What’s the Difference Between Judging and Blaming?

QUESTION:
Praise the Lord Jesus. I’m seeking clarity on something that confuses many Christians. What is the difference between judging and blaming? The Bible clearly says not to judge, but what about situations where someone is deliberately living in sin if you call it out, are you judging them?

ANSWER:

This is an important question, and one that requires us to examine Scripture carefully. Many believers struggle to distinguish between judging, blaming, and speaking the truth in love yet these are not the same, and each has a different heart posture and consequence.

1. Judging: Declaring Someone’s Final Verdict

Biblical Definition:
To judge, in the context condemned by Jesus, is to pass final verdict on someone as if you were God assigning them to condemnation, assuming they are beyond redemption. This is what Jesus forbids in Luke 6:37 (NIV):

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Judging involves assuming a superior position. It often expresses itself through harsh labeling: calling someone a “devil,” “hell bound,” or saying they can never change or be saved. This kind of judgment is rooted in pride and lacks both truth and grace.

Jesus warned against this in Matthew 7:1–2 (NIV):

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Only God knows a person’s heart and final destiny. As the apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 14:4 (NIV):

“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”

2. Blaming: Fault Finding With a Spirit of Superiority

Blaming is the habit of criticizing others with a mindset that says, “I would have done better.” It lacks grace and tends to magnify others’ faults while minimizing one’s own.

It is often driven by self righteousness. In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus described a man who essentially blamed others for not being as “righteous” as he was:

Luke 18:11 (NIV):

“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people robbers, evildoers, adulterers or even like this tax collector.’”

People who blame often don’t seek restoration or understanding. Their focus is on proving others wrong. Even when something good is done like a positive development by a leader they will pick it apart with negative suggestions, questioning every decision.

Scripture reminds us that all have sinned (Romans 3:23), and we ought to be gracious because we ourselves need grace.

3. Speaking the Truth in Love: A Biblical Mandate

Now, speaking the truth is not the same as judging or blaming. The Bible commands believers to speak the truth but always with love and humility.

Ephesians 4:15 (NIV):

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

For example, telling someone that drunkenness, fornication, or idolatry leads to eternal separation from God is not judgment it’s sharing God’s Word. The truth is clearly laid out in Scripture:

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (NIV):

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Telling someone these truths isn’t pronouncing their doom it’s warning them so they can repent and receive grace. It’s like warning a child not to play near a deep pit not because you’ve decided their fate, but because you want to protect them.

Jesus Himself told sinners the truth about their condition (John 8:11), but He also extended grace. He said, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” That’s the perfect balance truth and love.

4. The Danger of Misunderstanding Truth as Judgment

Many people today interpret any biblical correction as “judgment.” But correction is a form of love:

Proverbs 27:5–6 (NIV):

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

If a preacher says, “Those who live in unrepentant sin are headed for hell,” that’s not judgment it’s a warning born out of love. The intention is not to condemn, but to lead people to repentance:

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV):

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise… Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

5. Only God Judges the Final Outcome

Only God knows the end of every person. If someone comes to you and says, “You are going to hell,” they’ve taken God’s place. But if they say, “According to the Bible, your current path leads to destruction please repent,” they are showing love.

James 4:12 (NIV):

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you who are you to judge your neighbor?”

Both judging and blaming are attitudes of the heart that God opposes. They stem from pride and self righteousness. But speaking the truth in love, with humility and a desire to see others restored, is the heart of the Gospel.

Let’s remember: