I. The Apostle seems to refer to something in the Christian doctrine which was well known then, but certainly it is very obscure now. We always look forward to being judged, not to judging others, and therefore the appeal of the Apostle has no force for us. If the words stood alone, indeed, we should probably be inclined to think that they only spoke of judging in the sense of condemning by contrast or example, as our Lord said that the men of Nineveh would rise in judgment with that generation and condemn it. But this reference to future judgment does not stand alone; there are several passages having the same reference (Daniel 7:22; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 20:4). That all these references are obscure is plain enough, but it is also plain that they mean something, and that the exercise of judicial authority on the part of the saints shall be real, however difficult for us to comprehend.
II. The saints shall judge the world, and yet they must themselves be judged, and it is plain that one judgment will decide the fate of all. There can be no favouritism with Him before whom we must all stand. These things can only be reconciled by the supposition that the saints will be called to the first (and strictest) account, and that, having been approved and found worthy, they will then become assessors of their Judge in passing judgment on the rest, and sit beside Him, hearing and approving His sentence.
III. When it says that the saints shall judge the world, I think that reason and analogy of Scripture teach us to limit "the world" to the heathen world. I cannot think that judging their fellow-Christians can ever be the lot of any, however perfect. The judgment of angels we must certainly limit to bad angels, for it does not appear how the others which never swerved from their allegiance would be liable to any judgment at all; none can be judged unless there be some accusation against them. Surely the solemn thought that we shall be called upon to assist in passing sentence upon immortal beings may serve, as the Apostle intended it, to show the pettiness, the unworthiness, of much of our daily life and strife! We are quarrelsome over trifles, exasperated over slights, driven to extremities over imaginary wrongs. God forgive us Christians! We had forgotten that wewere to judge the world, and angels too, in a little while.
R. Winterbotham, Sermons and Expositions,p. 299.
References: 1 Corinthians 6:7. G. Calthrop, Christian World Pulpit,vol. ii., p. 165. 1 Corinthians 6:9. W. M. Arthur, Ibid.,vol. xiv., p. 253. 1 Corinthians 6:11. E. Cooper, Practical Sermons,p. 177. 1 Corinthians 6:12. A. Mursell, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xviii., p. 264. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20. T. Arnold, Sermons,vol. v., p. 147. 1 Corinthians 6:17. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xvi., No. 961. 1 Corinthians 6:18. R. D. B. Rawnsley, Village Sermons,p. 119. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20. E. Garbett, Experiences of the Inner Life,p. 179. 1 Corinthians 6:19. J. Pulsford, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xv., p. 312; Church of England Pulpit,vol. ix., p. 253.