Matthew 7:1-5 1Judge not, so that you be not judged. 2For with the judgment you judge you will be judged, and with the measure you measure will be measured to you. 3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” and look, there is the log in your own eye? 5You 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’ instruction in verse 1 is often misunderstood and quoted out of context to mean that we should never judge another person. This interpretation is fed by the modern idea of relativism: truth is determined by each person, so we cannot say that another person’s truth is wrong. But is it ever right to judge? When is it not right to judge? Jesus is not saying here that we should turn a blind eye to what people do around us. There is a time and place for correction and constructive criticism.
God has created us with the ability to make value judgments. We must be able to tell between good and bad so that we can be God’s holy and righteous people in this world. The whole Sermon on the Mount is about making good choices. Jesus does not abolish the law or the need for judgment.
There are times when we need to judge other people. A lot has to do with how we interpret the word judge. To judge (krivō) means to make a decision or choice about a matter. To judge basically means to make a choice or distinction between things. It involves looking at the facts and then making a choice whether something is right or wrong. In terms of English, there is a difference between being discerning and being judgmental. Judging can have a positive sense by discerning and carefully selective about a person’s actions or thoughts.
The problem with taking 7:1 by itself is that we begin to think that we should not judge at all. God calls us to be holy like him. God’s character sets the standard by which we must live. Holiness is defined and described throughout the Bible, especially in the Sermon on the Mount. We need to make choices every day about how we act, what we say, where we go, what we see, and how we spend our time. As we grow in our faith in Jesus and knowledge of his teachings, we get better at discernment, and our convictions develop a stronger conscience. We must be careful that we do not let our spiritual senses become dulled so that we become indifferent to the sin around and among us.
Jesus uses the word “judge” in a negative way in this passage, like we might use the word judgmental. He points out the same type of reciprocal relationship as forgiveness in that how we judge others will be how God judges us. His illustration of a speck and log is vivid and easy to understand. The point is clear: do not be so picky about another’s faults until you take care of your own problems. There are several dangers of being judgmental and picky about another person’s problems.
First, we neglect the changes we must make in our own lives. It is easy to find faults with others, but it is more difficult to make changes in our own lives. Many people are problem solvers and like to fix the problems of others but are slow to fix their own. Second, we lower the people around us instead of lifting them up. No one likes to be on the receiving end of the judgment of another because it is debilitating, demoralizing, discouraging. Third, we say or imply that we are better than others. However, we are all in this life together. We are all fallen creatures and need the grace of God and the grace of one another. Fourth, this type of judging is another form of hypocrisy. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were like whitewashed tombs: they looked righteous on the outside and were quick to pass judgment on others, but inside, they were spiritually broken and dead. Fifth, our judgment is evidence of our own spiritual blindness. Because of the plank in our eyes, we cannot even see into our own hearts and our own faults and sins. We could become calloused to the changes God wants to make in our own lives. Sixth, judging can result in boasting. Putting others down builds up our pride and ego. By tearing others down, we think we will look better. Lastly, criticism is often enjoyed. There is a tendency in human nature to take pleasure in hearing and sharing bad news and reveling in the shortcomings of others.
Jesus gave a clear cure for the problem: remove the plank of judgmentalism out of your eye. By taking care of your problems, you can more easily and lovingly help others.
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