We’re looking at perhaps one of the most loved Bible passages of our secular culture. At least one of the best-known and most quoted: “Judge not lest ye be judged.” Yet, as one commentator said, “Our supremely tolerant society is more judgmental than ever.”

Jesus, however, is not condemning all forms of judgment. He tells us to avoid hypocrisy and judgmentalism. We should be aware of our own flaws and struggles before graciously helping others with theirs. Lastly, we should not waste the time and energy the Lord has entrusted to us on those who are unreceptive.

I was a little upset at one of my bosses awhile back because we were supposed to have a meeting at the office at 8:30. We have a work call every weekday morning at 8am so I was sure to leave at the beginning of the work call to make the meeting at the office in time. However, towards the end of the call, when I was like 5 minutes from the office, my boss said the meeting was canceled…

I wasn’t super excited about that. Honestly, I was a little annoyed and frustrated. But look what Jesus says…

1) Judging can be Dangerous

“Judge not, that you be not judged.”

This verse warns against the dangers of judging others because we will be judged in the same way. It is not my place to say someone else is guilty before God. That is way above my pay grade. Christians can pronounce “that is good” and “that is wrong” but not “you are condemned by God.” That is not our place. 

To bring back the story with one of my bosses… I too have had to cancel a meeting at the eleventh hour… Who am I to cast the first stone?… 

“For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”

One person I read said, “Being judgmental means you attempt to play God when you are not. You apply to others a standard you do not want applied to yourself, and your spiritual vision is blurred. You lose perspective and fail to see reality as it truly is.” 

Would I want judged with the same severity with which I am judging others? 

2) Judging can be Dysfunctional

“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?”

Our judging can be flat wrong or at least not make any sense. Again, I made a big deal about my boss canceling the meeting but it’s not a big deal. And when I make that perceived wrong a big deal I blind myself to my own issues. I am not seeing clearly. I’m blinded and in a dangerous place.

We see dysfunctional, hypocritical, and blind judging in 2 Samuel 12:1-7. Nathan, sent by God, tells David a story about a rich man who, instead of using his own livestock, takes the only lamb belonging to a poor man. David, upon hearing the story, is immediately angered by the rich man’s actions and demands justice, declaring the man deserves death and should restore fourfold to the poor man. 

Nathan then turns the tables: ”You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7), directly accusing David of the same sin he had condemned in the parable. Thankfully, this helped David see reality. He saw the massive plank in his eye and repented. 

We often need to get our eyes off others and get them on ourselves. Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” That is, you do the right thing. You can’t control others. As far as it depends on you, you do the right thing.

3) Judging can be (self) Deceptive

“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.”

Jesus instructs us to address our own flaws before attempting to correct others. This visual really sticks with you, doesn’t it?… Get it‽… “Sticks” with you?… 

Anyhow, Jesus’ visual makes a very graphic and good point. How can I see to help someone when I have a massive telephone pole sticking out of my own eye? I’m not in a good place to help someone else. “Physician heal thyself.” So, this verse highlights the absurdity of trying to correct others while ignoring our own shortcomings.

When our focus is on others, we can’t see reality. We will be self-deceived. 

We should pursue humility and self-awareness. We should consider where we are guilty of hypocrisy… Now, in some ways, I am sure we will all always be guilty of some form of low-grade hypocrisy.  But at least if we’re aware of it we will be in a better position to graciously help others who struggle too. We will be aware that we to at least have a speck in our own eye. We’ll be keenly aware of the Lord’s grace and kindness to us and we’ll be better able to extend grace and kindness to others.

Here’s a good question for us to consider: are you more sensitive to the sin of others than to your own sin?

4) Judge with Discernment

“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.”

This verse warns against wasting our time and energy sharing with those who are unwilling to receive what we share. This applies to all sorts of situations.

This verse clearly teaches that not all forms of judgment are wrong. We are to discern and judge. We, however, are not to be judgmental and judgy. After all, Jesus Himself made judgments and practiced discernment so it doesn’t seem like it would make sense for Him to outlaw all forms of judgment. Jesus Himself dismisses a group of religious leaders (Matt. 15:14), writes off Herod (Luke 13:31-33), and promises judgment to whole a city (Matt. 11:20-24). Jesus called Herod Antipas “that fox” and He called the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees “whitewashed tombs” and a “brood of vipers.” Now Jesus had perfect discernment so we should be careful going around calling people a “brood of vipers.” That would be good discernment for us to show. 

Spurgeon says it this way, ”You are not to judge, but you are not to act without judgment… Saints are not to be simpletons; they are not to be judges, but, also, they are not to be fools.” We must discern who is receptive to the message and who is not. We must be wise in sharing and avoid wasting efforts on those who are unreceptive. Matthew 10:11-15 is one of the applications of Matthew 7:6.[1]

Conclusion

There are many things we must be aware of when it comes to judgment. We must judge with discernment and must be sure that we ourselves are not being hypocritical and self-deceived. But, as throughout Jesus’ whole sermon, Jesus cares about and is getting to our hearts. 

Jesus is reminding us that we are a different type of people. We are His people. We are forgiven people. And, forgiven people, forgive people. We are justified people. And justified people judge justly and humbly.

As Jesus’ apprentices, we should be known for how sincerely we love people, not how severely we judge people.[2] We are people of loving light, not shadowy darkness. Light exposes sin, that is true. But our exposure of sin should only be to apply the loving salve of the gospel. A doctor may uncover a festering wound but it is only to bring healing. We are salt to preserve, not to burn. 

Jesus Himself, the light of the world, came into the world not to condemn but in order that the world might be saved through Him. The reality is, the world was already condemned. But Jesus came to save. 

As Jesus’ people, we should show mercy because our Father shows mercy. He has been merciful to us and so we are merciful to others. Judging harshly reveals that we have failed to fully understand and appreciate the abundance and undeserving nature of God’s grace to us. As Christians, we should be different. Jesus showed just discernment and Jesus from the cross said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” 

As Sinclair Ferguson has said, “The heart that has tasted the Lord’s grace and forgiveness will always be restrained in its judgment of others. It has seen itself deserving judgment and condemnation before the Lord and yet, instead of experiencing his burning anger, has tasted his infinite mercy.”

Notes

*I read through several helpful resources on this topic. I reference them here since I may have missed citations: Amy-Jill Levine, Sermon on the Mount, Jonathan T. Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, D.A. Carson, Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World, Ed Gallagher, The Sermon on the Mount.

[1] Jesus sent out His disciples and said: “And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” 

[2] As Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Photo by Viktor Talashuk