“10 But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God. 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.”
Paul has used the examples of dietary laws and the observance of Jewish holidays as the basis for this point: Christians living faithful, godly lives must be loving toward, and accepting of, each other even when we hold different doctrinal opinions where permissible by Scripture. The one who eats is not to feel superior to the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats. The one who sees all days as the same is not superior to the one who observes a special day, and the one who observes a special day is not to judge the freedom of the one who does not observe. Again, we must stress that in this context, Paul is not talking about differences in opinion over doctrines like salvation, the trinity, inerrancy of Scripture, the person and work of Jesus, etc. Paul is talking about differences in opinion over Jewish holy days and dietary laws. Whatever the position held by his readers on these subjects, Paul encourages them to remain humble, search the Word, and form well-informed, conscience convicting opinions based on Scripture. The decision they come to is between them and God. They, and we, will answer for the decisions we have made. “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (v. 12) As a result, we must be careful to ensure that each decision we come to has been viewed through the lens of God’s Word, and that we are praying, seeking counsel, and listening to our consciences.
In verse 13, Paul shows us that God wants us to take our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ further than just reserving judgment. Paul instructs Christians to never place a stumbling block in the way of our brother or sister. What does this mean? Don’t put your brother or sister in a position where they might be tempted to violate their conscience and their sincerely held convictions. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul records the lengths to which he would go to keep a brother or sister from stumbling.
“Therefore, if food causes my brother or sister to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother or sister to fall.” — 1 Corinthians 8:13
To put our brother or sister in a position where they may violate their conscience is to set and spring a trap against them that may cause them to sin against God. 1 Thessalonians provides us with a great reminder, that in light of what Christ has sacrificed for us, we ought to build up and encourage one another, not set traps for each other.
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
Paul is not telling Christians that it is never appropriate to judge someone. Whenever a brother or sister is living in sin or disobedience, correction should take place. What Paul is warning us about is two fold. First, we need to be concerned with building up and encouraging the body of Christ, not tearing it down. Second, we need to approach the situation with extreme humility, remembering that if it were not for Christ and the gospel, we would be dead in our trespasses and sins.
“Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use. Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.” — Matthew 7:1-5
If we are in a position where a brother or sister in Christ has gone astray, or has adopted some unbiblical doctrine, correct with humility, remembering that you too are a sinner who needs Christ and the gospel, and judge in a way that will encourage and build up the believer, not tear them down.