Judging Others Many people know two Bible verses: John 3:16, which they think says “all you have to do to be saved is believe/accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior,” and Matt.7:1 , (though they usually don’t know where it is found) which they think says “Don’t judge me” any therefore covers everything else not covered by the first passage. To them, these two passages (at least as they understand / apply them) comprise all that one needs to know about the Bible and Christianity. While this lesson will not be a correction of these points, or a more complete rendering of what should comprise one’s knowledge of Scripture, it will take a few minutes to consider….

Judging Others, Matthew 7:1-5 Preliminary, but essential observations: V.1 does not, and cannot, prohibit all “judging” of one another, cf. John 7:24; Gal.6:1; or even v.6. It is, when considered in the context of vv.1-5, obviously prohibiting hypocritical judging of one another, v.5 (“first….then….). Additionally, the kind of judging actually required of the Christian in this passage and others, is the application of Law- God’s word, to the situation. Thus in a sense, the Law judges rather than ourselves. But this application is also usually resisted by those who don’t want to be “judged” (see again v.6).

Judging Others, Matthew 7:1-5 But there is another critical point to these matters from v.2: “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it shall be measured to you.” This does not mean: That if we don’t judge others at all, we get to skip judgment, 2Cor.5:10; Rom.14:12. That we get to establish the “standard” by which we or anyone else will be judged- Jesus already declared that in John 12:48. So what does it mean?

Judging Others, Matthew 7:1-5 Let me make a few suggestions of what Matt.7:2 means: 1. It means that we should be just as patient with other people as we are with ourselves. We typically demand justice for those who have wronged us, but expect mercy from those whom we wrong- including God, cf. Matt.18:21-35. We are thus “very understanding” with ourselves when we err, but aren’t nearly so understanding or lenient with others. Matt.7:2, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged…”

Judging Others, Matthew 7:1-5 Let me make a few suggestions of what Matt.7:2 means: 2. It means that when others have erred, we should place the best possible interpretation on the event; at least until the evidence demands a different one, and then accept it reluctantly. Few mistakes are “single-cause” events; there are usually multiple reasons for them. Pick the “best” one and believe it until you have to do otherwise, 1Cor.13:4-7. After all, isn’t that what we’d hope others would do for us if the positions were reversed? Matt.7:2, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged…”

Judging Others, Matthew 7:1-5 Let me make a few suggestions of what Matt.7:2 means: 3. It means that we should give others time to improve. We say “Rome wasn’t built in a day” when we need to change, but often expect others to build it overnight. Everyone is a “work in progress” and continues to make mistakes. We hope we make them less frequently as we grow and mature. Let’s be as patient and gracious to others as we hope they will be to us in this maturation process, cf. Matt.18:21-22 > 1Thess.5:14. Matt.7:2, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged…”

Judging Others, Matthew 7:1-5 Let me make a few suggestions of what Matt.7:2 means: 4. It means that we should strive to see others from their potential at least as much, if not more so, than from their present performance. Isn’t that what God did with us, Eph.2:1-7; and Jesus did when selecting the apostles? Isn’t it also what Jesus did with the woman “caught in adultery” in John 8:1-11? He did not condone her sin, but saw her potential to overcome it through His forgiveness. Matt.7:2, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged…”

Judging Others, Matthew 7:1-5 Conclusions: Matthew 7:2 is saying, in essence, the same thing James 2:12-13 does, “So speak and act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” Guigo I is reported to have said, “If you put up with yourself, why not put up with everyone else?” Put otherwise, Matt.7:2, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged…”