What did Jesus mean by "Do not judge. . ."?

Introduction

Many people are familiar with the phrase, "Do not judge." I believe it is often used out of context as a means of defense against any moral correction. It is sometimes used as a deterrent to get someone to stop correcting you, and focus on their own behaviors instead. Oftentimes, the thought of judging others usually deters us from even attempting to correct immoral behaviors. Today, I want glorify God by exploring what Jesus meant by "Do not judge. . ." to educate and empower believers in an area or topic where most us are unfamiliar with or lack confidence.

The Gospel of Matthew 1. Do Not Judge: Beware of the Beam in Your Own Eye (7:1–5)

The call not to judge has made its way deeply into popular imagination: ‘Who am I to judge?’ Unfortunately the applications people often make (giving personal space to others; modesty about one’s own capacity to discern what is right; the desire not to be faced with responsibility for decisions in complex or disputed matters) probably have little to do with the intention of either Jesus or the Gospel writers.

Reading

Matthew 7:1–5 (NIV)

1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Does teaching apply to those that are in the world?

Who will judge the one judging?

What does God say?

What is Scripture good for and who is it for? 2 Timothy 3:16-17

What is the Holy Spirits role in relation to the world? John 16:7-11

Who is Judge? Matt 19:28; Romans 14:4, 10, 13 and James 4:11-12

verses 1-2: The judgment here is condemnation. That is God’s role not ours. The manner in which we judge and measure we use it, we will be judged and it will be measured to us by God, not other people

verses 3-5

focus is on human tendency to condemn others for their faults and failings

losing sight of the true nature of our own situation

attending to little problems in other but ignore or do not take notice of our own glaring (obviously blinding) ones

Mask our care and generosity for others with hypocrisy

Self-examination and removal first, before helping our brothers and sisters

What should we do?

Know God is the Judge through Jesus Christ our LORD

Daily self-examination in accordance with God’s word to remove our planks

Use Scripture to help remove the speck out of your brother’s eye