To Judge or Not to Judge? What Matthew 7 Tells Us about Judging Jesus’ Way

Is it okay for Christians to judge other people? In some Bible passages, it seems like there is a place for judgment; in other parts of Scripture, not so much. Dr. Groothuis emphasizes the importance of evaluating oneself against the standard of Scripture before passing judgment on others. The key principle highlighted is to first reflect on one's actions, attitudes, and beliefs in order to cultivate humility and ensure that judgments are made with love and grace.

Drawing from Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, the speaker instructs followers to address their own faults before pointing out those of others. This analogy stresses the need for self-awareness and self-correction before engaging in judgment. By acknowledging personal shortcomings, individuals can approach others with empathy, understanding, and humility.

Judging Jesus’ Way: Matthew 7:1-5
"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."

I. Who Are Christians in the World?

How do we represent God and the gospel today? How are we judged by the watching world? Judicious or censorious? Measured in judgment or reactive? Wise or foolish?

II. Some Judgments Against Christians

A. They are too judgmental
B. They are legalistic
C. They are high and mighty
D. They are holier than thou
E. Specifics: they are homophobic, transphobic, heteronormative, colonialist, and more

F. This is sometimes correct—but we must judge, just as those who have judged us
G. They may mean: “Shut up, so we can sin in peace.”

H. Jesus shows us how to judge with his master principle for judgment: judge yourself according to the right standard; then judge others in love

III. The Logic of Judgment

A. A judgment is a personal evaluation of a state of affairs—moral or non-moral

B. A judgment is always made according to a standard—implicit or explicit

C. We must judge

1. “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” — Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)

2. Judgments about moral worth of the unborn, for example; judgments about sexual ethics and identity

IV. Judging Jesus’ Way

A. The standard is the Bible rightly interpreted and applied

B. Jesus gave many judgments, some quite harsh: one of seven “woes” or condemning judgment against teachers of the law and Pharisees

1. Condemnation (Matthew 23:15).

2. Gentle rebuke (Matthew 6:30)

C. Jesus had a perfect character, so all his judgments were correct and given in the right spirit; it is harder for us.

V. Do Not Judge
Vs. 1-2: 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.
1. The Greek for judge (krino) means condemnation or being judgmental or censorious
Bill Mounce: “to assume censorial power over, to call to account, Mt. 7:1.”
2. Warning: the judgment comes back on you, like a boomerang; you think you are on the bench as a judge, but you are also in the dock as the accused (John Stott)
VI. Two White Hot Questions from Jesus
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?
1. Kind of question with an assumed answer: You should not do this.
2. Why do you look without and not look within? Speck in another, log in your own? Initial judgment.
3. Why do you want to remove the speck and not remove the plank in your own eye? Action based on the judgment, spoken or unspoken.
Avoid being a moral busybody (2 Peter 4:15).
VII. Avoiding Hypocrisy; Making a Sound Judgment
A. V. 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.
B. Jesus makes (1) accusation, (2) command, and (3) promise
1. Accusation: Hypocrite: play actor; imposter, phony, charlatan. Used four times in Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
a. Not that you fail to live up to your standard of God’s standard. We all do that—except Jesus Christ, who was sinless and morally perfect. Jesus was merciful to sinners who knew they were sinners
b. Hypocrite: you pretend that you live up to your standard when you do not. You ignore your own sin, spot it in others; and want to remove it in others. You are a play actor, imposter, fraud, fake, phony.
2. Command: First, take the plank out of your own eye. Plank is larger than a speck. Humorous image. Plank would obscure your ability to see and is more of a problem.
3. Promise: sober and clear judgment: see clearly to remove the speck from “your brother’s eye.” Notice: brother, not enemy, not irritant, not “you people.”
VIII. Jesus’ Master Principle of Judgment

A. Judge yourself according to the right standard; then judge others in love

B. Have the right standard: the Bible, God’s true and holy communication to us, “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12)

C. Have the right attitude: critical and prayerful self-awareness

D. Have a godly and loving approach to the judgment, not condemnation (Matthew 5:13-15).

E. Don’t lose the saltiness and don’t be hidden away, but master Jesus’ master principle of judgment; Judge yourself according to the right standard; then judge others in love

Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., is a Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of nineteen books, including Fire in the Streets (a critique of critical race theory or wokeness) and Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith.

Find more from Dr. Groothuis at www.DouglasGroothuis.com.

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