DON'T JUDGE OTHERS
Key verse: 1
NIV
Judging Others(A)
7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.(B) 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.(C)
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.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Judging Others
7 (A)“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 (B)For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and (C)with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but (D)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,’ when there is the log 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.
6 (E)“Do not give (F)dogs what is holy, and do not throw your (G)pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
Read full chapterCross references
- Matthew 7:1 : For ver. 1-5, see Luke 6:37, 38, 41, 42; [Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 4:5; James 5:9]
- Matthew 7:2 : Rom. 2:1, 3; 14:10; James 2:13; 4:11, 12
- Matthew 7:2 : Mark 4:24; [Judg. 1:7]
- Matthew 7:3 : [John 8:7-9]
- Matthew 7:6 : ch. 15:26; [Prov. 9:7, 8; 23:9]
- Matthew 7:6 : [Phil. 3:2; Rev. 22:15]
- Matthew 7:6 : ch. 13:46
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Take the plank out of your own eye (1-5)
Only God is the righteous judge. We are always blinded by our own sinful natures; so Jesus says, 'Don't judge others.' When we study the Bible, we begin to learn the difference between right and wrong. Our first tendency is to apply God's standards to others and become very critical of their failures. But God's word teaches us what sin is so that we ourselves can repent and be forgiven and cleansed by him. The speck in my brother's eye may need removing, but I can't see how to help him until the plank has been removed from my own eye.
2. Don't give dogs what is sacred (6)
This seems almost a contradiction to Jesus' admonition not to judge others. (Who is a dog or a pig?) But it is not a contradiction--it is a counterweight. We need spiritual discernment so that we can give our love and lives to God and to others in ways that will produce fruit for God.
Prayer: Lord, cleanse me of my critical spirit. Help me to be strict with myself and generous toward others.
One Word: Don't judge; repent
