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

[Branch]

Judge not, that you be not judged. Matthew 7:1

The Bible addresses the ability to discern between right and wrong in many verses. Here are some key ones about discerning right from wrong:

• 1 Kings 3:9 – Solomon asks God for "an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil".
• Hebrews 5:14 – The mature have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
• Philippians 1:9-10 – Paul prays that believers may have love abounding in knowledge and discernment, so they may approve what is excellent.
• Romans 12:2 – Don't conform to the world, but be transformed by renewing your mind so you can discern God's will, what is good and acceptable.
• John 7:24 – "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment".
• James 1:5 – Ask God for wisdom, who gives generously, so one can discern right from wrong.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14 – Spiritual discernment comes from the Spirit of God, enabling understanding of spiritual truths.
• Psalm 111:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; good understanding comes from obeying His commandments.
• Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord rather than leaning on your own understanding to make the paths straight, i.e., to choose rightly.

The Bible teaches that discerning right and wrong requires wisdom that comes from God through His Spirit, practice, love, and reliance on His Word rather than human judgment alone. It warns against dullness of heart or rejection of knowledge, which leads to the inability to judge rightly.

This guidance applies broadly to making moral decisions in life and distinguishing spiritual truth.

 

[Branch]

Judge not, that you be not judged. Matthew 7:1

A believer is indeed instructed by the Bible to "judge" or discern the fruit of a person's life, but this judgment is not about condemning their eternal salvation. Instead, it is about recognising the integrity, behavior, and spiritual authenticity of others to protect the church and encourage holiness.

Key points from biblical teaching on this:

• Jesus commands believers to recognise false teachers and people by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). This means assessing their actions and teachings to know if they align with God's truth.
• Believers are to judge those inside the church to maintain purity, but must do so carefully, humbly, and without hypocrisy (1 Corinthians 5, Galatians 6:1).
• Judging fruit is not about deciding someone’s eternal destiny or assuming their heart’s condition—only God can see the heart.
• Believers should confront sin in others in a spirit of gentleness and love, aiming for restoration, not condemnation (Matthew 18:15-16, Galatians 6:1).
• Jesus warns against hypocritical judgment, urging self-examination ("take the log out of your own eye") before helping others with their faults (Matthew 7:1-5).
• Discernment is necessary to spot false doctrine and protect the community of faith while withholding ultimate judgment for God alone.

In summary, a believer is called to discern and judge the fruit of others' lives to know who truly follows Christ and to correct sin in love, but not to approve or condemn a person’s soul or salvation. This judgment must always be done with grace, humility, and a focus on restoration.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

The prophecy of Isaiah
Although the Gospel of Mark implies that the arrival of John the Baptist is the fulfilment of a prophecy from the Book of Isaiah, the words quoted ("I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way – a voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'") are actually a composite of texts from Isaiah, Malachi and the Book of Exodus. (Matthew and Luke drop the first part of the reference.)[

Mathew and Luke both directly teach it actually in several other places

Mark doesn’t “seem to imply” it Jesus clearly says it in Matthew to those who will listen to him

“And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Which shall prepare thy way before thee. ( malichi3:1)



For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elijah, which was for to come. (The final two verses of the prophets which prophesied until John Malachi 4:5-6) ) He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:7, 9-10, 13-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He also explains it elsewhere as well

“And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed.( john was beheaded )

Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.”( Jesus was crucified )

‭Matthew‬ ‭17:9-12‬ ‭

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Which shall prepare thy way before thee.



The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:1-4‬ ‭

look at johns birth and what’s stated about him we see it again and it becomes sort of not debatable

“But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:13, 15-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John is the fulfillment of this

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭4:5-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

and this

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me john )

and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant,( Jesus ) whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“ also this

“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD,( john ) make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, ( Jesus ) and all flesh shall see it together: ( the gospel was sent to all people and every eye will see him when he returns ) for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:3-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The ot is fulfilled in tbe nt but the nt has better promises than the ot gave to Israel. Jesus teaches a lot that John was the fulfillment of the promise to send Elijah before him and the dreadful day of Jerusalems destruction in 70 ad

 

[homwardbound]

Judge not, that you be not judged. Matthew 7:1

God Father to this day is the only one righteous, even per Jesus
Matthew 19, why call me good, only my Father is good
I, Jesus speaking only do as my Father tells me, and say only what Father says to say
Now as risen for us all, it might be time for us to learn the same by only Faith trust to Father too, you think? I think and know as I will not quit to learn from Father over myself and others as well per Phil 3:1-20 thank you next?

 

[Branch]

God Father to this day is the only one righteous, even per Jesus
Matthew 19, why call me good, only my Father is good
I, Jesus speaking only do as my Father tells me, and say only what Father says to say
Now as risen for us all, it might be time for us to learn the same by only Faith trust to Father too, you think? I think and know as I will not quit to learn from Father over myself and others as well per Phil 3:1-20 thank you next?

Dear Brother in Christ Jesus, I found this in the Bible, and I want to share it with you. God bless you and may the Lord Jesus be with you, Amen. John 3:20 says, "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." This shows that before being exposed to the light (truth), sin can remain hidden in darkness, but once the light shines, the sin is revealed, and the person can no longer hide it.

 

[homwardbound]

Dear Brother in Christ Jesus, I found this in the Bible, and I want to share it with you. God bless you and may the Lord Jesus be with you, Amen. John 3:20 says, "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." This shows that before being exposed to the light (truth), sin can remain hidden in darkness, but once the light shines, the sin is revealed, and the person can no longer hide it.

‘thanks, that is true, I need Father too. I am not perfect and am thankful to the love given me, not just me, this, is for us all.
I see, I cannot harm anyone on purpose being born new in God’s Spirit and Truth.
i see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 and am thankful I need God Fathers lead daily inrisen Son. Learned, learning
‘thank you FATHER and SON