the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Judge
Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary
or JUDGE, JUDGMENT
Every one perfectly understands what is meant both by judge and judgment. I should not have thought it necessary, therefore, to have swollen the bulk of The Poor Man's Concordance by noticing the terms, had the mere explanation been the only thing intended. I have higher objects in view. I wish, while directing the reader both to the judgment that is to follow the present life, and the Judge who is to preside at the grand tribunal, to offer a short remark with an eye to the Lord Jesus Christ upon those subjects which under grace will not fail, I hope, to be profitable. In respect to the Judge, the Scriptures with one voice concur to assure us, that Christ is to be the Judge both of quick and dead. This, among other characters of our Lord, is one which he is to exercise as his own personal and peculiar right. "For the Father judgeth no man, (it is said,) but hath committed all judgment to the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." (John 5:22-23) Jesus, and Jesus only, could be the proper person to possess this honour. He who undertook and accomplished man's redemption, hath by right a power to be the Judge of man; and, indeed, it is expressly said, that the Father hath given him authority to execute judgment also, "because he is the Son of man." (John 5:27) Observe the expression-because he is the Son of man! Not because he is the Son of God; for in that case no authority could be given to him, for he possesseth in common with the Father and the Holy Ghost all supreme and eternal power. But as the Son of man he receives this power, and it becomes the suited reward of his labours, and sufferings, and death. And what a beautiful order and harmony there is in this appointment as well as grace and mercy to his people. He who once came to save, will one day come to be our Judge; he who then acted as our Redeemer, will then appear as our Sovereign and our King. And what tends infinitely to endear the Lord Jesus under all these characters is, that while he carries on the authority of the one he never forgets the tenderness of the other. In him is most blessedly blended the judge and the brother. See those Scriptures. (Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 32:36; Daniel 7:9-14; Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 10:42; Revelation 20:11-15)
And while we thus contemplate Jesus as our Judge, and the judgment seat his, wee find another sweet consolation arising out of it, in that when he comes to "judge the world in righteousness, and to minister true judgment unto the people," he comes to confirm what hath already passed respecting his redeemed, and not to try, but to declare his justification of their persons and state before God. All true believers in Christ are in a justified state now before God, in his blood and righteousness; and therefore they cannot come then into any condemnation. The solemn events of that great day of God, as they concern the believer, are not left to the smallest state of suspense. They have already found pardon in the blood of the cross; they have passed from death to life. "There is therefore, now (saith the apostle) no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) And if there be no possibility of condemnation, there can be no issue of trial. Washed in the blood of Christ while upon the earth, they will be found without spot and blameless then at the court of heaven: clothed in the robe of Jesus's righteousness now, it is impossible to be found naked then. Awful, therefore, as the process of that day may be, (and most tremendously awful it will be to the unregenerate and unredeemed) yet to the saints of God it is called, and must be found, "the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13) Jesus comes "to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10) Sweet, consoling, and soul-reviving thought to the believer! Some of the blessed words Jesus will speak to his people are already upon record, and should often comfort them now, as they will ravish them then. "Then will the king say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (See Matthew 25:34; Luke 22:28-30)
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Hawker, Robert D.D. Entry for 'Judge'. Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance and Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/pmd/j/judge.html. London. 1828.
