“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at 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,’ and behold, the log is 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 NASB1995)

This, in its full context, is not teaching that we are never to judge another person’s actions or attitudes or words. What this, and other passages of Scripture like this, is teaching is that we are not to judge other people hypocritically, unjustly, by human standards, by our own traditions, by comparing others to ourselves, or in hate, with the wrong motives, prejudicially, by appearances, and/or without first giving the person a hearing or a chance to defend himself. For not all judging is wrong.

For, as followers of Jesus Christ we are to judge with a righteous judgment, to judge sin within the church, to judge disputable matters between Christians, to judge what is being taught to see if it is biblical, to judge false teachers and false teachings and doctrines, to judge the works and the workers of darkness, to judge false Christians, and to test the spirits to see which ones are or are not of God. So don’t fall for the teaching which teaches we are never to judge anyone about anything they are doing.

For, in today’s passage of Scripture, it is not saying to never judge anyone, or what anyone is doing, or any circumstances, or things being taught, etc. Today’s passage is primarily focused against hypocritical judging, where we might criticize someone else for doing something wrong while we might be doing much worse than what they are doing. So we are first to get rid of the wrong we might be doing and then we can see clearly to help a brother or a sister in Christ to free themselves of any known sin in their own lives.

[Matthew 7:1-5; John 7:24,51; John 8:15-16; Romans 2:3; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-6; 2 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4; Galatians 6:1-5; Ephesians 5:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 5:19-20; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 1 John 2:18-25; 1 John 4:1; Jude 1:22-23; Revelation 2:2]

In Harmony

Based off Romans 12:9-21; 1 Peter 3:8-17
An Original Work / September 2, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Love each other truly.
Cling to what is good.
Hate all that is evil.
Never lack in zeal.
Serve the Lord with fervor.
Joyful in hope be;
Patient in affliction;
Praying faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people
Who are found in need.
Do not be conceited.
Sympathetic be.
Love, and show compassion
In humility.
Keep your tongue from evil.
Peaceful you must be.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;
Listens to their prayers.
But He’s against evil –
Is His to avenge.
Do not fear what they fear.
Suffer patiently.
In your hearts, make Christ Lord.
Serve Him faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

In The Way You Judge
An Original Work / January 22, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love