1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (Matthew 7:1-6 KJV)
Judging Others
Our Savior here instructs us on how to deal with the faults of others. His words rebuke the scribes and Pharisees, who were harsh and judgmental toward others while being self-righteous. Some people have the authority to judge, such as magistrates and ministers. Christ did not come to remove their authority, but this teaching is directed at private individuals, especially His disciples.
The prohibition is ‘Judge not’. We must judge ourselves and our actions, but we must not assume authority over others in a way we would not accept for ourselves. Scripture instructs us to be subject to one another. We should not set ourselves up as judges to make our word law. We must not speak evil of our brothers (James 4:11), despise them, or rashly judge them without cause. We must avoid assuming the worst of people or making unfair inferences from their words and actions.
Judgment should not be uncharitable, harsh, or vengeful. We must not judge a person’s entire character based on a single act, nor assume their spiritual state based on how they treat us. It is God’s role to judge hearts and intentions, and we must not take His place. Instead, we should counsel and help them rather than condemn them.
The reason for this prohibition is ‘That you may not be judged’. If we presume to judge others, we should expect to be judged ourselves. Those who are harsh and critical of others often find themselves criticized in return. Those who attack others’ reputations will have their own reputation attacked. Most importantly, they will be judged by God and receive greater condemnation (James 3:1).
If we are humble and charitable in our judgments of others, we will not be judged by God in the same way. Just as God forgives those who forgive others, He will not harshly judge those who are merciful in judging their brethren. It is a sign of humility and charity to refrain from harsh judgment, and God will acknowledge and reward it accordingly (Romans 14:10).
God often applies the law of retaliation in His judgments: “With what judgment you judge, you will be judged” (Matthew 7:2). The measure we use for others will be measured back to us. This principle is seen throughout Scripture (Judges 1:7; Revelation 13:10; 18:6). Those who are overly severe in dealing with others should consider how they will stand when God judges them. If we are extreme in marking the faults of our brethren, we may expect God to be equally exact in dealing with us.
Because we must not judge others harshly, it does not mean we should avoid reproving them when necessary. Reproof is a duty and can be a means of saving a soul from destruction. However, it must be done wisely and in the right spirit. Not everyone is fit to reprove others. Those guilty of the same faults—or worse—disgrace themselves when they try to reprove others (Matthew 7:3-5). Take note of this:
- Some are quick to find fault with others over small matters while ignoring their own serious sins. They notice a mote (a small splinter) in their brother’s eye but fail to recognize the beam (a large plank) in their own.
- Sin varies in degree: some sins are minor in comparison to others, but every sin is serious. Even what seems like a small fault is still harmful, just as a splinter in the eye can be painful and dangerous.
- Many people are blind to their own sins. They live under guilt and the power of sin but do not recognize it. We should see our own sins as greater than the same sins in others.
- It is common for those who are most sinful to be the most judgmental. The Pharisees were quick to condemn others while justifying themselves.
- Those who are severe in condemning others while excusing themselves are hypocrites. Jesus calls them “You hypocrite!” (Matthew 7:5). If they truly hated sin, they would first hate it in themselves.
- Before reproving others, we must first reform ourselves. It is hypocritical to attempt to remove the mote from our brother’s eye while we ignore the beam in our own. Those who correct others should be blameless and strive for a holy life.
- A person’s own sins should not keep them from giving loving reproof when necessary, but they should make them cautious and humble in doing so.
A good rule for reprovers: “First remove the beam from your own eye” (Matthew 7:5).
- If we desire to help our brother with his faults, we must first deal with our own. We should not excuse ourselves by saying, “I have a beam in my own eye, so I cannot correct my brother.” Instead, we must repent and correct our own faults so we can be of help to others.
- Those who correct others must live blameless lives. Church leaders, in particular, must be careful in their conduct. Elders must have a good reputation (1 Timothy 3:2, 7).
By following these principles, we will avoid hypocrisy, honor God, and be truly helpful to our brethren. However, not everyone is fit to be reproved. “Give not that which is holy to the dogs” (Matthew 7:6). This may be understood in two ways:
- As a rule for the disciples in preaching the gospel. They were not forbidden to preach to the wicked and profane—Christ himself preached to tax collectors and sinners—but when they encountered those who were obstinate, blasphemous, and hostile to the gospel, they were not to waste time on them. Instead, they were to turn to others (Acts 13:41).
- As a rule for all in giving reproof. Our zeal against sin must be guided by wisdom. We should not waste instructions, counsels, and rebukes—much less comforts—on hardened scorners who will only be enraged by them. If you throw a pearl to a swine, it will react as if you threw a stone at it. Similarly, reproofs will be treated as insults (Luke 11:45; Jeremiah 6:10).
Good counsel and reproof are holy things, like pearls—precious and valuable. “As an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover” (Proverbs 25:12). “A wise reproof is like excellent oil” (Psalm 141:5).
Among the wicked, some have reached such a level of corruption that they are compared to dogs and swine—impudent and vile. They have walked so long in the way of sinners that they now sit in the seat of the scornful. They openly hate instruction and reject it with defiance. They return to their sin like a dog to its vomit or a pig to the mire.
Reproofs are wasted on such people and only expose the reprover to their scorn and hostility. They will trample the correction underfoot and turn against the reprover with rage. They despise control and advice and will respond with hatred, persecution, or even violence.
Example—Herod turned on John the Baptist for speaking against his marriage to Herodias. Those who hate reproofs and attack those who show them their sin and danger are beyond correction. “Who shall heal and help those who refuse to be healed and helped?” It is evident that God has determined to destroy such people (2 Chronicles 25:16).
This rule also applies to the sacred ordinances of the gospel. Holy things must not be given to those who are openly wicked, lest they be treated with contempt and unholy persons be hardened in their sin. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs.”
However, we must be very careful in judging who qualifies as a “dog” or “swine.” Many have been lost because they were thought to be beyond saving when they could have been helped. Just as we must not assume that all professing believers are hypocrites, we must also avoid assuming that all the wicked are beyond hope.
Christ cares for the safety of his people and does not want them to expose themselves needlessly to the fury of those who will turn against them. “Be not righteous over much, so as to destroy yourself.” Self-preservation is one of Christ’s own laws, and the blood of his followers is precious to him.