Matthew 7:1-6

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. 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.

Similar Old Testament Verses

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Ecclesiastes 7:20

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 51:5

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Leviticus 19:18

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

Proverbs 11:12

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 9:10

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Proverbs 23:9

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

Proverbs 26:4

Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Proverbs 14:7

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Comments

3 responses to “Matthew 7:1-6”

  1. Skip Avatar
    Skip

    We all have to judge. God asks us to judge good character and to judge our or someone else’s actions. I always interpreted this passage to mean judging someone’s worthiness, especially in terms of eternal judgment- heaven or hell. God never gave us that role; it’s his prerogative. Maybe why he never wanted Adam /Eve to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thoughts?

    1. DJ Avatar

      That makes sense to me. I also think Jesus is emphasizing our tendency to judge from a perspective of “holier-than-thou” and that he wants us to judge with love for the other person and with a humble awareness that we are also sinners reliant totally on his mercy. I do not believe that he wants us to tolerate all sin to avoid being judgmental. We are to rebuke each other with love for our mutual benefit.

  2. Philip Gibson Avatar
    Philip Gibson

    How do we determine just who are dogs or pigs, so that we do not waste holy pearls and get attacked? Much like the founding of our country, scripture makes some basic assumptions about those who fall under its governance. Turning the other cheek and judging in love are concepts to be realized among civilized, Christian people. Boundaries are not something that Christians do very well, yet Jesus persistently and resoundingly acknowledges the need for boundaries when his counsel delineates what and who are not to be embraced. Namely, dogs and pigs.

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