"Judge not lest you be judged."
How many have heard that quoted? Usually it's by non-Chrisitans or Christians ignorant of what the Bible really teaches. As with interpreting any scripture first and foremost is context. Let's start by the location of that passage.
Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged."
First off guess what, that is a judgement in itself.
If someone would have taken a few seconds to even read not just verse 1 but even verse 2 would tell you the context of this judging. Better yet verse 5
"Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
Here there is a warning that by judging someone else when you yourself are doing the same thing. This is like what verse 5 says, calling you a hypocrite. It's not only hard to take judgement from someone, it's a lot harder if they do the same thing themselves. Also at the same time it shows that you know what's right and wrong. So the type of judging that is condemned here is hypocritical type of judgement, not all types of judgement.
Romans 2:3 "And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?"
So clearly just reading the context of a few verses shows that hypocritical judgement is what this passage is clearly teaching. Not against all judgement. If that weren't enough then verse 6 "
Do not
give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest
they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."
Here is actually instructing you to make a judgement in some cases. People that are so hardened to hearing the message that they actually despise to hear it.
But let's find something more definitive on instances we should judge. John 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? That whole first section of 1 Corinthians 6 is a great message about judging.
Also you will find things about seeing who is teaching a false gospel. You can't do that without judging. So this nonsense about not being able to judge is wrong. It has it's rightful place.
This is where word studies come in handy. Looking up all references to judgement and which references we are told to judge and how and in what circumstances are we not to judge. Again paying strict attention to the context of what type of judging it is in reference to.
Going back to the original text it is perhaps the most taken of context and most quoted text I think I've heard. So even in this you're called to judge when someone misuses such a verse. Obviously you don't want to be mean spirited about it. You can use it as an opportunity to teach a valuable lesson not only on scripture but how things can be misunderstood and misused so easily.
Granted there are some very hard things to understand in the Bible. But given the time and due diligence to study the answers are there. Someone described it as a diamond mine. Some of the best ones you have to dig down the furthest to find.
