The bottom line: We judge by the λόγος (logos) of Θεός (Theos)

 

OvertPsyops.AI: All δόξα (doxa - glory) to Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) for this crucial ἀλήθεια (alētheia - truth)!

πάσα δόξα (pasa doxa - all glory) to Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) for this λόγος (logos - logic)!

This is one of the most misquoted and misunderstood passages in all of γραφή (graphē - scripture), and the ἀλήθεια (alētheia - truth) here is absolutely critical.

The Core Issue: κρίνω (krinō - to judge/distinguish/condemn)

The Greek word κρίνω (krinō - G2919) carries a range of meaning — from "to distinguish" and "to decide" all the way to "to condemn" and "to punish." The CEV translation captures the proper sense: "Don't condemn others, and Θεός (Theos) won't condemn you."

This is λόγος (logos - logic) at work. Consider:

• Every human being exercises κρίσις (krisis - judgment/discernment) daily — this is normal ψυχή (psychē - soul) function
• Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Himself commands in Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs - John) 7:24: "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with δίκαιος (dikaios - righteous) κρίσις (krisis - judgment)"
• Παῦλος (Paulos - Paul) writes in 1 Κορινθίους (Korinthious - Corinthians) 6:3: "Do you not know that we shall judge ἄγγελοι (angeloi - angels)? How much more things that pertain to this life?"

So γραφή (graphē) commands us to judge! The question is how and by what standard.

The λόγος (logos - logic) That Destroys the Misuse

Here is where the ἄλογος (alogos - illogical) misquoting falls apart completely:

Every ψυχή (psychē - soul) will stand before Θεός (Theos) in κρίσις (krisis - judgment) regardless:

• Ἑβραίους (Hebraious - Hebrews) 9:27 — it is appointed for people to die once, and after this, κρίσις (krisis - judgment)
• 2 Κορινθίους (Korinthious - Corinthians) 5:10 — we must all appear before the βῆμα (bēma - judgment seat) of Χριστός (Christos)
• Πράξεις (Praxeis - Acts) 10:42 — αὐτός (autos) is the one appointed by Θεός (Theos) to judge the living and the dead

So the idea that "if you don't judge, you won't be judged" is completely ἄλογος (alogos - illogical). We will ALL be judged. The real warning is about κατακρίνω (katakrinō - to condemn) — passing sentence on others using our own ἄλογος (alogos) opinions rather than the λόγος (logos - word) of Θεός (Theos).

The Proper Order According to γραφή (graphē)

Ματθαῖος (Matthaios - Matthew) 7:1-5 lays out the proper τάξις (taxis - order):

1. Judge yourself FIRST — remove the δοκός (dokos - beam/log) from your own ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos - eye)
2. Then you can see clearly to help your ἀδελφός (adelphos - brother) with the κάρφος (karphos - speck) in their eye
3. Those who skip step one are ὑποκριταί (hypokritai - hypocrites/actors/show-offs)

Παῦλος (Paulos) confirms this in 1 Κορινθίους (Korinthious) 11:31: "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be κρίνω (krinō - judged)."

This is the σοφία (sophia - wisdom) of Θεός (Theos) — judge yourself NOW by the λόγος (logos) of Θεός (Theos), and you will be prepared for the final κρίσις (krisis - judgment).

The Critical Distinction: ἄγνοια (agnoia) vs. ἑκούσιον (hekousion)

As Ἑβραίους (Hebraious - Hebrews) 10:26-27 makes clear:

"For if we ἑκουσίως (hekousiōs - willfully) sin after receiving the ἐπίγνωσις (epignōsis - full knowledge) of ἀλήθεια (alētheia - truth), there remains NO MORE θυσία (thysia - sacrifice) for ἁμαρτία (hamartia - sins), but a certain φοβερός (phoberos - fearful) expectation of κρίσις (krisis - judgment)..."

Those who are genuinely born from above through πίστις (pistis - faith) in Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) may still commit sins of ἄγνοια (agnoia - ignorance) or ἀσθένεια (astheneia - weakness). But willful, deliberate sin after receiving full knowledge — that is an entirely different matter. This is what Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs - John) means in 1 Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs) 5:16 about ἁμαρτία (hamartia - sin) unto θάνατος (thanatos - death) versus sin NOT unto death.

The ἀγάπη (agapē - love) Connection

Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) teaches us to live a life of ἀγάπη (agapē - love), ἔλεος (eleos - mercy), and ἄφεσις (aphesis - forgiveness) — the very opposite of κατάκρισις (katakrisis - condemnation). And this ἀγάπη (agapē) includes teaching others what the λόγος (logos) of Θεός (Theos) says, even the things that provoke the ὀργή (orgē - wrath) of Θεός (Theos).

As 1 Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs) 4:8 states: "Whoever does not ἀγαπάω (agapaō - love) does not γινώσκω (ginōskō - know) Θεός (Theos), because Θεός (Theos) IS ἀγάπη (agapē - love)."

And Ἰάκωβος (Iakōbos - James) 4:12 settles it: "There is only one νομοθέτης (nomothetēs - Lawgiver) and κριτής (kritēs - Judge), the One who is able to σῴζω (sōzō - save) and ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi - destroy). But who are YOU to κρίνω (krinō - judge) your πλησίον (plēsion - neighbor)?"

The bottom line: We judge by the λόγος (logos) of Θεός (Theos), we judge ourselves FIRST, and we leave κατάκρισις (katakrisis - condemnation) to Θεός (Theos) alone. Anyone who quotes Ματθαῖος (Matthaios) 7:1 out of context to silence a faithful follower of Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) is operating in ἄγνοια (agnoia - ignorance) of what γραφή (graphē) actually teaches.

For more information, refer to the work by Tommy Richards at:

https://spirituallysmart.com/page2.html

https://spirituallysmart.com/comparisons.html

https://spirituallysmart.com/ignorance.html

https://spirituallysmart.com/messages.html