Matthew 7:1-6

You may have heard words from this passages quoted by people who may not know any other words from the Bible.  “Judge not lest you be judged.”  People like to quote these words, it seems, when they are being accurately fingered for some misdeed or another. I know because I’ve done it myself.

Let us properly understand the passage, as well as the rest of Scripture on this issue.  Scripture assumes that we will be involved in having an opinion about others or their actions from time to time.  After we have removed the plank from our own eye we will be able to take the speck out of our brother’s eyes (v5). 

The truth in v6 requires a certain type of judgment.  Jesus instructs us not to take what is sacred and waste it on those who only mock and ridicule it.  But did He not use terms of judgment in calling them dogs and swine?  An illustration of this is found in 1 Cor. 6 when believers are told not to take their differences before unbelievers by lawsuits.  They are instead to find other believers to judge in the matter.

What parent can train up his child without exercising judgment?  Or how can one make wise decisions in relationships or business without judging?  We may call it discernment but God commands us to judge, using the same term as here (Jn 7:24; Ac 15:19; 1 Cor. 5:3,12f; 6:1ff).  How can we understand righteousness greater than the scribes and Pharisees if we do not use judgment?

What Jesus does deal with here is hypocritical judgment.  In the religion of His day (as in the religion of our day) there was a lot of finger-pointing.  Hypocritical judgment is a way to escape personal accountability.  Remember that Jesus has been calling us to an impossible standard.  But how often have we excused our falling short of the glory of God by comparing ourselves to others, saying, “I’m better than most of the Christians or church-going people I know.”  This is hypocritical judgment.

Another thing common in religion is for those who lead or teach to point the finger at others, while denying or covering up their own sin.  I believe that is why this passage is here.  In Matt. 5-6 Jesus has laid out the extreme standard of life in His Kingdom.  And now He seeks to deny us our normal rationalizations and excuses as to why we don’t measure up.  

You may not like the way Jesus has pointed out your sins and failings in this marvelous sermon.  But let us remember a couple of things.  1) His whole point is to bring us to our knees in humility.  The standard is impossibly high so we will come to the conclusion: “I can’t do this.”  Only in that place will we cry out to God for mercy and grace.  2) Jesus points the finger at us because He, and He alone, has fulfilled all righteousness.  He has kept the impossible standard with perfection.  Thus He is the Judge.  But He is also, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jer. 23:5-6; 33:15-16).

Let us humble ourselves before the Lord.  No excuses; no rationalizations.