Restoration Over Condemnation: Judging with the Heart of Christ

In today’s world, judgment is just a click away.

Social media has created a culture where Christians, often unknowingly, use their platforms not to build others up, but to tear others down. Posts, comments, and shares have become battlegrounds of opinion, with believers quick to call out and criticize not just the world but each other. Sadly, the result is that grace gets lost in a sea of harsh words and quick condemnations. We have confused speaking the truth with attacking others, and in doing so, we risk misrepresenting the very Savior who came not to condemn, but to restore.

It’s ironic: while Jesus commanded us to love one another, many Christians today are more known for their social-media rants than for their compassion. Even when confronting real sin, our approach matters. Are we acting out of love, seeking restoration? Or are we using our words like stones, ready to “cancel” whoever falls short?

Against this cultural backdrop, Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:1-6 are more crucial than ever.

What Does “Judge Not” Really Mean?

Have you ever had someone say, “Don’t judge me! It says so in the Bible!”?

We hear this line often, especially when dealing with sin. Many take it as a divine command never to judge anyone, period. But is that what Jesus was actually teaching?

Matthew 7:1 is arguably one of the most misused and abused verses in Scripture. People often put a full stop after “Judge not,” ending the lesson right there. But if we stop reading, we misunderstand the heart of Jesus’ message.

If Christians were truly forbidden from making any judgments, how would we discern truth from lies? How would we correct false teaching or lovingly confront sinful behavior? The reality is we make judgments every day – about politicians, public health, even each other – but when it comes to addressing sin, suddenly judgment feels off-limits.

This happens for two main reasons:

• We read Scripture through the filter of today’s “New Tolerance.”

• We misinterpret Scripture by cutting it off prematurely.

The Rise of “New Tolerance”

In the past, tolerance meant respecting others’ right to disagree while still holding to your own convictions.

Today, tolerance has been redefined. It’s no longer enough to allow different views — now, to be “tolerant” means affirming that all views and behaviors are equally right. In this new framework, to say someone’s actions are wrong is to be labeled intolerant or hateful.

Sadly, this thinking has seeped into the church. Many Christians now believe loving someone means never confronting sin or pointing out error. But that’s not true love. True love accepts people as they are and loves them enough not to leave them there. True love, the kind Christ modeled, leads to transformation, not accommodation.

What Jesus Actually Taught About Judging

When Jesus says, “Judge not,” He’s not forbidding all judgment. (See 1 Cor. 5:12-13; Gal. 6:1; 1 John 2:3-6.)

Instead, He’s warning against condemning others – writing them off as irredeemable, beyond hope. Jesus calls us to judge actions rightly, but always with a heart aimed at restoration, not rejection.

The Greek word Jesus uses for “judge” in Matthew 7 is krino, which can mean “to separate, distinguish, or condemn.” In this passage, it leans more toward condemnation. Jesus warns us not to act as if we are the final authority on someone’s worth or salvation.

Seeing Clearly: Start with Yourself

Jesus uses a powerful illustration just two verses later: “Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the log in your own?”

The point? Before we ever correct others, we must first examine ourselves.

Our sin is bigger than we think. Our pride, our arrogance – these blind us. It’s only when we humbly deal with our own brokenness that we can see others clearly – not as enemies, but as fellow sinners in need of grace.

Thomas à Kempis wisely said: “We blame small things in others and pass over greater things in ourselves.”

If we are to see others through Jesus's eyes, we must start by seeing ourselves rightly – broken, flawed, desperate for mercy.

Restoration, Not Condemnation

The goal of judgment is never to push someone away but to draw them closer to Christ.

Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:1-5 to restore one another gently, bearing each other’s burdens with humility. Condemnation isolates; restoration reconciles.

We see the perfect model of this in John 8 with the woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees condemned; Jesus restored. He didn’t excuse her sin – He told her to “go and sin no more.” But His heart was not to shame her – it was to save her.

Which group do you act like more often: the Pharisees with stones in hand, or Jesus with open arms?

Walking It Out

So, how should we judge rightly?

• Be sure it’s sin, not just a personal preference.
  Different opinions don’t always equal sin.

• Examine yourself first.
  Remove the log before you touch the speck.

• Always aim for restoration, not humiliation.
  Your goal is their salvation, not their shame.

• Love as you have been loved. Forgive as you have been forgiven.
  Let compassion rule your words and actions.

• Know when to walk away.
  Sometimes, as Jesus said in Matthew 7:6, we must leave judgment to God when hearts are closed.

Final Thoughts

The world doesn’t need more loud Christians; it needs more loving ones.

It doesn’t need more social media judges; it needs more humble restorers.

When we judge, let’s judge with the heart of Christ — full of compassion, forgiveness, and hope.

Let’s trade our stones for open hands that lift the fallen.

Let’s be known not for our condemnations but for our grace.