You hear these verses a lot, especially from non-Christians. Funny, how if they hated the bible so much, you'd think they wouldn't quote from it so much; and it's almost always used to shelter some sort of sin in their life that they don't want to give up.

However these verses, as usual, are quoted apart from their intended context. If there's any doubt about their true meaning, we can glean it from other verses on the same subject. Now pay special attention to the following verses and see if you can come up with anything:

(NIV)Hebrews 5:13-14

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

(KJV)Matthew 7:1-5

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

(NIV)Romans 2:1,3,21-22

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

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?

you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

Detect a theme here.

Something about not judging someone if we are doing the very same things that we are condemning them for? About how we know what is right, because we're able to see it so clearly in someone else's life and yet somehow we think it doesn't apply to us. When, in fact, in addressing them we are really addressing ourselves and thus the double condemnation. We are in essence "the pot calling the kettle black".

What we are dealing with here is the issue of credibility. We are an ineffective witness and a hypocrite if we do the very same things that we are preaching against. These verses are an admonition against hypocritical judgement, not against honest, sincere, and rightful judgement. We are told to first clean up our own lives (judge ourselves) and then we are better able to judge others. If there is any unrepentant sin in our lives, then our words are hollow.

Need more proof. Then read on:

(NIV)1 Timothy 5:19-20

Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

(NIV)2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

(NIV)Matthew 18:15-17

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that `every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

(NIV) 1 Corinthians 2:15

The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:

(NIV)Matthew 7:15-20

"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 thornbushes, 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.

(NIV)Romans 16:17-18

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

(NIV)1 John 4:1

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.

(NIV)1 Corinthians 5:9-13:

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."

(KJ21)Jude 1:22-23

And on some have compassion, making a difference;

and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

How could these commands be obeyed if it were wrong to judge?
It's a far cry from the message we are hearing today, that we are not supposed to judge anything.

However there are limitations:

(NIV)Colossians 2:16-17

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Don't judge motives, we can't look into someone's heart:

(NIV)1 Corinthians 4:5

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.

Nor judge if someone is saved or not:

(NIV)2 Timothy 2:19

Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

Don't sentence or condemn.

(NIV)Romans 12:19

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[1] says the Lord.

(NIV)John 12:47

"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

What are we commanded to do:

(KJV)Philippians 1:9-10

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

(NIV)2 Timothy 2:24-26

And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

And the role of the word of God in all of this:

(NIV)John 12:48

There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.

And as far as casting the first stone as in John 8 is concerned:

1. It was a real stone.

 
2. They said they had caught her in the act of adultery, but they only brought the woman and not the man too, as was required by the law
    
3. He did not allow her to be stoned to death (condemned), but he did judge her sin, for he told her "go and sin no more"

The stone was referring to condemnation, not as to whether or not we can judge whether something is sin or not.

Funny how they always leave off the "go and sin no more" part, which shows just how self-serving they are.

We must be careful in these last days. A time we were warned about, in which there would be massive deception and heresies:

(NIV)2 Timothy 3:13

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

(NIV)2 Peter 2:1

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

(NIV)Mark 13:22

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

This is no time to sleep:

(KJV)2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(KJV)Luke 21:34

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Don't feel guilty about this:

(NIV)Revelation 3:19

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

(NIV)Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,

because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

(NIV)1 Corinthians 11:32

When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

(NIV)Proverbs 13:24

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

And for the "tolerance" crowd; who don't want to offend anybody. Who always seem to be apologizing for the word of God:

(NIV)Mark 8:38

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

(NASB)Revelation 3:15-16

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.

"So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

(NIV)Matthew 5:13

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

A stern warning:

(NIV)Ezekiel 3:18

When I say to a wicked man, `You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

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