be judged. Those with greater privileges and opportunities who fail to use them may face greater condemnation than people mistaken about doctrine who sincerely seek to do good. Many who stand aloof from Seventh-day Adventists are living more in accordance with the light they have received than many Seventh-day Adventists are, so judging those who have not seen the light is foolish wisdom. Instead of judging them there is need to seek God and have the work of the Holy Spirit felt in the heart, and strange things will be demonstrated to show the foolishness of judging. The heavenly Father will deal with a person just as that person deals with and judges others, and one who exercises criticism and severity toward another and lords it over God's heritage will be dealt with in the same way by God. The reckoning is stricter for one who has had more experience, more advantages, more light, and more opportunities, warnings and appeals, so that if such a one calls for another's credentials to be withheld, his own should be withheld in the sight of a holy God, and one who has shown himself weaker and with less power of self-control has no right to judge another and is the last who should do so. The Jewish people's failure to walk in the light they had received brought darkness upon them in proportion to the light they had been given, for their neglect of revealed truth and disobedience to God's commandments left them separated from God.
Practical Church Application
Those who seek authority over others are warned that the harsh or unfair judgments they pronounce will be turned back upon themselves by the same standard and measure they used. Neglecting or discouraging souls in peril will have to be answered for, and exacting harshness toward brethren, family members, and erring young workers, especially judging in a Pharisaical spirit instead of acting like Christ, brings the same dealing in return. One who refuses to be conciliatory, benevolent, kind, and willing to show favors, whose discourtesy saddens and disappoints brethren, will receive the same judgment given, and God will not accept such harsh, unkind service.
In correcting wrong in the church, suspicions must not be spread nor accusations made without clear evidence, evil reports must not be accepted, and secret plotting must give way to open, direct dealing aimed to restore the erring or vindicate the innocent while guarding reputation and keeping private matters private. Accusations must not be pursued beyond reasonable limits nor sentence passed on insufficient evidence, for hasty, unwise condemnation invites the same standard in return. Influential members who accept reports and pass judgment on that basis will surely have that same judgment come back upon themselves, so reports are to be held back and all, especially the tempted and tried who Christ died to save, are to be treated kindly with the mercy and compassion received from Christ.
Bitter speech that magnifies supposed faults and spreads unjust suspicion creates distrust, alienates fellow believers, and defiles others, and calls for self-examination before judging a brother. Words that obstruct another Christian's work must not be spoken, for criticizing fellow Christians weakens the church and each person must answer to God for it. Care is required in speech and treatment of others because people answer to God for their words and may be justified or condemned by them, so when another errs the proper course is to seek God's help for that person rather than publicize the fault. God hears every word spoken, and those who censure His workers should remember equally serious errors of their own and seek pardon for harsh words and an unchristlike spirit. Even true facts can be framed to create a false impression, and truth does not justify collecting reports to ruin another's reputation or usefulness, for treating a brother with a harsh, merciless spirit brings danger of receiving that same treatment from God.
Unjust treatment of named individuals shows how the return works: those who searched Bro. Bell's history for every unfavorable detail and made minor faults seem like grave sins would meet the consequences of their own conduct under the same harsh measure. Bro. Rogers was watched with jealousy and distrust even though his shortcomings were shared by others, and such jealous judging brings judgment by the same measure. Those who condemn Brother Henry with a condemnatory spirit while being in many respects as guilty as he is displease the Lord and will be brought over the very same ground of trial and exposure he is passing over, so instead of condemning they should humble themselves with fasting and prayer that God may remove His displeasure for their own unfaithfulness and neglect of duty.
The same measure governs vulnerable and disputed cases: those pressing divorce forward should have shown Victor the pitying love Jesus had shown them, considering that their treatment of him would be measured back to them. Mercy is required toward an erring husband who loves his wife and pleads for delay and promises reform, eagerly grasping even feeble hope of amendment and giving another chance even at cost of further suffering rather than pressing divorce. Judging colored brethren and sisters is forbidden, especially being quick to condemn them when in some things they fail and separating them from the work for misdoing; instead kindness rather than censure is required, with desire for them to reach the highest standard, willingness to help, exact and impartial justice, tender compassion for the suffering, sympathy for the unfortunate, generous consideration for misdemeanors, and no occasion given for hatred, while judges face that they cherish evils they would not tolerate in others. Perverse children are to be treated as one wishes the Lord to treat oneself, as younger members of the Lord's family for whom account must be rendered for how they were dealt with, correcting with punishment only where evil must be cured and nothing better can be done, otherwise refusing to threaten, drive, scold, and jerk them about. Manifesting a hard, advantage-taking spirit toward a brother in a hard and trying place, as in taking advantage of Edson White in his need, will surely be reflected back, so no one can safely follow such a course and God can never approve it. Workers who incurred a five-thousand-dollar debt in the important work in New York must not be judged without looking at the matter from different points of view and thoroughly investigating whether the debt was too large, lest the same judgment return; instead influence should move donors, including rich men in the conference, to see the importance of the work and sustain the workers by donations in the emergency rather than complaining, casting reproach and discouragement, implying means give right to question every enterprise calling for money, closing the school at Rome, N.Y., contracting the work, and barring advance movements.
Exaggerated statements and false impressions against brethren, as against the publishing work at Nashville, will react on the accusers with God's retribution, for if judged as they judge their own cases would appear far worse than those they accused. A man who judges another's reliability on a disputed factual detail must face the same measure he used, and such conduct makes him unfit to guide others unless he changes. Condemning people over disagreements on the law in Galatians, especially on impressions and reports formed in ignorance, is forbidden; judgment should be suspended while facts and motives are unknown, for passing sentence and spreading condemnations is not God's work and harms both the judges' experience and those who trust them. Unjustly hindering a laborer by misrepresentation that prejudices others likewise calls for pity and repentance under the same measure.
Sharp, dictatorial criticism of God's workers exposes the critic to the same measure of judgment and criticism, and those who condemn should examine their own character and work where defects and serious mistakes will be found, for judged by their harsh standard they would regard God as unkind and unmerciful. Like scribes and Pharisees they may excuse their own sins while magnifying and condemning others' faults, so they should remember their own grievous mistakes, bow in contrition, seek pardon for sharp speeches and unguarded spirit, and cherish humility rather than censure. Setting up as detectors of others' faults damages Christian experience, and joining the enemy as accusers of brethren — watching for a chance to accuse and condemning a fellow worker unmercifully and unjustly in thought, word, and deed — will surely bring the same judgment from God, with words and acts recorded in heaven's books as delinquencies unless there is humbling, repentance, confession, and ceasing of warfare. God gives no one the work of judging, confusing, perplexing, and discouraging His workers by watching for faults, talking of faults, picking flaws, speaking evil, misinterpreting words and actions, exaggerating mistakes, and leaving the downtrodden hopeless under test and trial; instead the fallen must be lifted up, good accomplished seen with clear eyesight and unselfish heart and commended with praise to God including work begun in the South, and pity, self-sacrifice, and holy love brought into the church, while God keeps His hand on providence to present an altogether different showing. It is inconsistent for fallen beings to exalt themselves and condemn with severity while forgetting they must repent in common with others, since those condemned may stand justified before God receiving Christ's and angels' sympathy; no one should grieve Christ by standing with Satan to accuse brethren while Christ pleads every tempted soul's case, but reputations should be guarded as one's own and criticizing testimonies unto disunion avoided.
A selfish, exacting, fault-finding, arbitrary spirit brings judgment on the judger, for the censurer often deserves censure more than the censured. Such a spectator spirit watches deficiencies, measures others by its own standard, contrasts their slackness with its own carefulness, says in heart it is better, feels self-complacent when they fail, withholds sympathy and help, and is harsh toward supposed erring ones in church and family; if God dealt with him as he deals, his condition would be bad, and he is spared only because God is merciful, tenderly pitiful, unchanging in loving-kindness, forgiving numerous transgressions, errors, and backsliding instead of casting aside. The traits must be overcome by ceasing to watch and talk of others' pride, vanity, and world-love while neglecting one's own soul, remembering accountability for brethren's sins only where example causes stumbling, controlling and subduing self, becoming meek and lowly, tender and pitiful in family, and noble and generous instead of niggardly, with Christian compassionate allowance for each case. Looking out for own interest and choosing pleasant things for self without considering others' happiness, interest, and convenience, while keeping a peevish, unhappy disposition and mistaking exacting feelings and a self-chosen burden for God-given zeal for truth, destroys influence and cripples usefulness.
In defending truth, firmness must not pass into condemning others or making charges against them by personal attacks, for such conduct fosters division. Sharp attacks on opponents will come back in greater measure when those opponents gain power to harm. In correcting wrongdoers, both undue severity and excessive leniency that excuses wrong must be guarded against, since leniency distorts judgment and can later turn harsh toward those who do right while sin's seriousness is still recognized. Care is likewise required lest a manifestation of the Holy Spirit be wrongly condemned as evil.
The verse belongs among Scriptures to be studied and obeyed in daily life rather than merely heard. Concern for saving souls should outweigh sensitivity to personal slights and preserve fellowship with Christ, supporting patience when wronged under the principle that judgment given returns. Forbearance is required under wrong whether real or supposed, without chafing of spirit, exposing self as the enemy most to be feared. Human passion uncontrolled by the Holy Spirit harms character more balefully than any other vice, and victory over self is the most precious victory to be gained.
Discipline that chastises in a way increasing stubbornness and confirming wrongdoing will bring the same kind of treatment from Jesus. True greatness is not wealth, territory, birth, or blood, nor glitter, show, ambition, conquest, or worldly predominance, but a humble, sensitive, pure heart, unmoved by self-aggrandizement, giving struggling co-workers room and advantages; God blesses such a man. If by word and action a man oppresses and discourages co-workers simply because he has power to do so, the Lord will in time cause him to pass over the same road through similar oppression and discouragement.
Exacting harshness without compassion toward a brother in hardship invites God to judge by the same standard, for mercy toward the needy reflects the mercy needed from God. Those who use pressure, selfishness, or injustice to deny others their rights, who refuse to help people in trouble, and who treat others without mercy, justice, or kindness will answer to God and reap what they sowed with like return for each act. Acquiring wealth unjustly at another's expense fails love to God and neighbor and must be answered for. God will deal with people as they dealt with those crying for help, so refusing compassion and relief to sufferers brings judgment without mercy.
With whatever standard people use to judge others, that same standard will be used to judge them in return. Judging belongs to God and Christ, not to man, for man cannot read the heart or weigh motives and moral worth. Those who would correct another must first examine and correct themselves, removing their own greater fault in order to see clearly to help. The mercy, forgiveness, and kindness shown to others determines what will be received back, and those who show no mercy will face judgment without mercy. This same return reaches beyond words of condemnation to deeds, so harsh, unjust, or oppressive treatment comes back upon the doer, while good done and love given is repaid in kind.
Wording and Sermon Setting
The saying belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, spoken especially for the disciples while the assembled multitude also listened, and its office there is to reprove rash judgment by declaring that the standard laid upon others comes back upon the one who judges. That sermon gives a right conception of the kingdom and of Christ's own character and undoes false education, not by direct attack upon error nor by vivid delineation of the world's misery through sin, but by teaching something infinitely better and telling the conditions of entrance into the kingdom of God while leaving hearers to draw their own conclusions about its nature. Those are foundation principles of the kingdom of God, no less important now than to the multitude that heard Him, and in every way they opposed and virtually contradicted the theories, practice, and doctrines of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees. Though the Jews possessed Scriptures testifying of Christ they could not discern Him in them, and still men wrest the Scriptures to evade their truths, teaching as the Pharisees did the maxims and traditions of men for the commandments of God. The religious leaders had so long set forth human ideas with endless maxims and traditions having no Thus saith the Lord for authority that, while professing to know and worship the true and living God, they wholly misrepresented Him as a stern judge incapable of compassion, mercy, and love. Christ's teaching sweeps away that satanic misrepresentation to restore confidence in God's love, presenting the character of God as revealed by His Son as an original subject and new gift to the world, teaching men to address the Supreme Ruler of the universe by the new name Our Father signifying His true paternal relation, music in God's ears when spoken in sincerity, leading to the throne of God by a new and living way to present Him in His paternal love.
Its principles reach beyond outward conduct to the heart, whose condition shapes the life and character, requiring the law of God to be received in its spirit and far-reaching principles as taught in that sermon. A person quick to discern the errors of brethren may himself be in greater fault while blind to his own errors, as when the mote in a brother's eye is seen while a beam remains in his own eye. The same measure also describes hearing God's Word: the earnestness with which a person listens in order to benefit and instruct others determines the measure of understanding given back. Those who listen intently, store up knowledge, and share it rightly receive more, while those who fail to use their opportunities or practice truth lose even what they have, including the opportunity to receive and impart heaven's light.
Each person's life record and treatment of others will soon be reviewed before God, and the judgment and measure used against others will be returned. Judging another while doing the same things condemns the judge, who cannot escape God's judgment according to truth, so the call is to examine self rather than condemn others' faults. Angels watch every act and God weighs all motives and actions, returning to each the same treatment given to others, with words and acts recorded in the books of heaven. Hard judgment in words and manner is met with judgment in return, revealing a hard heart lacking Christ's meekness and making the heart less fit for heaven. This warns against judging others and supports patience when wronged, with concern for saving souls outweighing sensitivity to personal slights in order to preserve fellowship with Christ. It requires faithfulness in little things and true integrity in every act, with close self-examination, deep heart searching, confession and correction of every wrong, earnest prayer and fasting, and death to self with the life hidden with Christ in God and no iniquity regarded in the heart. It warns especially against unjust and selfish dealing that grinds down hired workers and the poor, which brings God's displeasure and curse and greater loss through sickness and adversity than any sum gained by unfairness.
Reciprocal Judgment Principle
The judgment a person pronounces will be pronounced upon that person, and the standard and measure applied to others will be applied in return to the one who judges. No one who condemns a brother without first examining and correcting self can see clearly to help correct another, for only after removing one's own fault is clear vision and pure service possible. This shuts out unwise, harsh and hypocritical judgment, and it warns those seeking authority over others that harsh or unfair judgments will be turned back on them. In correcting a church member there must be no spreading of suspicions or accusations without clear evidence, but self-examination first, then open, fair dealing within the church that guards reputation. Loving reproof and correction are not ruled out, for correction is needed for the safety of the church when done in Christ's way.
The way people treat and judge others becomes the measure by which they are treated. Good done to others is repaid, sometimes through material help in time of need and through a fuller experience of God's love, while condemnation and discouragement bring back upon the condemner the suffering caused. This reciprocal result is decreed to expose hardness of heart and to lead people to welcome Jesus, so that what first appears as a curse can become a blessing. It is therefore a strong motive to love one another sincerely and fervently with a pure heart, and to do for others under like circumstances what one would wish done for oneself. The measure concerns how others are treated in circumstances like one's own, not doing for self what one wishes others would do, and Christ models it by a life devoted to blessing others and going about doing good, with love beautifying and ennobling every action. Pure love is simple in its operations, distinct from every other principle of action and divine in influence, unlike love of influence and desire for esteem, self-respect, or a selfish heart that may still produce a well-ordered life, blameless conversation, generous actions, and outward humility and affection, yet from deceptive and impure motives destitute of true holiness.
The same spirit used in judging returns to the judger, whether a spirit of faultfinding or a spirit of forbearance. By that choice people shape what comes back to them and make around themselves either an atmosphere fragrant with love and tenderness or one dark with criticism and faultfinding. Every arbitrary exaction toward a fellow reacts back in double measure, and harsh dealing returns doubled retribution, while partaking of the divine nature produces sympathy with Christ that loves others instead of exacting from them. Those who vindicate and justify injustice and double-dealing become helpers of oppression and will feel the fullest weight of their own merciless principles, becoming sorrowful and distressed just to the degree they caused sorrow and distress to others. Those who treat others without mercy, justice, or kindness will themselves receive like treatment, for those who refuse to help people in trouble reap what they have sown, and each act of injustice or unkindness brings a like return.
God's judgment is according to truth, so judging another while doing the same things condemns the judge and offers no escape. Each person's life record will soon be reviewed by God. Seeing and condemning another person's faults does not excuse or cancel one's own errors, for each must answer for himself and must not use others as a standard or excuse for conduct. This forbids excusing one's own sin while harshly rebuking others.
Judging Belongs to God
Judging belongs to God and to Christ, not to any human being, and this shuts man out from the judgment seat. No person has been given authority to pass sentence upon another, for human beings cannot read hearts. They have no authority or spiritual insight to weigh moral worth or discern hidden motives, and Christ alone is appointed Judge because He took humanity and lived a perfect life. Whoever takes upon himself to judge and criticize others lays himself open to the same degree of judgment and criticism, and those ready to condemn brethren should examine their own works and character, where honest examination will reveal their own defects and grave blunders in work. If God dealt with men as they deal with fellow workers, they would regard Him as unkind and unmerciful, and recognizing their own ignorance should make them careful not to speak evil of others.
No one is to make his own opinions, views of duty, or interpretations of Scripture the standard for others, condemn those who fall short of that standard, or criticize others by guessing at motives. Finite human standards, personal impressions of what others must be like to be accepted by God, and pressing one's opinions as if certain truth are forbidden measures for deciding the faults and conduct of others. No one should climb upon the judgment seat to bring accusation against another, estimate the degree of another's guilt in comparison with his own, or make a brother an offender for a word. Rather than searching their own hearts with contrition, faultfinders use their measuring rod on brethren, causing harm and weakening unity, and remembering that one's own sins placed the Saviour on Calvary keeps from criticism and self-exaltation. Those who walk in the shadow of Calvary's cross can have no spirit of criticism or self-exaltation.
Judging after the desire of one's own mind and bringing forward what will condemn another in order to carry out one's own plans is forbidden and is not righteousness. Counsel may be given to a brother when under the sweet influence of Christ's Spirit, but when not under the direction of God's Spirit silence is required, and those responsible for correcting others must act justly, wisely, and considerately, keeping private matters from those they do not concern. Guarding the interests of the churches never authorizes harshness and human control, or one person ruling another while himself ruled by self instead of the Holy Spirit, dictating to fellows and setting up erring man to judge. Such human judging glorifies human capabilities, puts God's power and glory out of sight, brings confusion and dishonor, and permeates churches with a disposition that spoils the work of God, while God as the true Shepherd will overturn human authority until man stands in his appointed place. All heaven beholds the words spoken by one human being to another in such harsh, unreasonable, cruel judging and censure, which does great harm.
The work of judgment has not been given to any minister, conference president, or church member to watch God's laborers and exercise human judgment over them. God has not appointed people to measure their brethren or pronounce sentence on them, and no person is appointed to judge another's labor or to measure and condemn brethren, including in the case of Dr. Kellogg. Doing such measuring and condemning is work God has not given, and the voice and judgment of man is not to be the voice and judgment of God's people. Each worker's business is to discipline self, examine self closely and begin putting his own life in order, look to God for wisdom and counsel line upon line, and ensure his own work can withstand the righteous judgment of God.
Examine Self First
Those who would correct another must first examine and correct themselves, removing the beam from their own eye so they can see clearly to help remove the mote from a brother's eye. The standard applied to others will return upon the one who judges, so condemning a brother without first examining and reforming self brings that same judgment back. One who is quick to discern the errors of brethren may himself be in greater fault while blind to his own errors. Dwelling on others' faults and criticizing them makes a person harsh and self-centered, and a mind absorbed with the faults of others is itself a very serious defect and hypocrisy. No one is appointed to search out and correct supposed errors in others, for such judgment can turn suspicions into unjust accusations, and restraint in judging is required.
Looking for defects in others develops defects in the one who looks, and noticing a mote in another's eye is a sign of a beam in one's own. Words of criticism react on the speaker, stir up the worst passions of the human heart, and stir up antagonism and retaliation, while no one is faultless and wrongdoers remain accountable to God. Focusing on criticism can foster faultfinding in the reprover and do more harm than good, so instead of judging or exposing others' errors, better habits are to be taught through personal example. The talent of speech is too precious to be abused in faultfinding, so believers must refrain from such words and remain silent when irritated, with special restraint when irritated. Obstructing or condemning another by speech brings accountability before God.
Remembering one's own weakness and possible greater faults forbids harshness, criticism, and self-exaltation, requiring correction of the erring with pitying tenderness rather than harshness. One must not censure a brother's integrity of purpose or question his motives any sooner than one would wish to be suspected or unjustly censured himself, nor press deeper the thorn of his mistakes when he already grieves his failure, distrusts himself, and loses courage and confidence to work. When fault is seen and acknowledged, comfort is to be given instead of grief, speaking truth and facts plainly when needed but ever with pitying tenderness and not harshness or severity, with patience, pity, and fairness. All are erring and need God's pity and forgiveness, so each must deal with one another exactly as one wishes the Lord to deal in one's own errors and weaknesses, considering oneself lest one also be tempted, for the judge may have sins greater in God's sight and may also be tempted and fall under temptation. Poor, weak mortals who themselves know little of their own hearts and greatly need mercy from God and from brethren must restore with meekness, offering love, sympathy, help, and prayer rather than standing aloof or claiming superiority, despising or condemning those who are weak or foolish or overborne by temptation.
A man who stands aside as a spectator watching deficiencies and faults, measuring others by his own standard, contrasting their slackness with his own carefulness, saying in his heart he is better than they, feeling self-complacent when they fail, withholding sympathy and doing nothing to remedy the evil, and being exacting and harsh toward those supposed in error in church and family, would be in a bad condition if God dealt with him as he has dealt with them. He is spared only because God is merciful, of tender pity and unchanging loving-kindness, forgiving transgressions, numerous errors, and backsliding instead of casting aside and cutting off. He must stop watching and talking of the pride, vanity, and world-loving spirit of others and neglecting his own soul, remembering he is not accountable for brethren's sins unless his example causes them to stumble, and do the great work of controlling and subduing self, becoming meek and lowly of heart, tender-hearted and pitiful in family, and noble and generous in spirit instead of niggardly. Only as much pity and forbearance as is shown to the offender will be shown to the judge.
Ministers and members are to study the seventh chapter of Matthew most critically again and again for their own enlightenment and not to prove supposed faults discerned in other church members. Unless there are decided conversions, many who think they are lights will prove to be stumbling blocks. Trying to set everyone right by criticizing others and pointing out faults leaves a person without advantage and hinders doing one's own work nobly and well, calling instead for fairness and sympathy rather than prejudice or envy. Each person should attend to his own spiritual life, do his own work nobly, and make sure conduct is uplifting and a blessing to self and church, not condemning or disparaging fellow believers whose standing with God is unknown and whose discouragement by speech does harm.
Every person has an individual work to examine thoughts and feelings, tempers, purposes, words and deeds in the light of God's Word, to prove whether in the faith and an example of holiness, to war constantly against sinful corruptions, and to be a doer of the Word jealous over one's own spirit. No one is safe in being earnest and zealous to set others right while neglecting his own soul, because another person's wrong does not make his own case right, and without diligent heart-searching self-love will give a better opinion of self than is true. Harshness, impatience, and fault-finding toward brethren are forbidden, with no warring against and weakening one another by imagining evil, but guarding one another's interests by doing in every case as one would be pleased to be done by. Those who scrutinize fellow believers, eagerly expose faults, and judge harshly neglect their own character which is being weighed in heaven's sanctuary, and should humbly examine themselves, beware their own failures, and meet others' errors with mercy and patience as they wish to be treated.
Mercy and Forgiveness Measure
The standard used in judging others becomes the standard by which the judger is judged, and those who treat others without mercy will themselves need mercy and face judgment without mercy. The grace, mercy and forgiveness shown to others determines what the Lord bestows in return, for the way of dealing with brethren is the measure of the Lord's dealing. God's forgiving mercy is the measure for human mercy and forgiveness, and a person's attitude toward others shows whether God's unmerited love has become his own. Human beings cannot read hearts and have not been given authority to pass sentence on one another, since all judgment belongs to Christ, so recognizing such ignorance should make all careful not to speak evil or condemn while acting selfishly, suspiciously or without love.
Tender, pitying love calls for forgiveness and restoration of the erring rather than criticism and condemnation, especially toward the repentant who asks forgiveness and toward the weak overborne by temptation. Those who seek God's mercy through Christ must show love, pity, forbearance and forgiveness to fellow sinners, remembering their own weakness, their own need of mercy from God and brethren, and restoring with meekness because they also may fall under temptation. Condemning or discouraging the fallen, treating them without mercy, with coldness or with proud, critical and vindictive spirit, brings judgment without mercy in the same measure of severity used. Refusing to forgive is dangerous, since all depend on God's mercy and pardon and may later lack the mercy they need, and those who have received pardon should forgive others humbly and compassionately.
Dealing unjustly or selfishly with the poor, hirelings, workers and those under authority will be answered in kind, for God justly weighs every motive and action and returns the same treatment given to others. What is gained by exploiting the poor and grinding down hired workers may be taken away through sickness and adversity, bringing God's displeasure and curse and greater loss than any sum gained by unfairness. Harsh judges who abandon a worker judged unsuccessful with his suffering family to want will themselves be judged and measured in the same way, with no excuse for neglecting plain obedience standing in heaven. God has no respect of persons but values the fallen brother as much as the one who judges him, stripping away tinsel, glitter and show to see true character, and He will bring harsh judges over the very same ground where their brother fell to test them on the very points where others failed, letting them know indifference, contempt and scorn because they turned away instead of helping, strengthening and blessing. Those who torture or tyrannize those under their authority will be dealt with by the Creator as they dealt, those who use pressure, selfishness or injustice to deny rights or acquire wealth unjustly at another's expense fail love to God and neighbor and must answer to God, and directors will be dealt with as they deal with workers under their care.
Courtesy, consideration, kindness, sympathy and love given as one would wish them under the same circumstances will be shown in return, while harsh, unyielding, exacting treatment without compassion brings a corresponding measure. Remembering this reciprocity is a strong motive to love one another purely and fervently, to do good as Christ did, and to become more careful in speech, milder in disposition and more forgiving. Fellow believers are as fallible as oneself and should be treated with the same mercy and patience one wants from them, giving sympathy and love rather than excessive criticism, for exposing their faults for others to celebrate takes the judge's place while neglecting one's own character. Refusing to be conciliatory, benevolent, kind and willing to show favors saddens and disappoints brethren and brings back the same judgment, with such harsh, unkind service unaccepted by God. Greater light brings duty to treat less experienced learners with patience, pity and affection, reflecting the tender pity of the great Teacher and the mercy the needy themselves need from God.
Watching like the Pharisees to find something to condemn in brethren, while priding acute discernment, is cold, satanic criticism that charges souls less guilty than the accusers with evil intent and makes men accusers of the brethren like God's enemy. Treating suspicion and jealousy as special discernment, shutting the heart against a supposed offender, questioning motives, misjudging, surmising evil, speaking unkindly and passionately, and claiming condemnation as zeal for truth puts a person on the judgment seat as though above temptation, which is harmful, deceptive and not wisdom from above. Such condemning judges will be treated by God by their own standard and need to humble themselves before Him, whatever their position or experience, for they cannot sincerely pray to be forgiven as they forgive others. God grants no pardon where penitence produces no humility and where faith does not work by love to purify the soul, so the tongue must be bridled by God's help through contrite, faithful prayer, with less talking and more praying, an open heart to kindliness and the Spirit, kindly thoughts, holy affections and the habit of speaking well of others. A true Christian will not indulge a vindictive spirit but will study and follow the meek and lowly One who when reviled did not revile again, going to one thought to be doing wrong only in meekness, kindness, mercy and good fruits, with frank confession of own wrongs and love for those for whom Christ died, since retaining unworthy, judging thoughts taints worship and God will not hear self-sufficient, self-exalted prayers.
Prophetic and Historic Fulfillment
The destruction of Jerusalem fulfilled the warning, for the measure used against others was measured back in return. What had been inflicted on others came back in suffering upon those who inflicted it. Their treatment of the innocent brought corresponding judgment upon them, suffering in measure for the way they had treated others. This included accepting false testimony to condemn the innocent Christ.
Nations that sanction injustice, oppression, and persecution of God's people will suffer the oppression they inflicted. Their own divisions may lead to their destruction, and those who authorize despotic rule foster retaliation that rebounds on them. Those who break down God's law and teach others to reject it face the curse of its transgression, with God's justice working through events to bring consequences upon those responsible. Those who cause pain, persecute God's people, and try to force them to disobey God will themselves suffer in proportion to the harm they have done, for God will judge and punish people in keeping with how they have judged and treated others.
Men who pervert justice and judgment, devise selfish and dishonest principles, and lead others astray will themselves be weighed in their own balances. They will be judged by the very principles they forwarded and advocated with assurance. God will give them opportunity to come under the rules and sentiments they created. They will know by experience how it feels to have their own principles brought to bear upon them.
Condemning those who have less light or are less guilty before God is forbidden, and those who condemn others will themselves be judged. Those with greater privileges and opportunities who fail to use them may face greater condemnation than people mistaken about doctrine who sincerely seek to do good. Many who stand aloof from Seventh-day Adventists are living more in accordance with the light they have received than many Seventh-day Adventists are, so judging those who have not seen the light is foolish wisdom. Instead of judging them there is need to seek God and have the work of the Holy Spirit felt in the heart, and strange things will be demonstrated to show the foolishness of judging. The heavenly Father will deal with a person just as that person deals with and judges others, and one who exercises criticism and severity toward another and lords it over God's heritage will be dealt with in the same way by God. The reckoning is stricter for one who has had more experience, more advantages, more light, and more opportunities, warnings and appeals, so that if such a one calls for another's credentials to be withheld, his own should be withheld in the sight of a holy God, and one who has shown himself weaker and with less power of self-control has no right to judge another and is the last who should do so. The Jewish people's failure to walk in the light they had received brought darkness upon them in proportion to the light they had been given, for their neglect of revealed truth and disobedience to God's commandments left them separated from God.
Practical Church Application
Those who seek authority over others are warned that the harsh or unfair judgments they pronounce will be turned back upon themselves by the same standard and measure they used. Neglecting or discouraging souls in peril will have to be answered for, and exacting harshness toward brethren, family members, and erring young workers, especially judging in a Pharisaical spirit instead of acting like Christ, brings the same dealing in return. One who refuses to be conciliatory, benevolent, kind, and willing to show favors, whose discourtesy saddens and disappoints brethren, will receive the same judgment given, and God will not accept such harsh, unkind service.
In correcting wrong in the church, suspicions must not be spread nor accusations made without clear evidence, evil reports must not be accepted, and secret plotting must give way to open, direct dealing aimed to restore the erring or vindicate the innocent while guarding reputation and keeping private matters private. Accusations must not be pursued beyond reasonable limits nor sentence passed on insufficient evidence, for hasty, unwise condemnation invites the same standard in return. Influential members who accept reports and pass judgment on that basis will surely have that same judgment come back upon themselves, so reports are to be held back and all, especially the tempted and tried who Christ died to save, are to be treated kindly with the mercy and compassion received from Christ.
Bitter speech that magnifies supposed faults and spreads unjust suspicion creates distrust, alienates fellow believers, and defiles others, and calls for self-examination before judging a brother. Words that obstruct another Christian's work must not be spoken, for criticizing fellow Christians weakens the church and each person must answer to God for it. Care is required in speech and treatment of others because people answer to God for their words and may be justified or condemned by them, so when another errs the proper course is to seek God's help for that person rather than publicize the fault. God hears every word spoken, and those who censure His workers should remember equally serious errors of their own and seek pardon for harsh words and an unchristlike spirit. Even true facts can be framed to create a false impression, and truth does not justify collecting reports to ruin another's reputation or usefulness, for treating a brother with a harsh, merciless spirit brings danger of receiving that same treatment from God.
Unjust treatment of named individuals shows how the return works: those who searched Bro. Bell's history for every unfavorable detail and made minor faults seem like grave sins would meet the consequences of their own conduct under the same harsh measure. Bro. Rogers was watched with jealousy and distrust even though his shortcomings were shared by others, and such jealous judging brings judgment by the same measure. Those who condemn Brother Henry with a condemnatory spirit while being in many respects as guilty as he is displease the Lord and will be brought over the very same ground of trial and exposure he is passing over, so instead of condemning they should humble themselves with fasting and prayer that God may remove His displeasure for their own unfaithfulness and neglect of duty.
The same measure governs vulnerable and disputed cases: those pressing divorce forward should have shown Victor the pitying love Jesus had shown them, considering that their treatment of him would be measured back to them. Mercy is required toward an erring husband who loves his wife and pleads for delay and promises reform, eagerly grasping even feeble hope of amendment and giving another chance even at cost of further suffering rather than pressing divorce. Judging colored brethren and sisters is forbidden, especially being quick to condemn them when in some things they fail and separating them from the work for misdoing; instead kindness rather than censure is required, with desire for them to reach the highest standard, willingness to help, exact and impartial justice, tender compassion for the suffering, sympathy for the unfortunate, generous consideration for misdemeanors, and no occasion given for hatred, while judges face that they cherish evils they would not tolerate in others. Perverse children are to be treated as one wishes the Lord to treat oneself, as younger members of the Lord's family for whom account must be rendered for how they were dealt with, correcting with punishment only where evil must be cured and nothing better can be done, otherwise refusing to threaten, drive, scold, and jerk them about. Manifesting a hard, advantage-taking spirit toward a brother in a hard and trying place, as in taking advantage of Edson White in his need, will surely be reflected back, so no one can safely follow such a course and God can never approve it. Workers who incurred a five-thousand-dollar debt in the important work in New York must not be judged without looking at the matter from different points of view and thoroughly investigating whether the debt was too large, lest the same judgment return; instead influence should move donors, including rich men in the conference, to see the importance of the work and sustain the workers by donations in the emergency rather than complaining, casting reproach and discouragement, implying means give right to question every enterprise calling for money, closing the school at Rome, N.Y., contracting the work, and barring advance movements.
Exaggerated statements and false impressions against brethren, as against the publishing work at Nashville, will react on the accusers with God's retribution, for if judged as they judge their own cases would appear far worse than those they accused. A man who judges another's reliability on a disputed factual detail must face the same measure he used, and such conduct makes him unfit to guide others unless he changes. Condemning people over disagreements on the law in Galatians, especially on impressions and reports formed in ignorance, is forbidden; judgment should be suspended while facts and motives are unknown, for passing sentence and spreading condemnations is not God's work and harms both the judges' experience and those who trust them. Unjustly hindering a laborer by misrepresentation that prejudices others likewise calls for pity and repentance under the same measure.
Sharp, dictatorial criticism of God's workers exposes the critic to the same measure of judgment and criticism, and those who condemn should examine their own character and work where defects and serious mistakes will be found, for judged by their harsh standard they would regard God as unkind and unmerciful. Like scribes and Pharisees they may excuse their own sins while magnifying and condemning others' faults, so they should remember their own grievous mistakes, bow in contrition, seek pardon for sharp speeches and unguarded spirit, and cherish humility rather than censure. Setting up as detectors of others' faults damages Christian experience, and joining the enemy as accusers of brethren — watching for a chance to accuse and condemning a fellow worker unmercifully and unjustly in thought, word, and deed — will surely bring the same judgment from God, with words and acts recorded in heaven's books as delinquencies unless there is humbling, repentance, confession, and ceasing of warfare. God gives no one the work of judging, confusing, perplexing, and discouraging His workers by watching for faults, talking of faults, picking flaws, speaking evil, misinterpreting words and actions, exaggerating mistakes, and leaving the downtrodden hopeless under test and trial; instead the fallen must be lifted up, good accomplished seen with clear eyesight and unselfish heart and commended with praise to God including work begun in the South, and pity, self-sacrifice, and holy love brought into the church, while God keeps His hand on providence to present an altogether different showing. It is inconsistent for fallen beings to exalt themselves and condemn with severity while forgetting they must repent in common with others, since those condemned may stand justified before God receiving Christ's and angels' sympathy; no one should grieve Christ by standing with Satan to accuse brethren while Christ pleads every tempted soul's case, but reputations should be guarded as one's own and criticizing testimonies unto disunion avoided.
A selfish, exacting, fault-finding, arbitrary spirit brings judgment on the judger, for the censurer often deserves censure more than the censured. Such a spectator spirit watches deficiencies, measures others by its own standard, contrasts their slackness with its own carefulness, says in heart it is better, feels self-complacent when they fail, withholds sympathy and help, and is harsh toward supposed erring ones in church and family; if God dealt with him as he deals, his condition would be bad, and he is spared only because God is merciful, tenderly pitiful, unchanging in loving-kindness, forgiving numerous transgressions, errors, and backsliding instead of casting aside. The traits must be overcome by ceasing to watch and talk of others' pride, vanity, and world-love while neglecting one's own soul, remembering accountability for brethren's sins only where example causes stumbling, controlling and subduing self, becoming meek and lowly, tender and pitiful in family, and noble and generous instead of niggardly, with Christian compassionate allowance for each case. Looking out for own interest and choosing pleasant things for self without considering others' happiness, interest, and convenience, while keeping a peevish, unhappy disposition and mistaking exacting feelings and a self-chosen burden for God-given zeal for truth, destroys influence and cripples usefulness.
In defending truth, firmness must not pass into condemning others or making charges against them by personal attacks, for such conduct fosters division. Sharp attacks on opponents will come back in greater measure when those opponents gain power to harm. In correcting wrongdoers, both undue severity and excessive leniency that excuses wrong must be guarded against, since leniency distorts judgment and can later turn harsh toward those who do right while sin's seriousness is still recognized. Care is likewise required lest a manifestation of the Holy Spirit be wrongly condemned as evil.
The verse belongs among Scriptures to be studied and obeyed in daily life rather than merely heard. Concern for saving souls should outweigh sensitivity to personal slights and preserve fellowship with Christ, supporting patience when wronged under the principle that judgment given returns. Forbearance is required under wrong whether real or supposed, without chafing of spirit, exposing self as the enemy most to be feared. Human passion uncontrolled by the Holy Spirit harms character more balefully than any other vice, and victory over self is the most precious victory to be gained.
Discipline that chastises in a way increasing stubbornness and confirming wrongdoing will bring the same kind of treatment from Jesus. True greatness is not wealth, territory, birth, or blood, nor glitter, show, ambition, conquest, or worldly predominance, but a humble, sensitive, pure heart, unmoved by self-aggrandizement, giving struggling co-workers room and advantages; God blesses such a man. If by word and action a man oppresses and discourages co-workers simply because he has power to do so, the Lord will in time cause him to pass over the same road through similar oppression and discouragement.
Exacting harshness without compassion toward a brother in hardship invites God to judge by the same standard, for mercy toward the needy reflects the mercy needed from God. Those who use pressure, selfishness, or injustice to deny others their rights, who refuse to help people in trouble, and who treat others without mercy, justice, or kindness will answer to God and reap what they sowed with like return for each act. Acquiring wealth unjustly at another's expense fails love to God and neighbor and must be answered for. God will deal with people as they dealt with those crying for help, so refusing compassion and relief to sufferers brings judgment without mercy.