The Misuse of Matthew 7:1-5

“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 look, 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

I always find it ironic when people who have no interest in or regard for the Bible use it to deflect judgment directed at them by retaliating with, “The Bible says you shouldn’t judge!” (obviously, if they read the Bible at all, they didn’t get past Matthew 7:1a). 

They almost never say “we shouldn’t judge,” and their self-righteous stance towards judging goes right out the window the minute they themselves want to judge someone—which they do with frequent abandon. 

We live in a highly judgmental age, in spite of the fact that most people claim to not be judgmental, and would vow that being judgmental shows a lack of moral character!

One can’t go on Facebook, talk to a family member on the telephone, watch the news or engage with any media—social or otherwise—without being confronted by, or instigating themselves, a judgmental attitude or discussion. 

Jay E. Adams, in his book, Competent to Counsel, briefly and succinctly delineates what is true judgement, and what is mere opinionated criticism:

“…the Scriptures specifically command believers to make judgments (John 7:24).” The Matthew passage “only condemns illegitimate judging. Christ assumed that Christians would find it necessary to judge others, and in Matthew 7 was therefore specifically directing them how to do so. The passage in question condemns judging in a hasty manner, without evidence. Judging others before straightening up one’s own life is also forbidden. Judging intended to denounce another in order to raise one’s own ego is condemned.”

So Christian or no, I think we all would agree with the above statement. 

And I think we all would also have to be living with our heads in the sand if we said that nobody, including ourselves, ever made judgements, be they objectively logical or self-servingly hostile and shallow. 

One of the most common retorts to being critiqued, be it fairly or otherwise, is, 

“Well, who are you to judge?” 

Everyone knows that that reaction is simply a person’s inability to take constructive criticism, or, if the judgment is unwarranted, shows their lack of maturity to deflect someone else’s petty insecurities. 

To say we never judge, or that we never ought to judge—whether it is regarding an artist, chef, teacher, school board member, politician, etc., is false, plain and simple. 

Anyone who wants to turn “judgment” into a bad word will most likely only condemn its use when it applies negatively—in their view—to them. But they will have no problem shouting their judgments from the rooftop, sending them out to land upon everyone else.

Copyright Barb Harwood