Judge Not?
Does Jesus really teach us not to judge?
“Judge not” is a phrase taken from the Sermon on the Mount quite often. However, Jesus isn’t teaching people not to judge; he is teaching them the appropriate approach to judgement. I think that the reason the people say, “Jesus says, ‘Don’t judge’” is that we live in a world where judgement is common. As people judge in today’s culture, it is often a judgement that is hypocritical or such that is unfair in some way. We make judgements like, “So and so asks for a ride all the time; can they do anything for themselves?” We judge people based on their condition, what they look like, or how they speak. Our judgement is unfair because it isn’t a standard of judgement that we would appreciate being applied to us. In Matthew 7:1-6, we don’t find Jesus teaching his listeners not to judge, but to not judge with an unfair measure.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”
Matthew 7:1-6
As we look at the opening verses, we find first a teaching that when one pronounces judgement on someone, judgement is something that they receive back. Because of this, the way one judges is important. That is then highlighted as Jesus continues to teach. He says that the measure used in judgement is used to judge you. The measure of judgement is that standard that one uses when they pronounce judgement. A judge in a court of law uses the law as their standard for pronouncing judgement. The law is their measure. Jesus then is teaching us to be cautious of the standard that we use in pronouncing judgement as by the same standard we use, we will be judged in turn.
To me it seems clear, as scripture not only tells us about God but also identifies right and wrong, that the word of God is a standard for judgement that is acceptable. However, here in Matthew 7, Jesus takes our standard for judgement a step further. Our standard is not to be a hypocritical standard. What this means is that you cannot judge someone for what they are doing that is wrong when you, as your own individual, are living in contrary to what is wrong. That is the meaning of Jesus’ little parable about the speck and log that are in different people’s lives.
We are quick to take notice of that which is wrong in others’ lives as we ignore that which is in our own lives. As we do so, we often begin judging that person of what we have noticed that they are doing wrong. Some even like to point that wrong out. It is in this that we find the hypocrisy. We have not noticed and addressed the sin, that which is wrong, in our own individual lives. We miss the log, move right past it, yet, we notice the speck in other people’s lives and make note of it. What Jesus is teaching is that we must first address the log that is in our life. We cannot just notice the speck; in doing so, we make ourselves a hypocrite. Jesus teaches us to address our sin first, once we have done so, we can then offer support to our brother who has a speck in his own eye.
It is in verse 6 that we find a confusing but important teaching. In the context of talking about judging according to a hypocritical standard. When you judge someone who is living in sin and offer to them that which is holy, while you are not living in a holy manner, you will face the backlash that they give. In Jesus’ time, dogs and pigs were considered unclean, and to try to correct the unclean by offering that which is holy and precious, while you are living an unholy life that hasn’t been corrected, then be prepared for those you judge to turn on you and correct you.
Don’t let hypocrisy dictate your life. If you are going to judge, do so with a standard that is upright and holy. Jesus doesn’t teach against judging others; Jesus teaches us that the way we judge is important. Judge according to the measure of scripture, being sure that you have addressed the sin that is in your life.