“Do Not Judge Me”
Mike Johnson
Matthew 7:1 says, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Many people know this passage but often misunderstand it. They have the mistaken idea that if we do not agree with them on specific Bible questions or their manner of life, we should not say anything about it. According to many, if we point out sin and error, we have done wrong as we have judged them and have violated Matthew 7:1. This passage does not teach, as some seem to think, that it is improper for Christians under any circumstance to point out the wrongdoing of those who are involved in doctrinal error or even immortality. Consider now a closer look at Matthew 7:1 and the concept of “judging.”
To begin with, consider John 7:24, where Jesus says, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” This verse helps us see there are some ways in which we are to judge and other ways in which we are not to judge. Righteous judgment would be judgment in which the standard is God’s Word. Hebrews 5:14 helps us see this concept as it says we are to discern between good and evil. Some judgment is required to do this.
Consider Galatians 6:1, which says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” This verse says spiritual people are to restore those overtaken in a “trespass.” It would take some judgment concerning a fallen person’s action to restore him. Besides, how can we restore such a person without pointing out his error? Would a person be guilty of judging, as condemned in Matthew 7:1, for carrying out the responsibility enjoined in Galatians 6:1?
On various occasions in the Bible, people involved in sin received rebuked. Galatians 2:11-14 reveals an incident where Paul rebuked Peter “before them all” for having a sinful attitude. To view Matthew 7:1 as some interpret it today, someone would have needed to tell Paul, “Paul, you have no right to judge him. You are not God.” However, Paul had every right to rebuke Peter, who was guilty of sin. Paul also admonished the people of Athens because they worshiped idols (Acts 17:16-34). He was not judging in the wrong sense (as spoken against in Matthew 7:1) but was carrying out God’s Will in exposing error. In the same way, Aquila and Priscilla were not guilty of judging when they took Apollos aside and taught him the truth about the baptism of John (Acts 18:24-28).
2 Timothy 4:2 tells us we are to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” How can one accomplish this without, in some sense, judging? Today, if we “convince” and “rebuke,” many would say we are wrong because we are guilty of judging. Yet, we would be doing what God precisely said to do.
What about Matthew 7:1? Does God’s Word contradict itself? It does not. The solution involves taking a closer look at the context of Matthew 7:1. Verses 3-5 show us the judging under consideration is hypocritical judging. These verses speak of one who has a plank in his eye, condemning another who has a speck in his eye. The text does not justify the plank or the speck. Instead, it teaches that the one with the plank should not condemn the one with the speck. A person must take the plank out of his eye, and then he can see clearly to take the speck out of someone else’s eye. Thus, Matthew 7:1 does not condemn all judging, but instead, it speaks against hypocritical judgment.