Judgment [nave]
JUDGMENT.The General
1 Chr. 16:33; Job 14:17; Job 21:30; Job 31:13-15; Psa. 9:7; Psa. 50:3-6; Psa. 96:13 Psa. 98:9. Eccl. 3:17; Eccl. 11:9; Eccl. 12:14; Ezek. 18:20-28; Dan. 7:9, 10; Amos 4:12; Matt. 3:12 Luke 3:17. Matt. 7:22, 23; Matt. 8:29 With 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6.Matt. 11:22 Matt. 10:15. Matt. 12:36, 37, 41, 42 Luke 11:31, 32. Matt. 13:30, 40-43, 49, 50; Matt. 16:27 Mark 8:38. Matt. 22:13 vs. 11-13.; Matt. 23:14; Matt. 25:1-14 [Luke 19:12-26.] Matt. 25:15-46; Mark 4:22; Mark 13:32; Luke 10:10-14; Luke 12:2-5; Luke 13:24-29; Luke 20:45-47; John 5:22; John 12:48; Acts 2:19-21; Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31; Acts 24:25; Rom. 2:5-10, 12-16; Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:13; 1 Cor. 4:5; 1 Cor. 6:2; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7, 8; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Heb. 6:2; Heb. 9:27; Heb. 10:27; 1 Pet. 4:5, 7; 2 Pet. 2:4, 9; 2 Pet. 3:7, 10-12; 1 John 4:17; Jude 6, 14, 15, 24; Rev. 1:7; Rev. 6:15-17; Rev. 11:18; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 22:12
According to Opportunity and Works
Gen. 4:7; Job 34:11; Prov. 11:31; Prov. 12:14; Prov. 24:11, 12 Psa. 62:12; 2 Tim. 4:14. Isa. 3:10, 11; Isa. 5:15, 16; Isa. 24:2; Isa. 59:18; Jer. 17:10, 11; Jer. 32:19; Ezek. 7:3, 4, 27; Ezek. 9:4-6; Ezek. 16:59; Ezek. 18:4 [vs. 5-9.] Ezek. 18:19-32; Ezek. 33:18-20; Ezek. 39:24; Hos. 4:9 Hos. 12:2. Amos 3:2; Zech. 1:6; Matt. 10:14, 15 Matt. 11:24; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; 10:12-15. Matt. 12:37; Matt. 23:14 Luke 20:47. Mark 14:21; Luke 11:49, 50 v. 51.; Luke 12:47, 48 [See parable of the vineyard, Isa. 5:1-6.
Of the farmer, Isa. 28:24-28.
Of the wicked tenant farmers, Matt. 21:33-36.
Of the talents, Matt. 25:14-30.]Luke 13:6-9; Luke 19:12-27; Luke 21:1-4; John 3:19, 20; John 5:45; John 9:41; John 12:48; John 15:22, 24; Rom. 2:5-12, 27; 1 Cor. 3:8, 13-15 v. 12.; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 2:15, 16; 2 Cor. 11:15; Gal. 6:5-10; Eph. 6:7, 8; Col. 3:25; 1 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 2:2, 3; Heb. 10:26-30; Heb. 12:25; Jas. 2:12, 13; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2 Pet. 2:20, 21; Rev. 2:23; Rev. 20:12, 13 See: God, Judge; Jesus, the Christ, Judge; Punishment, According to Deeds.
Judgment [baker]
[N] [J]The Hebrew term mispat [f'P.vim] is an important Old Testament concept and one closely linked with God. It may denote the process whereby a verdict is reached or the verdict itself; it is bound up with the notions of justice (modern translations often have "justice" for mispat) and righteousness and it is of fundamental importance for biblical religion. Thus Abraham could ask, "Will not the Judge of all the earth do mispat [f'P.vim]?" (Ge 18:25); it is fundamental that God engages in judgment. Indeed, God is the God of mispat [f'P.vim]. Judgment is essentially his own activity. Nobody taught him (Isa 40:14), and "all his ways are just" (Deut 32:4). Judgment is linked with righteousness as the foundation of his throne (Psalm 97:2). Judgment is as natural to God as the movements of the birds are to them (Jer 8:7).
We should be clear that judgment is of great importance for biblical religion. The gods of the heathen were capricious and unpredictable; their worshipers could never know what they would do next, nor whether what they themselves did would be pleasing to their deities or not. The Hebrews knew that God is righteous and that he demands righteousness of his people.
Sometimes God's judgments are seen in the present life, but often it is the future judgment that is in mind. "For he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth" (Psalm 96:13). This tells us something important about God. All people, and not only Israel, will answer to him. And it tells us something important about the way people live. Somewhere among the many gods he acknowledged the polytheist would come across a deity who was not too demanding and he could live his life accordingly. But the pious Hebrew knew that in the end every human work would be judged by the all-holy and all-powerful God. There was no escape. And while he had opportunity it was important that the Hebrew should right wrongs, overthrow the oppressor, and deliver the oppressed.
In the New Testament the Old Testament thoughts about judgment, both present and future, are continued. But there is a striking new thought, namely, that judgment is connected with the cross of Christ. As he drew near to his death Jesus said, "Now is the time for judgment on this world, now the prince of this world will be driven out" (John 12:31). And in the upper room as he spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit, he said that the Spirit would convict the world of judgment, "because the prince of this world now stands condemned (lit. is judged)" (John 16:11). The use of the judgment terminology in connection with the defeat of Satan is important, for it shows that this was no arbitrary happening. Nor did it mean simply that God is stronger than Satan. That is true, but the manner in which Satan was defeated was righteous.
God's present judgment of people is forcefully brought out in Romans 1 with its threefold "God gave them over" (vv. 24, 26, 28). God is hostile to every evil and this is made manifest in his judgments here and now. An interesting aspect of present judgment is brought out in the words of Jesus: "This is the verdict (krisis [krivsi"]): Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). The love of darkness is itself judgment (cf. the words of a poet, "For thirty pieces Judas sold himself, not Christ"). Paul sees a present judgment in the punishment of the Corinthian church (1 Cor 11:29-32).
That there will be a final judgment is regarded as axiomatic (Rom 3:5-6). "Eternal judgment" is one of the "elementary teachings about Christ" (Heb 6:1-2), and all face it (Heb 12:23). It is as inescapable as death (Heb 9:27). Even "the family of God" is included and indeed judgment begins with them (1 Peter 4:17). Sinners may not trust that somehow their worst failings may be hid for God will judge our secrets (Rom 2:16). All evil will be reckoned with for on the day of judgment "every careless word" will be called to account (Matt 12:36). Judgment will be on the basis of works (Matt 16:27). An important passage is that in which Paul makes it clear that salvation is on the basis of Christ's saving work and that alone, but what we build on that foundation will be tested "with fire" (1 Cor 3:10-15). Believers will be saved by Christ, but their work will be judged on judgment day.
Leon Morris
See als o Judgment, Day of; Judgment Seat of Christ.
Bibliography. H. Butterfield, Christianity and History; L. Morris, The Biblical Doctrine of Judgment.
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[N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
[J] indicates this entry was also found in Jack Van Impe's Prophecy Dictionary
JUDGMENT [bridgeway]
Judgment has many aspects. It may concern legal procedures and announcements, or it may concern private acts of examining, discerning or criticizing. It is something that people do and something that God does. It takes place in the lives of people now and will take place in their encounter with God at the end of the age.God the judge
As creator of the human race and ruler of the universe, God is the supreme judge (Gen 18:25; Ps 67:4; 94:2; 96:13; John 8:50; Heb 12:23). His judgment is always just because it is according to his own perfect standards, but it is also mixed with mercy (Ps 9:8; 36:5-6; 89:14; Rom 2:12-16; 2 Tim 4:8; James 2:13; Rev 16:5; see MERCY).
God’s judgment is not merely another word for his condemnation and punishment. True judgment involves both discernment and action, and the two are inseparable. First the judge makes a distinction between what is right and what is wrong, then on the basis of his findings he takes action. The purpose of that action is to condemn the person who is wrong and vindicate the person who is right (Deut 1:16-17; 16:18-20; 1 Kings 3:9,28; Jer 5:28; Ezek 7:27).
For this reason persecuted believers in Old Testament days often looked forward to God’s judgment. Though downtrodden, they knew they were in the right, but because of the corruption of the courts they had no way of gaining a hearing and therefore no chance of getting justice. They longed for the day when God would act in true judgment, righting the wrongs, declaring them to be right, and sentencing their opponents to punishment (Ps 7:6-8; 9:8,12; 10:2,12,17-18; 82:1-4; see JUSTICE).
Persecuted believers in the New Testament era could likewise long for the day when God would intervene in judgment, bringing relief to them and punishment to their persecutors (2 Thess 1:4-8; Rev 6:10; 11:18). Christ’s death makes the judgment and condemnation of evildoers certain, because by that death Satan himself was judged and condemned (John 12:31-33; 16:8-11).
Everyday judgments
Making judgments between right and wrong is part of the process of living (Luke 7:43; 12:57). This is particularly so in the case of Christians who, having an understanding of the mind of God, are better able to judge between the good and the evil (John 7:24; 1 Cor 2:15-16; Heb 5:14). In the church they must make judgments concerning what is said (1 Cor 10:15; 14:29; 1 Thess 5:20-21) and what is done (Acts 15:19; 1 Cor 5:3,12; 6:1-3).
When exercising this judgment, Christians must first of all judge themselves, to make sure they are not guilty of the things concerning which they accuse others. God will judge them according to the standard they use to judge others (Matt 7:1-5; Rom 2:1-3). Therefore, they must exercise strict self-examination and self-correction, otherwise they may experience God’s judgment upon them in the form of various sufferings (1 Cor 11:28-32; Heb 12:6; see CHASTISEMENT).
There are some things, particularly in the lives of others, concerning which Christians should not make judgments at all. In such cases God is the only one capable of making right judgments (1 Cor 4:3-5; James 4:11-12). They should not be harshly critical of those of weaker faith, but should concentrate on strengthening them (Rom 14:3-4,13).
Jesus Christ the judge
The purpose of Jesus’ first coming was not to be a judge but to be a saviour; not to condemn sinners but to save sinners (John 3:17; 12:47). It is at his second coming that Jesus will carry out God’s work of judgment (Matt 25:36-41; John 5:22,26-30; 2 Cor 5:10; 2 Thess 1:7-8; 2 Tim 4:1).
Although Jesus’ first coming was not for the purpose of judgment, it did, in a sense, result in judgment. When people faced him they had to make a decision either to accept him or reject him; and the decision they made was their own judgment on themselves. It determined whether they would be saved or condemned (John 3:19; 9:39; cf. Rom 1:24,26,28).
People who considered themselves good, who heard Jesus’ teachings and saw his mighty works yet deliberately rejected him, condemned themselves. They would suffer greater punishment than those whom they considered wicked but who had never heard of Jesus (Matt 11:20-24; Mark 12:40; Luke 12:47-48; John 9:39-41).
Final judgment
All people will one day stand before Christ, the supreme judge. This includes those who are living at Christ’s return and those who have died throughout the thousands of years of the world’s history (Matt 10:15; 25:31-32; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom 14:10; Heb 9:27; 1 Peter 4:5). Because no one knows when that judgment will be, people should live in a state of constant readiness for it (Matt 24:36,42-44). At that judgment each person’s behaviour will be judged, even hidden actions and secret thoughts, because such works are evidence of what a person really is (Matt 12:33-37; 16:27; Rom 2:6,16; 1 Cor 4:5; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 22:12).
Being perfect in holiness, God cannot treat evil as if it does not matter. His love for all that is right is so strong that he reacts against all that is wrong in righteous anger and holy wrath (Rom 1:18; 2:5; Eph 5:6; Rev 6:17; see HELL; PUNISHMENT).
As far as believers are concerned, this wrath has fallen on Jesus Christ. Through him believers have the forgiveness of their sins and so escape the wrath that is to fall on sinners at the final judgment (Rom 3:24-26; 5:9; 2 Cor 5:21; Eph 1:7; 1 Thess 1:10; 5:9; see FORGIVENESS; JUSTIFICATION; PROPITIATION).
Since Christ has borne their sin and brought them into a right relationship with God, believers can face God’s judgment with confidence (Rom 8:33; 1 John 4:17). They do not fear condemnation, because once they are ‘in Christ’ there can be no condemnation (John 3:18; 5:24; Rom 8:11). Since their names are in the book of life, they have no fear of the judgment of death (Rev 20:11-15; cf. Luke 10:20; Phil 4:3; Rev 21:27).
This confidence does not mean that believers will escape all judgment. There will be an examination of their lives and works that will reveal whether they have lived for God or for themselves; whether they have followed God’s standards or the standards of the world. That examination will determine the reward or rebuke they will receive (Rom 14:10; 1 Cor 3:8-15; 2 Cor 5:10; see HEAVEN; REWARD).
