Monday, July 6, 2009

The Misuse of Matthew 7:1-5

"Judge not lest you be judged." You have surely heard that phrase spoken numerous times, often in response to something you said that sounded critical of someone's actions. On its own, this phrase seems to indicate that we cannot criticize or point out someone else's wrongdoing. With this phrase lurking in the back of our minds, we become hesitant to speak up when we observe a Christian brother or sister doing something that we know is not in accordance with Bible teaching.

"Who am I to judge?", we ask ourselves, and let the action stand unchallenged.

My brothers and sisters, this is a completely incorrect interpretation of this verse, and we need to read past the first sentence to discover its true meaning. We also need to investigate other passages which tell us the correct way to deal with a brother or sister in Christ whom we know to be doing wrong.

Matthew 7:1-5
Stop judging that you may also not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye' while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye.


What is this passage telling us? When we read it in its entirety, we see that Jesus is instructing us not to be hypocrites, that is, pointing out our brother's faults while we are doing the same or worse. Notice that Christ tells us at the end of this passage that we can remove the splinter from our brother's eye once we have removed the wooden beam from our own. That means that once we have changed our ways and have begun to live the Word honestly and with cleanliness of heart, then we can point out what others are doing wrong. In fact, we are commanded to do so.

2 Timothy 4:1-4
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power, proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers, and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.


If you know someone who is rejecting sound doctrine in favor of false teaching, it is your Christian duty to teach and to reprimand. Do not let the phrase "Judge not lest you be judged" paralyze you into inaction.

1 comment:

  1. This is beautifully written and we said.

    [snip]
    For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine
    [/snip]

    I am seeing this more and more today. Breaks my heart.

    God bless you for this article.

    ReplyDelete