Romans 2:1
Memory Verse
Wherefore, you are without excuse, O man, everyone judging. For by which you judge a different one, you condemn yourself. For you, the one judging, are practicing the same things (Romans 2:1).
A hypocrite is someone who plays a part as if they were an actor. A person who sets himself up as a judge of another man’s actions while justifying his own unrighteous actions brings condemnation upon himself.
This does not mean Christians should never judge wrong actions. Those in the Church will judge the world and should be able to judge matters of life fairly (1 Corinthians 6:2). When a believer keeps sinning, refuses correction, causes division, or openly acts out of the flesh in ways that affect others, the Church should show love by rejecting them, separating from them, and refusing to associate with those who refuse admonition as long as they keep acting in this way (Titus 3:10–11; Romans 16:17; 2 Timothy 3:5; 2 John 10-11).
Paul is referring to someone who judges the actions of another while engaging in the same unrighteous activity. This type of person condemns himself by his own judgment. Do you consider their stealing to be unrighteous, while you are stealing? Do you judge others for adultery, while justifying your own? A man who marries a woman who is divorced without cause is committing adultery. To justify this type of action because life is unfair, or she should not have to reap the fruit of her actions, while judging others who are committing adultery is inappropriate for a grace believer. Be cautious where you point your finger, for by your own actions, you may be condemning yourself by judging others.
Among grace believers, the stronger in the faith are to receive the weaker in the faith. This is not for the purpose of causing doubt within the weaker brother by disputing over their beliefs (Romans 14:1). The stronger is to care for the weaker and therefore will not cause him to be put into a situation that would cause him to be scandalized (Romans 14:13). The faith we have toward God in relation to how we conduct our lives is to be directed at God, not imposed upon other men (Romans 14:22). Therefore, let us not judge the motives or the manner in which another conducts his life before God . We will all stand before the Bema seat of Christ and give an answer for the things we have done in this life (Romans 14:10).