One of the most commonly misunderstood and misused verses of the Bible is Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (NIV). In our culture where ‘tolerance’ is valued more than truth, this verse is quoted often by those who want to silence anyone who speaks against false beliefs and immoral behaviors. According to the 'tolerance' crowd, we are not supposed to say the beliefs and behaviors of others are wrong. They prefer a “live and let live” mentality, where only affirmation and acceptance are allowed. Christians, too, have used this verse to justify not making any significant (or uncomfortable) judgments themselves, and to discourage other Christians from making judgments that could create tension or potential conflict in the church. Whether it’s used by Christians or the culture, this interpretation of Jesus’s words is a misrepresentation of what Jesus actually taught.
As with other verses that are often misunderstood, this verse needs to be read in context for a correct interpretation and right understanding. People tend to read the first two or three words, “Judge not” or “Do not judge” (depending on the translation), and think that is the sum of the message: It’s always wrong to judge. Period.
Reading just the next four verses, however, reveals that Jesus wasn’t telling us never to judge others; he was telling us how to judge. We aren’t told to ignore the speck in our brother’s eye and leave it there to fester. We are told to first judge ourselves using the same standard so we can judge rightly, without being self-righteous or hypocritical:
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye” (Matthew 7:1-5 ESV, emphasis added).
Immediately after this passage, Jesus says, "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you" (Matthew 7:6 ESV). He wasn’t talking about literal dogs and pigs; he was referring to types of people. His instructions implied the need to evaluate who is considered worthy of receiving the gospel message, and then to discriminate according to that judgment.
Jesus Judged Others
If Jesus meant we should never speak negatively about the beliefs and behaviors of others, he would have been contradicting himself by example later in Matthew’s gospel where we find Jesus judging some Pharisees quite harshly:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?...Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness (Matthew 23:15-17, 27 ESV, emphasis added).
If Jesus meant we should never pass judgment on others, he would be contradicting Himself by his own words in John’s gospel when he said to the crowd, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24 ESV, emphasis added). Again, Jesus is teaching how to judge.
Other passages of Scripture indicate that right judgment is necessary for functions of the church involving discipline and discernment.
Church Discipline Requires Judgment
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians gives instructions to judge and avoid immoral people in the church:
“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you" (1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ESV, emphasis added).
Again, in the next chapter, Paul writes concerning settling disputes in the church (which requires judgment):
“Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” (1 Cor. 6:2-3 ESV).
Discernment Requires Judgment
The Cambridge dictionary defines discernment as “the ability to judge people and things well.” Every Christian should seek to practice discernment, and nothing can be rightly discerned without distinguishing (judging) between truth and error.
Jesus warns against false prophets in the church: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matt. 7:15). We can’t discern a false prophet from a true prophet without making some kind of judgment.
We also can’t call out and avoid false teachers without using discernment: “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them" (Rom 16:17).
We are to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” and to “refute those who oppose sound doctrine" (Jude 3; Titus 1:9). This means we must be able to judge what is sound doctrine and what is not.
Final Thoughts
When someone says, “You shouldn’t judge!” they are judging you for judging. It’s a self-refuting statement. People only say "Don't judge me!" when someone disagrees with them. When someone makes a positive judgment like “Your piano performance was magnificent!” or “You look beautiful in that sweater!” it's highly improbable the response will be “Don't judge me!”
The idea that it’s wrong to ever make judgments is entirely impractical. We all make judgments every day: Is it safe to cross the street? Should I let my children watch this movie? Is that person telling the truth? We want the judges in our legal system to make right judgments about people in their courtrooms. Many of us have found comfort in being able to trust the judgment of others—parents, a spouse, a mentor or good friend, etc.—when we need wise counsel.
Making judgments is a necessary part of life. Judging the beliefs and behavior of others is necessary for the church to guard against immorality and heresies taking root. When we rightly judge that someone has wandered from the truth and we are able to bring correction, we will “save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20 ESV). The issue is not whether to judge, but how to judge.
For Christians, judging rightly requires maturity, love, wisdom, and knowledge of biblical doctrine. We are not to be ‘curmudgeonly Christians’ who are petty and hypercritical, always looking for opportunities to lash out when there is disagreement of any kind. We are not to judge unfairly, hypocritically, self-righteously, or without offering compassion and forgiveness.
Christians aren't wrong for judging, as long as it’s done with right attitudes and right reasons.