Every culture has its taboos, its weaknesses, its quirks. This is as old as time and should come as no surprise. What should shock and concern us, however, is how easily cultural norms infect the church. Sadly, this too is as old as time.
In Jesus day the Jewish culture had been greatly influenced by the Pharisitical mindset. In fact, the teachings of the Pharisees had become so entwined with the teachings of Scripture the people often saw them as one. No surprise. The Pharisees taught them as one. Thus most of Jesus discussions with the Pharisees were focused on addressing these errors in their thinking and teaching.
Our culture has had much the same effect on the church. We are much more susceptible to sins which are condoned and encouraged within our culture. Furthermore, Christians are often confused about issues which our culture has defined as either good or bad if they are not clearly delineated in Scripture - in other words not in direct conflict with the Ten Commandments. (Yet, we can see the depth of culture’s influence when we realize even the Ten Commandments are falling under our culture’s axe.)
However, Worse yet may be the tendency by many Christians to allow culture to define Scripture. I believe the passage in Matthew 7:1 is an EXCELLENT example of this sort of error.
In Matthew 7:1 we read: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” What does this mean?
Most Christians and non-Christians (who care to say) would agree. It means you are not to judge anyone. Christians would probably add, God is the only Judge. We have no right to make judgement calls. In fact, if we do we will bring God’s wrath down upon our own heads.
Is this what the verse means? I would suggest we ought to be suspect of this definition for at least three reasons:
One - There are other passages in Scripture where we are called to judge. Since Scripture never contradicts itself, we need to proceed carefully to avoid error.
Two - This is one verse. We have not looked at the surrounding text. As we have discussed previously, God did not just give us one verse. Just like anything we say can be twisted to mean something completely different than intended if taken out of context, so can Scripture. We MUST read passages - especially controversial texts - in context.
Three - Our present day culture is based upon just such an interpretation. If our culture says it is right, we ought to at least be suspect!
So, let’s look at the context. In large context we are in the middle of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. As we narrow our focus we see chapter 6 began with an exhortation on prayer, followed by the Lord’s example prayer, which He closed with an exhortation to forgive. Next Jesus addresses a proper attitude toward fasting followed by the reminder that where our treasure’s location reveals heart’s home. The chapter closes with the exhortation not to worry about the future because our Father in heaven is in control.
Matthew 7:1-5 then says, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
From here Jesus goes on to talk about asking and receiving followed by the narrow and wide gate and warnings about false prophets.
We must remember, as we look into this passage, that Matthew does not record the Sermon on the Mount verbatim. In other words, he did not have a tape recorder and is now transcribing every word Jesus said. What he did record is what the Holy Spirit inspired him to record. Thus we must be careful on two sides:
One - we must realize we are not reading a novel where this chapter is a continuation of the chapter before and the chapter to follow. They do tie, and a serious review (like reading John MacArthur’s book on the subject) shows how well they tie together. However, there are several specific subjects addressed - each following the one before.
Two - we must realize every word we need to allow us to understand and correctly interpret this passage is included either in this passage or in the Bible as a whole. In other words, we do not need to go to the cultural gurus to gain enlightenment into what Jesus is saying here. So, what is He saying?
There are two very important pieces in this passage which allow us to gain a basic understanding of His meaning based on this passage alone. One is a descriptive word. One is an illustration. Jesus describes those to whom He is addressing this command. He calls them hypocrites! Further, He uses an illustration which shows ‘how’ they are hypocrites. He says, “why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?”
Thus, from the start we see this text is NOT telling us to make no judgement calls. It is telling us not to be hypocritical in our judgements. There is a BIG difference. There are really two extremes, and we tend to land somewhere in the middle.
Our culture says: Do not judge, which means: “I’m okay. You’re okay.” “Whatever feels good, do it.” “Everything is relative.” “What’s right for you may not be right for me.”
In other words, they say we cannot judge another. However, if I steal your car, your response is not going to be, “Whatever feels go, do it.” You will want ‘justice’. It becomes obvious our world view is not as extreme as we want everyone to think it is.
Our church says: Do not judge, which means: “You have no right to suggest something I believe or something I am doing is not biblical.” However, if the gal in the next pew makes a move on your husband because she said God told her he was to be ‘her’ man now, it is highly doubtful you will agree!
We make judgement calls every day. We tell our children to do or not to do things because we believe them to be right or wrong. And well we should. It would be impossible to discipline our children (as we are commanded to do - in a right attitude and with a proper goal), if we never made judgement calls.
Furthermore, we feel offended or ‘wronged’ because we judge someone’s actions or attitudes toward us to be negative. Even in simpler things - such as a trip to the grocery store - we make judgement calls. In fact, if we are honest, life would be impossible without our ability to make judgements.
But, you may say, this passage is talking about judging another person - which in fact it is. And, as I have shown above, as parents (or employers) we do judge other people and we must. However, briefly let’s look at this passage directly.
Adam Clarke put it about as succinctly as anyone when he commented on this passage. He said, “These exhortations are pointed against rash, harsh, and uncharitable judgments, the thinking evil, where no evil seems, and speaking of it accordingly. . .By a secret and criminal disposition of nature, man endeavours to elevate himself above others, and, to do it more effectually, depresses them. His jealous and envious heart wishes that there may be no good quality found but in himself, that he alone may be esteemed.”
Herein lies the key. Jesus is NOT saying we are not to make a judgement call. In fact, He says, in this passage, “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” In other words, take care of your own more grievous sin in this area, then you will be more fit to help your brother or sister as they fight against their sin.
Two other passages add insight. Romans 2:1 gives clarity. Here we read, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” Note the inexcusable action is that we condemn someone else for something while we practice the same things!
The other passage is Luke’s rendering of this sermon. In 6:37 we read, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Again we read the word, condemn.
Barnes explains it this way, he says Christ does not “condemn our forming an opinion of the conduct of others, for it is impossible not to form an opinion of conduct that we know to be evil. But what he refers to is a habit of forming a judgment hastily, harshly, and without an allowance for every palliating circumstance, and of expressing such an opinion harshly and unnecessarily when formed.”
Thus we find judgement calls - or discernment - are NOT condemned. What is condemned is an unjust heart attitude which condones sin in ourselves while condemning it in others. Further we see the warning not to condemn. In other words, when we do make judgement calls, we need to avoid being harsh, hasty, and unbending. Or, to put it another way, we need to make sure we are as gracious in forgiving others, as generous in giving them the benefit of the doubt, as we are in doing the same for ourselves!
While I hope to share further studies I’ve done recently on this subject and look at it from a slightly different viewpoint, I will close with this: When we are commanded not to judge, we are basically commanded not to condemn someone else based on our interpretation of the motives and intents of their hearts. We cannot see another person’s heart. We have no idea why they made the decision they made or did the thing they did.
On the other hand, however, we MUST not condone sin, either (and most importantly) in our own hearts or in the hearts and lives of our fellow Christians. This is what Matthew 18 is talking about.
Third, and just briefly, when we realize we are in the presence of someone who hates God and all He stands for, we must not give them the opportunity to ‘trample under’ the Word of God - at least not with our help and at our hand. This is what Matthew 7 verse 6 is saying.
God grant us wisdom to discern - first in our own lives and then in the lives of others. God grant us courage to confront - the sin in our own hearts and, as necessary, in the lives of those whose lives are entwined with ours. God grant us grace to never condemn another when we have been forgiven for SO very much!
