A person's heart cannot be different from their actions. So many times I would correct someone about their behavior and they would say I was judging and couldn't know their heart. They say only God judges the heart. I remind them that Jesus Christ is God, He judges the heart and He lives in us. We are able to discern the heart of people through their lifestyles.
Matthew 7:15-20
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So then, you will [c]know them by their fruits."
Galatians 5:22-26
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other."
If we were not able to discern the heart of another person then God would not have given these words to us to be able to judge righteously. We would be fooled all the time without discernment and the deception would cause us to lose our footing.
John 7:24
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment"
We are to judge according to God's word. We are not to judge things we have not seen for ourselves and we are not to judge based on gossip.
Matthew 7:6
6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."
If we were never to judge the character of others then we would not be able to discern whether or not someone was swine. God was speaking of those who have rejected Him and refuse to listen to correction and instruction, especially the gospel.
When someone has rejected the truth, staunch against the things of the Lord then we know God's command is to stop speaking to them about the Lord and keep our distance so that we do not become complacent in our walk with Christ.
In order to remain faithful to the Lord, moving forward in our Spiritual walk we must withdraw from those who would come against our walk.
John 7:24
"24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
God never at any time told us never to judge, He did say not to judge others for doing things we are also doing, that would be hypocrisy.
When we walk in the Spirit of God Who is in us we do not have to carry guilt or shame, we are free to follow Christ even if no one else comes with us.
Romans 12:12
"rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,"
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