Matthew 7:1-6

DAY 51
Date: 5-11-25

Do Not Judge?

Remind people that the prayer text group can’t be added to. If we want to add a new person to our group, we actually have to create a new group, which is not a problem. I just wanted you to all be aware so that, if we create a new group with a new person, you don’t accidentally use the old group, which would not have the new person included in it.

Pray

Read scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

(NIV 1984) “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

Review:
Matthew 5 was about …. Understanding God’s righteousness (vs man’a)
Matthew 6 was about … Understanding man’s duty toward God, or, in other words: Vertical Relationships

Now, we come to Matthew 7, which is about:

1. Understanding man’s duty toward man, or, in other words: Horizontal Relationships, and 
2. putting SOM all together. 

About chapter 7, our book (Holman Commentary), says on page 95: 

In a Nutshell
Matthew challenges his readers to choose between obeying the will of God and disobeying the will of God. For the believer, this involves humility, self-examination, and dependence on him for everything.

BRIEF OVERVIEW of PASSAGE:

Q: What is the crux of verse 1?

A: _______________ (fill in the blank!)

Q: Verse sounds like a command. Plain and simple and clear. Does it not?

BUT – IS IT?  Is the command not to judge a universal command? A blanket statement covering every situation and scenario? Does this command mean that we cannot form or express opinions about other people?

A: No! Today’s message from Jesus is a master class on understanding the importance of context in reading and studying God’s Word.

First let’s look at the example of speed limit signs to illustrate what we mean by “context,” and the importance of reading and understanding any communication in it’s intended context. This is especially true of reading and understanding God’s Word in it’s proper and intended context. Salesman and politicians are famous for twisting various communications and taking quotes out of context to make them mean something they (the quotes and communications) were never meant to mean. We can, unintentionally, and quite by accident, do the same thing with our bibles. We must always strive to understand the truth of God’s message to us in it’s proper and intended context. Or we will get wrong ideas about God and our faith. 

So, let’s look at an example. Speed limit signs. Are they universal? Or, are they meant to be understood in context?  

So, if we look at other passages in the Bible that reference judging, we will see that Matthew 7:1 cannot be a universal command not to ever judge anyone or anything because John 7:24, for example, says 24 “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

(See the Relevant verses section for more related verses.)

A: Today’s passage is a brilliant teaching on when to judge, and when not to judge, and, maybe even more importantly, HOW TO JUDGE CORRECTLY. 

Verse 1 is a command not to judge, but it is CONDITIONAL. The condition is stated in verse 5, where Jesus says, “…first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

So … according to this passage, we are NOT to judge others (illustrated by taking the sawdust out of his eye – helping to make his eye good, not bad – see Matthew 6:22-23) UNTIL we first deal with the plank (a HUGE helping of sawdust!) in our own eye. We are to judge ourselves before we judge others. If we don’t first deal with our own issues before trying to deal with or fix or judge our brothers issues, Jesus says in verse 5 that we would be HYPOCRITES if we did that.

About this, William Hendricksen, in the New Testament Commentary says, (New Testament Commentary Series Hendriksen-Kistemaker (12 Vols.)) “To be discriminating and critical is necessary; to be hypercritical is wrong.”

We are to first examine ourselves, to look at ourselves and check our own motives before we look at others and judge them. After we have first examined our own hearts, then we can, carefully and prayerfully – with the right motives – seek to help others, but only with good and Godly, Spirit led intentions.

Always remember –  CONTEXT IS KING!

NOTE: Mutual accountability among believers is a good, important thing. Our passage today does NOT discourage it, but, rather, encourages it done with a right spirit and a right motive for mutual edification.

Verse 2 says, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Q:  What do you think this means?

A:  If you show someone an ounce of grace, somehow, someway, at some point in time, in God’s mysterious providence, you will be shown an ounce of grace in return. Likewise if you show someone an ounce of judgement, or an ounce of mercy or an ounce of criticism, it will return to you in some way. Whether an ounce or a pound, what goes around, comes around. (See Luke 6:37-38)

But keep in mind this very important principle: We do not see as God sees. We do not know or understand as God knows and understands. Sometimes, probably most of the time, in our fallen, sinful, self-centeredness, we think we are giving someone a pound of grace, when we are really only giving them an ounce. And sometimes we think someone else is giving us a pound of judgement, when in reality, it is only an ounce (even though it may FEEL like a pound to us.) 

We do not see everything clearly as God does. We do not see the motives of the heart as God does. Learn to trust God with our relationships. Default to being very careful not to judge others. We must be very careful in our assumptions of other peoples motivations. 

We need to be more honest with ourselves about the plank in our own eyes, and less worried or judgmental about the speck of sawdust in our brother and sisters eyes.

The Supporting Idea, on page 96 of our book says, (Holman Commentary) “Jesus’ followers discern their own faults before examining the faults of others.”

So the condition is this: Before you judge others, first judge yourself.

Or, stated another way, Do not judge others UNTIL you have first judged yourself!

Often-times, our hypercritical judgment of others is born in our own self-righteous PRIDE.

This principle is beautifully illustrated in John7:53-8:11 where Jesus talks about the women caught in adultery and about to be stoned to death, and says, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.“

Another great illustration of this truth is found in 2 Samuel 12:1-7, the story about the rich man, the poor neighbor and his one sheep. 

See also Roman’s 2:1-3ff.

While superficial, self-righteous and hypercritical judgement of others is obviously unfair and wrong, we are commanded to judge, but to judge correctly, and fairly, with the other person’s good in mind. Indeed, we are to speak the truth – whatever that may be – IN LOVE. 

I like the way the NLT translates this passage. It says, Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT) “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.“

One way to briefly characterize this passage is to say that “what goes around comes around.”

To support this, the end of next weeks passage, Matthew 7:12 says (NIV) “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” 

This verse is more commonly known as what?

The Golden Rule.

As we will see next week, verse 12 can serve as the summary verse for this whole section.

Ultimately, we not to put others down, especially those we disagree with or those who are sinning, but, rather, we are to speak the truth in love, with the goal of seeking restoration and reconciliation, not one-upsmanship, or revenge and death. 

Q: How does verse 6 fit in with verses 1-5? Verse 6 seems so different from verses 1-5. 

A: Verse 6, I think, is saying to evaluate and be discerning (judge) before you judge others. We are told not to “give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.” 

I think this verse is telling us to be careful what you share, and to be careful with whom you share it. This requires discerning judgment. 

I think this verse is holding high, with dignity, that which is sacred (do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.) think that Jesus is referring that very precious thing that He has done for us. I think He is referring to the very reason He came down to earth; the most important communication in history. In short, I this Jesus is referring to the Gospel. 

Even though Jesus has not yet at this point in Matthew gone to the cross, He is preaching the Good News. The Gospel. This was why He came. 

The Gospel is sacred. And should be treated with reverence by all Christians. 

In the course of sharing the Gospel with the world, there will be those who will not only not be accepting of it, but be enemies of it. We need to share the Gospel with everyone – the whole world – but for those who respond in hostility, anger, ridicule and condescension, we will need to move on. Jesus did this. Paul did this. And so should we. Others are waiting to hear the Good news. 

The challenge: 

Love God and love our neighbor, by first examining the motives of our own hearts before we judge others, but, be careful what you say, and to whom.

The MAIN POINT

Our book says, (Holman Commentary) 

“The righteousness of Jesus’ followers will be evident in their relationships and in their daily choices.”

APPLICATION

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Quotes:

From our book (Holman Commentary), on page 95: 

In a Nutshell

Matthew challenges his readers to choose between obeying the will of God and disobeying the will of God. For the believer, this involves humility, self-examination, and dependence on him for everything.

The Supporting Idea, on page 96 of our book says, (Holman Commentary) “Jesus’ followers discern their own faults before examining the faults of others.”

(New Testament Commentary Series Hendriksen-Kistemaker (12 Vols.)) “To be discriminating and critical is necessary; to be hypercritical is wrong.”

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Next Week:

The GOLDEN RULE

Matthew 7:7-12

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Notes:

* Everything with an asterisk and is italicized and purple is my own added words and thoughts and are not part of the actual verse or quote. 

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Notes:

* Everything with an asterisk and is italicized and purple is my own added words and thoughts and are not part of the actual verse or quote.