(Matthew 7:1-5)
“1 Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 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.”
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Many unbelievers and/or hypocritical Christians desire to use verses that are cherry-picked out of the Bible in an attempt to avoid correction and/or justify their wrongdoings. But whatever verse is used must be understood in its proper context. For example, I once had an atheist challenge me to debate him. After thoroughly investigating the videos he published online, I saw that in all his videos, he was extremely prideful, aggressive, argumentative, and intentionally attacked people of faith. I invited him to ask me questions but he wanted to only debate and argue. I sent him an email and explained why I believe what I believe. In response, he argued aggressively that everything I believed was wrong. In response, I simply told him he has received all he needs to know in order to come to the Lord but that his pride has made him spiritually blind to where he cannot see GOD nor recognize His presence or the evidence of His creation. However, because I told him that he was spiritually blind, he attempted to use the Bible against me by quoting Matthew 7:5, and he called me a hypocrite and told me I needed to take the log out of my eye. But did that atheist use that verse in its proper context? No.
Matthew 7:3-5 clearly describes the interaction between a believer and his brother. The word “brother” is the English translation of the Greek word [80] adelphos, which means someone of the same womb or parent and thus, by implication, another believer (Matthew 7:11; 12:46-50; John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:5; 1John 3:1-10). This Greek word is the equivalent of the Hebrew word [251] ach, which means a brother, denoting any blood-relation or kinsman.
Studying the entire passage in its proper context (Matthew 7:1-6 and Luke 6:37-42 [parallel passage]), it becomes evident this instruction against judging a brother is in reference to one believer to another believer in regards to a hypocritical accusation. For example, if I were to condemn my brother for his lust and quoted Matthew 5:28, telling him that he is an adulterer but yet I am enslaved to pornography in the privacy of my home, I would be judging my brother hypocritically because I would have condemned him for something I would have been guilty of doing. Therefore, it is the prideful, self-righteous, and hypocritical judgment that Jesus condemns. And this is essentially the same instruction Paul gave his audience in Romans 2:1-3 when he wrote, “Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?”
Matthew 7:1-5 is not commanding us to never judge; rather, it is instructing us to never judge self-righteously and hypocritically. This passage does not tell us to overlook wrong sinful behavior; rather, it’s a call to be discerning. Before we decide to call attention to the sins of our fellow believers, we should first examine ourselves to ensure we are not also guilty of that same sin. Once I remove the log from my own eye, then I will see clearly to help fellow believers. Therefore, Jesus did not command Christians to never judge. In fact, Jesus told us that we will be able to discern false prophets if we judge rightly by examining their fruits (Matthew 7:15-23).
Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline by calling attention to immorality and idolatry and even removing the person who claims to be a fellow believer yet acts wickedly. (1Corinthians 5:1-2,9-13). Further, Paul states that the saints will judge both the world and angels and so we should be able to judge between brethren (1Corinthians 6:2-5). The word Paul used to describe judging between brethren is [1252] diakrinó, which is a compounded word from [1223] dia and [2919] krinó. The word dia denotes the channel of an act; through, back-and-forth, thorough, throughout, successfully going across to the other side and returning again. The word krinó means to judge, decide, determine, or conclude. Thus, the word diakrinó means a thorough investigation that results in a determined judgment.
But now we have a perceived problem: if the Bible asserts that GOD is the Judge of the world (Psalm 96:13; Acts 17:31; Revelation 20:11-15), including evil angels (2Peter 2:4; Revelation 12:9), why does Paul say that Christians will be the judges of the world and angels? Well, obviously, GOD is the Judge of wicked humans and angels in a different sense in which Christians will be. Whatever judgment we have will be as GOD’s delegates or representatives, not by any right we have inherent in ourselves. We are simply the instruments or vessels through which GOD executes His judgment. We do not make the ultimate decisions. It is not clear exactly what Paul envisioned in this passage, but we do know from other Scriptures that there are some legitimate senses in which it can be said that Christians will judge the world.
First, during Christ’s reign, the apostles “shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).
Second, in Revelation 20:4, it is written that those who were faithful to Christ during the tribulation “reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Also, “[John] saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them.”
Third, some believe that GOD will judge the godless by the godly conduct of believers. Jesus said even of the men of Nineveh that they “will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah” (Matthew 12:41). Apparently, GOD will hold up repentant sinners as examples to those who did not repent, and those who did not repent will, therefore, be justly condemned by their own contemporaries. It is for this reason Jesus said to the Jews in John 5:45, “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope.” Likewise, the angels who sinned in the perfect environment of Heaven will be judged on the basis of the conduct of humans who were saved in the imperfect environment of Earth (2Peter 2:4).
And finally, Jesus commands us, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). In essence, GOD is telling us to judge righteously without partiality, just as GOD Himself does.
So, are Christians permitted to judge others? Yes and no. Christians are encouraged to judge righteously without partiality in order to discern right from wrong in accordance to what is written in GOD’s Word. However, while we are judging righteously regarding sin, we must not ever judge a person’s eternal destination because it is not our place to determine another person’s eternal destination. It is for this reason James wrote in James 4:12, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?” Also, it is for this reason Paul wrote in Romans 14:4,10-12, “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand…. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written [in Isaiah 45:23], ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Sadly, in our “politically correct” age, we are told that it’s not our right to point fingers and pass judgment on others. However, this is actually a judgment in and of itself, and thus it contradicts the principle that we should not judge others. So when someone tells you that it’s wrong for you to judge, simply ask them, “So then why are you judging me?” Anyone who says Jesus prohibits all judgment has taken His words out of context. But of course, our goal should be correction rather than condemnation when we make righteous judgments. We should keep a humble spirit when we judge others, but we should never accept and put into practice the wrong belief that it is wrong to practice and communicate discernment.
1Corinthians 4:4-5 says, “For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”
Galatians 6:1-3 says, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
In conclusion, the key verse in this specific passage under examination is Matthew 7:2: “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” Therefore, as Christians, we are permitted to judge, but we must be mindful as to whether we are judging in order to avoid pitfalls or whether our judgements are prideful, self-righteous, and hypocritical conclusions that condemn a person to Hell. Do we desire to magnify others’ faults while minimizing and excusing our own?
In my response to the atheist, my judgment about him being spiritually blind was made in order to avoid a pitfall of an unnecessary argument, it was not a judgment regarding his eternal destination. I believe that GOD is able to soften his hardened heart and draw that man to Himself. However, Christians must sometimes make judgments with discernment in order to make the best use of our limited time here on this earth. Some people are simply unwilling to hear the Truth. We may make judgments regarding their current actions, but we are not to have hatred for them in our hearts or play the role of Judge and condemn them to Hell. Instead, Jesus commands us, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). But don’t believe the lie that telling someone the Truth is unloving. On the contrary, Christians are called to speak the Truth out from love (Ephesians 4:15). Truly, speaking the Truth is the most loving thing we can do because only the Truth will set someone free (John 8:32). And Christ Jesus is the Truth, the way and the life (John 14:6).
The Artist J:
Being a Judge is something that God takes very seriously, as it is an office that He has reserved for Jesus Christ Himself, saying in John 5:21-24,27, ”For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” And “He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.”
Jesus Christ, God the Son who gives life is the Judge. The grace that God gives through faith is the determining factor in whether our judgment from Jesus will be reconciliation with God or condemnation in hell. This office as JUDGE is strictly reserved for Himself. Christians here on earth are not meant to, and are not qualified to determine who is condemned and who is saved. Christians are never to judge others from a place of condemnation, because Christians have not been given the authority to sentence others to condemnation. Instead, Christians are called to judge righteously from a place of restoration and transformation.
How can someone who has broken the law condemn someone else who has also broken the law. It would be like a thief telling someone else to stop stealing, or a murderer judging another for killing someone. It would be hypocritical and self-righteous. This is why Jesus had an issue with the pharisees and other religious leaders at the time, because they thought they were better and more righteous than others, judging them while also being blind to the truth. A number of times the pharisees even judged and criticized Jesus, and every time you judge someone in condemnation you are by default equating yourself as better or more righteous than that person. So in this sense the pharisees thought they were more righteous and a more suitable judge than God. They had placed themselves on God’s throne, and we have to be careful not to do the same. Galatians 6:3 says ” If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.”
Matthew 7:1-5 is a rebuke at the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, because they were quick to condemn the sins of other people in judgment, but did not hold themselves accountable to the same standard they were using. Notice how by giving the example of the speck and log in the eye, Jesus was showing much more grace to the one with the speck by even creating the example than to the hypocrite. Because a hypocrite is so hardened in their sin that they believe they are in the right.
The pharisees were judging others because they wanted to be seen as righteous by others (Matthew 6:1). They were honoring God with their lips, but their hearts were far from God (Mark 7:6).
Jesus said in Matthew 23:27-28, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
And in Luke 20:46-47, Jesus says “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
They were trying to remove specks from people’s eyes while having a log in their own. They had broken the same law that they were condemning others for breaking. Which brings up the question, who among us has never broken God’s law? The only answer is Christ. Therefore Jesus is the only person who can ever truly see clearly without a log in his eye to remove specks from others. Which is why Jesus is the ultimate Judge on who is condemned and who is pardoned.
Yet Matthew 7:1-5 regarding the speck and log does not mean that Christians are never called to judge others — because they are — but they are called to judge rightly and shed light on people’s sin only in order to raise that person to a place of transformation, not condemnation. To show grace and have a “he who is without sin cast the first stone” mentality while likewise encouraging them to “go and sin no more” (John 8:3-11).
Christian judgement should always come from a place of love, to build the person up and not to tear them down. We are to bare each other’s burdens and encourage each other in Christ to repent, knowing full well that we are just as capable and susceptible to sin as the person who is struggling with it that we’re trying to help.
Seeing a fellow Christian sin should not make us look down on that person but instead examine our own hearts and strengthen ourselves in Christ because we can fall short of God’s glory as well. Sin is always crouching at our door, which is why we have to keep watch and war against it. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
We are to confront each other’s sin, but we are also to encourage each other daily, so that none is hardened by sin’s deception, and encourage each other to repent and keep moving forward if one does fall, knowing we have a propitiation (the sacrifice of Jesus that satisfied God’s wrath and punishment on our behalf) for our sins and an advocate (helper, or mediator) with the Father (Hebrews 3:13; 1John 2:1-2).
Christians should be looked upon as mentors rather than judges. Both mentors and judges show other people what they are doing is wrong, but a mentor’s duty is to walk with them until they are able to do it right.
The way we judge others is the way we’ll be judged ourselves,
If we look down in condemnation, we may soon be looking up from the fires of hell,
But if we see a brother fall, and have to him the urge to tell,
Instead of pointing in ridicule, perhaps pick him up and disciple him into living well,
Maybe the world needs less Christian judges and more Christian mentors to walk with them on their path,
Both show their wrongdoings, but only one helps guide them passed.
Quest For Truth 