Pastor Léveillé delivered a timely message on the biblical balance between avoiding hypocritical judgement and exercising wise, God-honouring discernment. Drawing from the book of Proverbs, the sermon challenges believers to develop clear eyes and clean hearts so that their judgements reflect the character of Christ rather than personal bias or haste.
Judge According to Truth, Not Preference. (Proverbs 17:15; 21:2; 24:23)
Proverbs 17:15 states, “He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.” Proverbs 21:2 adds, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.” And Proverbs 24:23 declares, “These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.”
Wise judgement must be rooted in objective truth, not personal preference or loyalty. We are all naturally biased, yet God calls us to overcome these tendencies by weighing facts carefully, even when it means setting aside friendship or comfort. Respect of persons, or showing favouritism based on relationship, leads to decisions that God Himself calls an abomination. Whether as parents, employers, teachers, or church members, we must interrogate our instincts and ask: Am I siding with this person because it is truly right in the sight of God, or simply because it feels convenient or comfortable?
Pastor Léveillé shared a powerful example from a small church in Togo, West Africa. A wealthy member funded an impressive church complex, yet when he fell into unrepentant gross sexual sin, the congregation chose obedience to Scripture over financial security. They followed the steps of church discipline in Matthew 18, losing the man’s support but gaining the approval of God. They refused to let relationships rewrite reality, choosing truth even at great personal cost.
Judge Slowly, Not Hastily (Proverbs 18:13, 17; 14:15; 15:28)
Proverbs 18:13 warns, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:17 continues, “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.” Additional supporting verses include Proverbs 14:15, “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going,” and Proverbs 15:28, “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”
Hasty judgement brings folly and shame. The first story often sounds convincing until the other side is heard and examined. Wisdom requires active listening, careful investigation, and time for reflection. Rather than rushing to respond, we must train ourselves to pause, pray, and seek understanding. The prudent person studies the matter before speaking, refusing to treat the first version as the final version.
Pastor Léveillé recalled the story of David, Ziba, and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 16. David acted quickly on damaging information and later discovered he had been deceived. Time revealed the truth. In our own lives, whether at home, work, or church, slowing down to hear both sides prevents unnecessary hurt and allows truth to emerge through testing.
Judge With Discernment, Not Naivety (Proverbs 14:8, 15; 28:5; 2:9)
Proverbs 14:8 says, “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.” Proverbs 14:15 repeats the contrast between the simple who believes every word and the prudent who looks well to his going. Proverbs 28:5 states, “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.” And Proverbs 2:9 promises, “Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.”
Discernment is not automatic; it grows through a close walk with God. A good heart without discernment becomes vulnerable to deception. While love “believeth all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7), Scripture also calls us to examine carefully. Those who drift from seeking the Lord lose clarity, even if they retain some facts. True discernment comes from pursuing God and testing everything against His Word, as the Bereans did in Acts 17.
Judge Yourself Before Judging Others (Proverbs 21:2; 20:6; 26:12)
Returning to Proverbs 21:2, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.” Proverbs 20:6 asks, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” And Proverbs 26:12 warns, “Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
This principle echoes Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7 about removing the beam from our own eye before addressing the speck in our brother’s. Wise judgement begins with humility and rigorous self-examination. We must invite God to weigh our motives, biases, and contributions to any conflict. Overconfidence in our own opinions blinds us and hinders growth. Distrust your immediate sense of being right and allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart first.
Judge Courageously, Not Passively (Proverbs 24:24-25; 31:8-9; 21:3)
Proverbs 24:24-25 declares, “He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous: him shall the people curse; nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.” Proverbs 31:8-9 commands, “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” Finally, Proverbs 21:3 states, “To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”
Silence in the face of clear wrongdoing is not neutrality; it is participation in falsehood. God calls His people to speak up courageously for the vulnerable, to rebuke sin with truth and evidence, and to defend justice even when it costs influence or comfort. Examples such as William Wilberforce’s long battle against the slave trade remind us that righteous judgement, though costly, brings blessing and aligns us with God’s heart.
Conclusion
The Lord does not forbid judgement; He teaches us how to judge wisely. With clear eyes and clean hearts, believers can navigate difficult situations as parents, leaders, friends, and church members in a way that honours Christ. May we commit to judging according to truth rather than preference, slowly rather than hastily, with discernment rather than naivety, ourselves before others, and courageously rather than passively. As we walk closely with God, our hearts soften, our eyes clear, and our judgements become tools for restoration rather than weapons of harm.
