Matthew 7:1-5

The verb “judge” is one of the most nuanced words in the Bible. You need to look at the context surrounding each use of the word to understand precisely what it means when it is used.

For example, when Jesus says in Matthew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you,” he does not mean we ought not to evaluate someone’s behavior. The illustration that he gives right after this assumes we may need to do that. If you have a big old log in your own eye, Jesus warns, how can you ever expect to take a speck of dust out of someone else’s eye. In the process, you may damage their eye in such a way that impedes their vision more than the speck. To remove the speck, Jesus says you need to first take the log out of your own eye. Then, and only then, will you be able to see clearly enough to take the speck out of someone else’s. (Matthew 7:3-5)

The tips below can help you judge more carefully.

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