A Message from Matthew 7:1–6 in the Straight Outta Context Series

Few verses in the Bible are quoted as often—or misquoted as badly—as Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:1: “Judge not.” Christians and non-Christians alike throw those two words around as if they’re a free pass to live however we want, without accountability. But if we’re honest, most people stop there and ignore the rest of what Jesus said.

So what did Jesus actually mean? Did He forbid judging altogether? Or was He warning against the wrong kind of judgment?

Let’s dive into this passage together.

The Context of “Judge Not”

Jesus delivered these words in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, where He repeatedly contrasted the hollow religion of the Pharisees with the heart-level righteousness God desires.

The Pharisees were masters of condemning others while ignoring their own sin. Their judgment was harsh, hypocritical, and self-righteous. Jesus confronted that spirit directly.

When we read Matthew 7:1–6 in its context, we discover that Jesus wasn’t forbidding all judgment—He was teaching us how to judge rightly.

What “Judge Not” Does Not Mean

1. It doesn’t mean ignoring doctrine.
   Scripture calls us to measure every teaching against God’s Word. Acts 17 commends the Bereans for testing Paul’s words by the Scriptures. Romans 16:17 urges believers to watch out for those who distort the truth. That’s judging—but judging rightly.

2. It doesn’t mean we can’t discern false teachers.
   Just a few verses later in Matthew 7, Jesus warned against false prophets, saying, “You will recognize them by their fruits.” Paul himself named false teachers who were leading others astray. We’re not called to judge hearts, but we are called to evaluate fruit.

3. It doesn’t mean we excuse sinful conduct.
   While only God knows the heart, behavior is visible. Jesus gave instructions in Matthew 18 about confronting a brother caught in sin. Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for ignoring blatant immorality (1 Corinthians 5). The church is to love unconditionally, but not approve unconditionally.

What “Judge Not” Does Mean

Jesus was warning against a spirit of critical, condemning judgment—the kind that tears others down while excusing our own faults.

When He spoke of the speck in our brother’s eye and the log in our own, Jesus reminded us to start with ourselves. Before we call out someone else’s sin, we must first deal with our own.

That doesn’t mean ignoring the “speck” in another’s life. It means we approach it humbly, carefully, and only after allowing God to search our own hearts.

Avoiding Critical Judgment

Here’s the truth: it’s easy to point out others’ sins while overlooking our own. But Jesus calls us away from being fault-finders. He says:

• Don’t judge superficially.

• Don’t judge hypocritically.

• Don’t judge harshly or self-righteously.

Instead, embrace careful judgment: humbly discerning right from wrong, guided by God’s Word, and motivated by love.

As Billy Graham once said:

“It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge, and my job to love.”

The Cross Changes Everything

The only way we can judge rightly is by remembering the cross. It’s impossible to look at what Jesus endured for our sins and still cling to a self-righteous, critical spirit.

The cross reminds us that we all need grace. It reminds us that God is the ultimate Judge—and that Jesus bore the judgment we deserved.

The Takeaway

Jesus didn’t say never judge. He said don’t judge the wrong way. As followers of Christ, we are called to:

• Avoid critical judgment.

• Embrace careful judgment.

• Filter everything through God’s Word.

• Help restore others with humility and love.

If we truly love one another, we won’t ignore sin—but we also won’t condemn people harshly. Instead, we’ll point them to the One who can forgive, heal, and transform: Jesus Christ.