"Don't Judge Others" - Truth or Cop-out?

"Don't Judge Others" - Truth or Cop-out?

Bible Text: "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1)

Ever heard someone say, “The bible says ‘do not judge’? You probably have. Chances are, you've probably said it yourself. But is this actually a true statement, or just a nice cop-out to keep others away from pointing out our errors? Well, let’s examine the popular scripture that is often quoted in support of this statement.

Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged."

The Prohibition

This is clearly a prohibitive statement – don’t do something. But it is not an open-ended or an absolute prohibitive statement. Rather, it is a conditional one. In this verse , Jesus says “don’t judge” SO THAT “you won’t be judged. In other words, the reason to not judge is to avoid being judged. That is to say, Jesus is not prohibiting judging because it is sin in and of itself, but because it subjects you also to judgment. This observation is supported by Jesus’ next statement: "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matt 7:2). Jesus’ statement can be restated this way: If you don’t want to be judged, don’t judge. Or if there is something in your life similar to what you are judging others on, don’t judge. So Jesus is prohibiting judging others while there is something (may be even bigger) in your own life that you are disregarding.

Jesus further explains the meaning of His statement in verse 3: "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” Notice that the problem is not “looking at the speck in your brother’s eye,” but “looking at the speck in your brother’s eye,” while at the same time you are not considering or you are overlooking the “the beam in your own eye.” Jesus questions why anyone would be eager to help remove the speck or chip in someone else’s eye, but he is not paying attention to the beam in his own eye. Again, notice that the problem is not wanting to help remove the speck from another person’s eye, but it is wanting to do so while not concerned about the beam in your own eye.

The Real Issue

In verse 5, Jesus exposes the crux of the entire 5 verses: hypocrisy. The problem Jesus is addressing here is not judging others, it is hypocrisy. It is noticing the fault in others while overlooking or disregarding the fault in your own life

The Admonition

Jesus now gives His admonition: “Hypocrites! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye” (Matt 7:5). Notice that Jesus does not condemn removing the speck from your brother’s eye. Removing the speck from one’s brother’s eye is actually consistent with other teachings of the Scriptures. In Philippians 2:4, the bible says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” In 1 Corinthians 10:24, Apostle Paul admonishes, “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.” And in 2 Corinthians 11:29, we read, “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” In reality, rather than passivity, proactiveness is what is expected from every believer when it comes to sin or error in the life of their fellows. Notice the word Jesus uses, “brother”. It connotes relationship, love, and fellowship. Each believer is supposed to be his brother’s keeper.

It’s About Doing it in the Right Order

Jesus’ admonition in Mathew 5 is to reverse the sequence of action: first take care of the sin or faults in your life. First pay attention to your own issues. Deal with them. Take care of them. Remove them out of the way. Then you will “see clearly” to remove the speck in your brother’s eye. The objective of removing the speck from one’s brother’s eye is noble and spiritual. However it is hypocritical to overlook or disregard the log in one’s eye, while being eager to help out a brother remove his own speck.

Paul Teaches the Same Principle as Jesus

The strongest correlative passage to Matt 7:1-5 is Romans 2:1-3. Here Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching. He condemns judging others when you practice the same thing:

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. ² But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ³ And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? (Romans 2:1-3)

Paul gives further illustration in verse 21-23 of this same Romans 2:

You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? (Romans 2:21-23)

Clearly what Jesus and Apostle Paul teach is not the prohibition of judging or calling out sin. In fact, Apostle Paul himself called out Apostle Peter when he was in error: "Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed" (Galatians 2:11). Obviously, Peter did not retort "Thou shall not judge, Paul!" Believers are to hold each other accountable morally and spiritually, as well as to adjudicate issues amongst ourselves (see 1 Cor 6:2-3). Althought it is always to be done in the spirit of love, and with the intent of restoration, nevertheless the truth must be spoken (Ephesians 4:15). Judging others while one is involved in the same or similar sin is what Jesus condemns.

"You are not supposed to judge" is mostly a convenient cop-out when people dislike accountability or correction of their unbiblical lifestyle. It is amazing how the same people who use this verse to conveniently avoid their sins being pointed out have no hesitation in making moral judgement calls on others. The yardstick for childred of God is the bible. The bible says, "...if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:31). It is far better to be lovingly judged by other believers or even by ourselves than to eventually appear before the courts of heaven.