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What is so great about Jesus? Jesus is the Righteous Judge

One of the most often quoted verses of the Bible is “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). I should say it is one of the most often misquoted verses. In the original context it is clear that Jesus is warning against judging others unfairly. The Bible makes it clear that we are to judge, but fairly, when we have the authority to judge. “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24). 


For example, in the Old Testament judges were appointed to judge fairly. “You shall appoint judges . . . they shall judge the people with righteous judgment” (Deuteronomy 16:18). In the New Testament, church leaders are told to rightly judge those within the church. “Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” (1 Corinthians 5:12). 


When it comes to judging properly, it is clear that there is only one Ultimate Judge: Jesus. “He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42). Why is it good news for us that Christ is the Righteous Judge?


Think about it, we actually want fair judges in our lives. If you are taken to court to defend yourself against a false accusation, you really want a judge who will be fair, not one who is influenced by the prosecution. If you are playing a sport, you want a judge—an umpire or referee—who judges by the rules, not their favoritism. If we desire fair judges in our daily affairs how much more do we want them in matters of eternal consequence? 


There is a day appointed when everyone will stand before Christ as judge. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (Corinthians 5:10). While that is given as a warning, it is also a great comfort for those who follow Christ. 


To the believer, who looks on Christ as Redeemer, there is confidence that, on that day of judgment, his or her many sins will be expunged by the sacrifice of Christ. “[God] loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation [or atonement] for our sins” (1 John 4:10). We can look forward to that day, not with dread, but with the assurance that we will stand acquitted before Christ, by Christ. 


There is another great comfort for believers, we can rest easy knowing that Christ will judge all the evil done to us, exposing it as evil. This means that we have no need to seek revenge against others. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:19). 


Knowing that Christ is a righteous judge, we can forgive wrongs done to us, leaving it to Christ (John 20:23). Knowing that Christ is a righteous judge, we can be assured that any good we do in this world (by his power!) will be rewarded by him who sees all (Matthew 6:4). Knowing that Christ is a righteous judge, we can exist in an unjust world, confident that in the end, Christ will finally judge evil as evil and good as good (Rev. 11:18).


We live in a world filled with injustice and unrighteous judgment. We often observe mournfully, “Life is not fair.” For now, judges, referees, bosses, and courts will often judge wrongly. It is one of our highest comforts that, finally, all the accounts will be settled, all the balances trued, for Christ will judge rightly. “He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31). It will then be fair, more than fair! Let us live with the marvelous confidence that Christ is the Righteous Judge.