1 Corinthians 4:5

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

So, do not judge anything until the appointed time, when the Lord returns [i.e., to do the judging] He will both shed light on the hidden things done in the dark and make known the motives of people’s hearts. Then each person [i.e., who deserves it] will receive praise from God.

Cross References

Matthew 10:26

Therefore, do not be afraid [of these persecutors], for there is nothing [they do that will remain] covered up; it will [all] be exposed. And there is nothing they will do secretly that will not be made known [openly].

Matthew 24:30

Then the sign [i.e., signifying the coming] of the Son of man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will be stricken with grief as they see the Son of man coming in the clouds of the sky [See Acts 1:9-11] with power and great splendor.

Matthew 24:46

That slave will be happy when his master returns to find him doing his job [well].

Matthew 25:21

His master replied, ‘Well done, you are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been trustworthy over a [relatively] few things, so I will place you over many things. Come and share in your master’s joy.’

Matthew 25:23

His master said to him, ‘Well done, you are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been trustworthy over a [relatively] few things, [so] I will place you over many things. Come and share in your master’s joy.’

Luke 6:37

And do not pass [hypocritical] judgment [on other people. See Matt. 7:1-5] and you will not receive such judgment [on yourselves]. And do not condemn [others] and you will not be condemned [yourselves]. Release people [i.e., from guilt for offending you] and you will be released [i.e., by God (?)]

John 21:22

Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain [alive] until I return, what [business] is that of yours? You be my follower.”

John 21:23

So, a rumor began circulating among the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not tell him he would not die, but [He said], “If I want him to remain [alive] until I return, what [business] is that of yours?”

John 5:44

How can you believe [in me] when you [offer and] accept honors from one another, but do not try to obtain the honor that comes from the only God?

Romans 14:4

Who [do you think] you are, to pass judgment on someone else’s household servant? He stands [approved] or falls [into disapproval] before his own Master [only]. Yes, [surely] he will stand [approved], for the Lord is capable of helping him to stand.

Romans 2:1

So, whoever you are, you people do not have any excuse for judging people [Note: At this point Paul begins addressing the Jews. See verse 17]. For in a matter where you judge someone else [to be wrong] you [actually] condemn yourselves, because you are practicing the same things [you condemn them for doing].

Romans 2:16

This will be done on the day when God judges the secrets of men’s [hearts] through Christ Jesus, according to [the teaching of] my Gospel.

Romans 2:29

But the [true] Jew is the person who is one on the inside, and [his] circumcision is a heart condition, [produced] by the Holy Spirit and not by the written Law of Moses. [Note: Some translate “Spirit” here as “spirit” and make it simply an amplification of “heart”]. This person receives his praise from God and not [merely] from people.

Romans 2:7

To the ones who continue doing what is good and who look for glory, honor and immortal life [God will give] never ending life.

1 Corinthians 1:7

so that you are not lacking in any [spiritual] gift, while you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed [i.e., at His second coming].

1 Corinthians 11:16

But if anyone is inclined to argue [about this matter], neither we [apostles] nor the churches of God have any [other] custom than this.

1 Corinthians 11:26

For whenever you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes [again].

1 Corinthians 15:23

But each one [is raised up] in his own turn: Christ as the first fruits [See verse 20]; then those who are Christ’s [i.e., believers], when He returns.

1 Corinthians 3:13

[the quality of] each person’s work will become evident [i.e., for what is it made of]. For the [judgment] day will expose his workmanship. And it will be revealed by the fire [of judgment], which will test the quality of a person’s workmanship [i.e., the faithfulness of his converts].

1 Corinthians 3:14

If the work of anyone lasts [i.e., if his converts are judged faithful], he will receive a reward [i.e., his converts will constitute part of his reward].

1 Corinthians 3:8

Now the person who plants and the person who waters have the same [purpose], and each one will receive his own wages, according to the work each one does.

2 Corinthians 10:18

For it is not the person who commends himself that is approved [by God], but the one whom the Lord commends.

2 Corinthians 10:9

[Now] I do not want to appear to be trying to scare you by my letters.

2 Corinthians 4:2

Instead, we have renounced [the practice of] secret, disgraceful behavior. We do not practice deception, nor resort to distorting God’s message. But, by making known the truth [i.e., the true message], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the presence of God.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear in front of the judgment bar of Christ, so that each one of us may receive what is due him for what he had done while in his [physical] body [i.e., on earth], whether it be good or bad.

1 Thessalonians 5:2

for you know perfectly well that the day of the Lord [i.e., when He returns, See II Thess. 2:1-2] will arrive like a thief coming in the night.

Hebrews 4:13

And no created being is hidden from God’s sight, but everything is laid bare and is openly visible to the eyes of God, to whom we must give account.

James 4:11

Do not slander one another, brothers, [for] the person who speaks against his brother, or judges him, is [guilty of] speaking against the law [of God]. But when you judge the law, you are not obeying it but acting as its judge.

James 5:7

So, be patient, brothers, until the Lord comes. Look, the farmer waits for his land to produce the valuable crop and is patient with it until it receives the fall and spring rains.

James 5:9

Do not complain against one another, brothers, so that you will not [have to] be judged [and condemned for it]. Look, the Judge [i.e., Christ] is standing at the door! [See verse 8].

1 Peter 1:7

But these will only test your faith, which is more valuable than gold which, though refined by fire, eventually perishes. Your faith, [however], will [endure and eventually] prove to be praiseworthy and honorable when Jesus returns.

1 Peter 5:4

And when the Supreme Shepherd [i.e., Jesus] comes back, you will receive [for your effort] a glorious crown [of reward] that will never fade away [Note: The idea of “fading away” is suggested by the wilting of the laurel wreath bestowed on the winner of an athletic contest].

2 Peter 3:12

[while] looking forward to, and earnestly desiring the day of God to come, when the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved by fire, and the elements [See verse 10] will melt with intense heat.

2 Peter 3:4

“Why has the promise of a coming Messiah [not been fulfilled yet]? After all, since the time our ancestors died, everything has continued the same, even since the beginning of creation!”

Jude 1:14

And it was also prophesied about [these] people by Enoch, the seventh [descendant] of Adam [Gen. 5:18-24], who said, “Look, the Lord came with thousands upon thousands [Note: The Greek uses the plural form of “myriad,” which means 10,000] of His holy ones [i.e., angels],

Revelation 1:7

Look, He [i.e., Jesus] is coming with [i.e., “on”] the clouds! And [then] every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him, and all the peoples of the earth will grieve because of Him [i.e., because of how they had treated Him]. So it will be. May it be so.

Revelation 20:12

And I saw dead people, the most important and the least significant ones, standing in front of the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life [Note: This refers to a record of those to whom God has granted never ending life]. And these dead people [i.e., who have now been resurrected] were judged according to their deeds, based on what was recorded in the books.