In a recent article we discussed guidance in Matthew 7 about judging others. This area remains misunderstood by many followers of Christ. We encourage you to review the prior article, What Does it Mean That We Should Not Judge Others?, before reading on.
There remains yet another important context clue for those who are reading within Matthew 7 that we must use discernment and judge good vs. evil. Understanding the context is very important and since this is literally the same book and chapter in scripture we should take heed.
Judging Others
1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3“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? 4“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? 5“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.
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A Tree and Its Fruit
15“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20“So then, you will know them by their fruits.
21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
Did you catch it? verses 1-5 speak about not judging others, until you remove the sin in your own life. Some take this to be never judging right from wrong in others. But then starting in verse 15 of the very same chapter we see that we are told to be cautious and judge prophets to determine who is true and who is false. I point out some additional considerations in What Does it Mean That We Should Not Judge Others? and if you did not read it yet from the link above, I would encourage you to read it now.
We are called to use discernment and wisdom and call upon the help of the Spirit to judge what and who is good and bad. That is an important part of our journey to live and walk with Christ. However, we must not be constantly judging rashly or hypocritically. We must work first on our own righteousness, remove the log in our eye, before we can truly be of help removing the speck in our brother’s eye.
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