The Real Meaning of “Judge Not”

In many of our Facebook posts, when we point out morally wrong behavior—especially those that involve subjective interpretations of Scripture or that go against the Magisterium—we are often accused of “judging.” This article is meant to clarify what judgment means according to both Scripture and Church teaching.

Misconceptions About Judgment

Judging others is often treated as one of the gravest sins, as though it were on par with theft, murder, or fornication. Yet, curiously, those who accuse us of judgment commit the very act they condemn by judging us for pointing out sin. As St. Paul says, “Therefore, you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself” (Romans 2:1). However, this isn’t the full picture of judgment.

Many people take “judge not” to mean that we should never correct others, even if their actions are sinful. This interpretation is simplistic and incorrect. As Jimmy Akin writes, “Jesus didn’t tell us that we should close our eyes to moral evil in the world” . Jesus never commanded us to ignore sin or stop discerning between good and evil. In fact, He instructed us to recognize people “by their fruits” (Matthew 7:20).

Judging with Charity

While some people sincerely wish to admonish us out of charity, others simply wish to silence us. However, the Church teaches that fraternal correction is an act of mercy. St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us in his Summa Theologica, “To admonish sinners is a spiritual work of mercy,” and that one who corrects another does not sin in doing so, provided it is done out of love and charity.

This aligns with Jesus’ words when He instructs us to help our brother: “If your brother sins, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone” (Matthew 18:15). Notice that this correction is meant to be private and charitable, aiming for the good of the person, not condemnation.

The Dangers of Misinterpreting “Judge Not”

Some might protest, saying, “No, we should never judge.” But this interpretation is not only impractical, it is also contrary to Scripture. As Jimmy Akin explains, “Admonishing the sinner is a spiritual work of mercy… Whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death” (James 5:20).

To follow a literalistic, shallow interpretation of “judge not” would mean abandoning any sense of moral responsibility. How could we vote for candidates, trust business partners, or choose friends if we refused to acknowledge people’s actions? Jesus Himself said, “By their fruits, you shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). We are called to discern the behavior of others, not to turn a blind eye to sin.

Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the Church’s duty to engage in the world, saying, “The Church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice”.

St. Augustine also emphasized the necessity of proper judgment, writing, “If you understood what ‘judge not’ meant, you would not judge wrongly… You must judge, but with a right judgment” (Homilies on the Gospel of John, 7.24). Thus, the exhortation to “judge not” cannot mean turning a blind eye to sin or refusing to acknowledge evil.

Judgment with Love, Not Condemnation

Jesus’ words, “Judge not, lest you be judged” (Matthew 7:1), do not prohibit us from discerning sin but call us to exercise charity in how we approach others. The key to righteous judgment is to judge with mercy. As Jimmy Akin notes, “Jesus is saying we should take a generous, forgiving attitude with others so God will take a generous, forgiving attitude with us”.

We must avoid condemning others, but we are called to discern good from evil. As Pope Francis has said, “The Lord never tires of forgiving; it is we who tire of asking for forgiveness” (Angelus, March 17, 2013). Even the greatest sinner can be brought to repentance through God’s grace.

Judging others in a spirit of love rather than condemnation reflects the essence of Christ’s command. St. Paul reminds us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). We must aim to guide others towards the truth while remembering that we, too, are sinners in need of God’s mercy.

Faith is Not a Private Opinion

Our faith is not simply one belief among many. It is the truth revealed by God. To remain silent in the face of sin is not charity but cowardice. St. John Chrysostom said, “He who does not rebuke his neighbor when he sins, makes himself a partner in the sin” (Homily on the Acts of the Apostles, 1:4).

We are called to share the Gospel and the moral truths it contains. As Jimmy Akin explains, “Often the exhortation not to judge is used as a conversation stopper to shut down discussions of immoral behavior”. But we cannot afford to remain silent. Jesus calls us to proclaim the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Distinguishing Judgment from Condemnation

We must also distinguish between judgment and condemnation. It is one thing to say an action is wrong and another to say the person who committed the act is beyond redemption. St. Augustine wisely said, “Hate the sin, love the sinner” (Letter 211). Condemning a person entirely usurps God’s role as the ultimate judge.

As Christians, we are called to condemn sin but not to pass final judgment on the sinner. Pope Francis often emphasizes this distinction: “We must always see the good in others, even when they fall short” (General Audience, April 10, 2013).

Slowness to Judge

We are called to be slow to judge and quick to show mercy. St. James cautions us, “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). We must ensure that we are acting out of a genuine desire for the good of others when we correct them, as St. Philip Neri put it, “Let me not presume to judge others, for I know not myself.”

Conclusion

“Judge not” is not an excuse to turn a blind eye to the sins of others or to promote the dangerous idea that “God sees our hearts” and, therefore, our actions do not matter. Such a belief undermines the importance of God’s laws, leading people to think that they themselves are the ultimate arbiters of good and evil based on personal preferences. When we refuse to speak the truth—even when it is difficult or confrontational—we are complicit in fostering this destructive mindset.

St. Catherine of Siena once said, “We’ve had enough of exhortations to be silent! Cry out with a hundred thousand tongues. I see that the world is rotten because of silence.” When we shy away from proclaiming the truth, we support moral decay. Pope Benedict XVI similarly warned, “Truth is not determined by a majority vote” . Thus, it is never charitable to withhold the truth for fear of offending; it is, rather, a spiritual act of mercy to guide others back to the path of righteousness.

Some claim that the Church’s so-called “judgmentalism” is the reason she is losing members. But this argument is deeply flawed. Is it better for the Church to remain silent in the face of evil, welcoming morally indifferent or spiritually dead individuals into her pews, while allowing relativism and passivity to reign? Should we endanger the souls of the faithful by failing to preach the hard truths? As St. Augustine taught, “Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. Right is right, even if no one is doing it”.

The solution is not to speak harshly for the sake of hurting others, but neither is it to remain silent out of fear. The proper course is to proclaim the truth with a balance of charity and firmness. As St. Paul advised, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6). We must preach with a force that matches the severity of the sin while always offering a path to redemption and God’s mercy.

Only the message that leads souls to God’s mercy is truly Christian. It reflects Christ’s words to the sinner: “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11). As Pope Francis has reminded us, “Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life” . Thus, the truth we proclaim should always aim to lift sinners up, not tear them down, showing them that God’s grace gives us the strength to live according to His commands.