Jesus declares that the twelve are given the authority to be judges of the people. Earlier, he had said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (3 Nephi 14:1–2).
There was an inherent issue in judging. It was possible that there might be an unrighteous judgment. Therefore, Jesus also declares to them that they should judge “according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just.”
The final command to them as judges was that they purify themselves to judge as Christ would judge. Therefore, what quality, what kind, of men ought they be? Christ declares simply, but with a powerful implication: “Even as I am.” That implication is even stronger when we remember that Christ is Jehovah, and one of the designations of Jehovah was “I Am.”