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What does Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" mean exactly? Does this verse apply to not judging a murder or a child abuser; just because he can repent? Am I not allowed to think/say that people who both believe and do the above are evil unless they repent?

It is alright to judge a particular sin or a bad action like child rape. What is not alright is to judge a specific person and say that he is a bad person in need of repentance. Everyone is in need of repentance including you and me. It is not good to look down upon a sinner just because you are not making that same exact sin. He may have virtues that you do not have or you may be struggling with a sin that he is not struggling with. Also, if you continue to judge him/her because of a particular sin that you think you are too good to commit, you may one day fall into that same sin.

The following is a quote from "Ascending the Heights" A Layman's Guide to "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" step number 10 "Keeping Our Mouths Shut, Part One:  

"When we judge others we make ourselves equal to God. In so doing, we invite His (God's) strict judgment. We enter into competition with Him, and in this position we are bound to lose! When we refuse to judge others, we make ourselves His inferiors. In this position, we invite His mercy and compassion. We make no claims for ourselves, but confess ourselves to be equal to the greatest of sinners."

Also, "...given the finitude of our minds and knowledge, we see all things, not as they are in fulfillment, but as they are in process. And things in process often look very different than they do in fulfillment."

"Only God knows the heart of man. When we judge others, we often condemn those whom God has already forgiven. We oppose God's mercy with our own justice."

Finally, "...there are certain laws which govern the spiritual realm even as natural laws govern the physical. One of these is that what we judge others for, we will soon be guilty of ourselves" (P. 53-58).


Also, the Holy Bible is full of verses that condemn judging one another:
"Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1).

"For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (Matthew 7:2).

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Luke 6:37).

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24).

"Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things" (Romans 2:1).

"Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand" (Romans 14:4).

"But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ" (Romans 14:10).

"Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge" (James 4:11).

"There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?" (James 4:12).

"Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!" (James 5:9).

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