Jesus didn’t mean “never” judge. . he was essentially pointing out that if you judge. . .you better be living in accordance with the standard by which you judge. . .He was also indicating that sometimes mercy, not judgement, is the more appropriate course of action. . .but even mercy doesn’t imply “business as usual”. . .God’s mercy is displayed within the context of recognition of my sin, the emotion of regret and repentance ...and the commitment to “go and sin no more.”
Roger that. I think a case could also be made that the verse is commanding that we don’t judge others by our own standards, but by God’s standards. Because just a couple verses after the left’s favorite verse Jesus said this:
Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Impossible to obey this command unless we judge that people are dogs or swine.
It would also be impossible to engage in church discipline unless we judged that the offender had sinned.
Jesus also said this:
Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Taken in sum, it’s clear that “judge not” doesn’t mean what the left desperately wants it to mean.