Judge Not

Matthew 7:1
Judge not, that ye be not judged.

It can be frustrating that this verse is often mis-quoted by persons who wish to justify their own sin. If we dare to call any action sin - pre-marital sex, homosexuality, abortion, drug abuse, etc - we are often told that we are not permitted to judge others. The answer, of course, is that we did not decide that these actions are sin, God did. "Judge the fruit but do not judge the motives or the intentions of the heart." This is a quote from John Bevere I do not wish to get into the debate over whether or not John Bevere promotes false teachings; I only know that this particular quote is right on. "Judging the fruit" means that we are agreeing with God that the actions that He has called sin are in fact sin. "Not judging the motives or the intentions of the heart" means that human beings are not capable of reading either minds or hearts. Only God can do that. If we say "He is only doing that to impress people" or She is only saying that for her own gain" or "If they do that they must not love God" then we are judging motives and intentions, something we are not permitted to do. We are to leave those judgements to someone who is qualified to do them accurately - God. 1 Samuel 16 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.