When we find what appears to be a contradiction in the Scriptures, we should investigate every reference to the subject. What is said about judgment is an example. In Matthew 7:1-2 we find an often quoted verse that seems to rule out us making any kind of judgment at all. It seems to be a I am OK, you are OK, and that is OK with God. However, if we continue in the passage, we discover that if me meet the conditions, will then be able to judge.

Matt 7:1-5
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote [ judge] out of thy brother's eye.(KJV)

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? [Rom. 2:1-3]

I have found that if I ask the Holy Spirit to show me if I have the same fault, which He often does, then I am less critical of the fault in others. I believe if we confess, repent, and ask God to forgive us for our fault, we meet the conditions to judge our brother.

In I Corinthians 5:3, we find Paul saying that he had passed judgment on a church member who had sinned.

"Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.
And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present."

Following is an excerpt from a tape by Derek Prince, entitled, To Judge Or Not To Judge. He teaches that there are those who we are to judge, and there are those we are not to judge. Also, there are matters we are to judge, and there are matters we are not to judge. First, he examines those areas in which we are to judge.

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." [Matthew 7:15-20]

In this Scripture we discover we are to judge false prophets. One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the discerning of spirits. Obviously, we were given this gift to judge between the true and false spirits that have infested the false prophets. We are to be fruit inspectors..

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. [Acts 16:16-20]

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested [judged] those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. [Revelation 2:2]

This Scripture clearly points out that those who claim to be apostles are to be judged about whether they are true or false.

Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. [I Timothy 3:8-10]

This Scripture directs us to test [judge] those who would seek to hold offices in the church.

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. [I Corinthians 14:29]

Here we are directed to test the truth of prophesy. Again, the gift of discerning of spirits enables the church to test the truth of prophesy. That is, does it meet the biblical description of prophesy?

 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. [I Corinthians 14:3]

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the Antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. [II John 1:7-11]

Here we are warned to watch out for [judge] those who would deceive us by false teaching.

 Truthfully, we are not even to allow them to come into our house or to bid them Godspeed. The test [or basis for judgment] is whether they acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. [ John 4:1-3]

We are to try -- judge -- the spirits, whether they are of God or Satan.

Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast-- as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you. [I Corinthians 5:3-13]

Here we read that we are to judge the conduct of those who claim to be Christians.

 Truthfully, we are not even to associate with those who profess to be Christians but are guilty of sinful conduct. If we do, we witness to the unbeliever that we condone the sin. If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! (1 Corinthians 6:1-4) (NIV)

Christians should never have to go to law against a fellow Christian. Test everything. Hold on to the good. [I Thessalonians 5:21]

Derek Prince says "eat the fish and spit out the bones.
Derek Prince books

" And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-- to the glory and praise of God. [Philippians 1:9-11]

This says that love includes judgment.

But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 1 Cor. 11:31]

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, [Gal. 6: 3-4]

We are to test [judge] our own worth. We should take inventory of our spiritual growth. Are we doing what God wants us to do?

A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. [I Corinthians 11:28]

One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. [Romans 14:2-6]

We are not to judge others in their eating and drinking. This would refer to whether or not they are vegetarians, for example. This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. [Romans 2:16]

We are never to judge the innermost motives, or personality of another believer.

 We are not to judge the value of their service to God -- it is not our business. Never say he is a fool. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. [Romans 14:4]

We do not evaluate the service of another. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: "`As surely as I live,' says the Lord, `every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. [Romans 14:10-13]

 We are not to judge a believer's relation to God

My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. [I Corinthians 4:4-5]

We don't even judge ourselves in this respect.
 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-- who are you to judge your neighbor? [James 4:11-12]

We don't possess the necessary knowledge to judge the heart of another.

In conclusion, we must realize, if we hit others with, "Judge not lest ye be judged," we have just joined the "judgment" club -- we are judging them as being judgmental! Remember, judgment does not mean we determine the penalty.