Can We Judge Others According to the Bible – Matthew 7:1

It’s one of the most famous verses in the Bible, right? Many people know it, even if they don’t go to church. “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Jesus Himself said these words in Matthew 7:1. For a lot of people, this verse settles the issue. They think it means we should never judge anyone for any reason. But is that what Jesus really meant? As Christians who want to follow God’s Word, we must ask a key question: can we judge others according to the bible, or does this verse stop us completely?

This can feel tricky. On one hand, we don’t want to be mean or act like we’re better than others. On the other hand, the Bible calls us to stand for truth and help our brothers and sisters who are caught in sin. The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It’s a truth that asks us to look at all of the Bible with a humble heart. Let’s look at this together and ask God for wisdom.

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What Does ‘Judge Not’ Truly Mean in Matthew 7?

To understand a verse, we need to see where it comes from. Jesus said this during His Sermon on the Mount. He was teaching His followers how to live as part of God’s Kingdom. This was a special message for them, not just general advice for everyone.

The word for “judge” here points to a certain kind of judging. It means finding fault in a harsh way. It’s about looking down on someone from a place of pride, not love.

Was Jesus Forbidding All Forms of Judgment or Just Hypocritical Judgment?

Jesus quickly makes His meaning clear with a picture in verses 3-5:

“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? 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? 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.”

Here, Jesus points out the real problem: being a hypocrite. He is talking about the person who focuses on a tiny flaw in someone else but ignores the huge sin in their own life. So, “judge not” is not a command to ignore right and wrong. It is a strong warning not to judge others when we have unconfessed sin in our own lives.

Is All Judgment Forbidden for a Christian?

If we only read Matthew 7:1, we might think all judgment is wrong. But the Bible is one whole story, and other parts add to our understanding. God does not contradict Himself. So, we need to look at other verses to see the full picture. This helps us answer the question, can we judge others according to the bible, with more wisdom.

Does the Bible Contradict Itself on Judging Others?

In the book of John, Jesus says something that sounds different. He tells the people, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” (John 7:24). This is a big clue. Jesus shows us there are two kinds of judgment. One is wrong and based on how things look. The other is a “correct judgment.”

Why Does Paul Command the Church to Judge Its Members?

The Apostle Paul also gives clear instructions to the church in Corinth. He tells them how to handle sin among believers. He asks, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked person from among you'” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).

Paul is very clear. We are not meant to be the police for the whole world. But we do have a duty to deal with sin inside the church. The goal is not to be mean, but to keep the church pure and help the person who sinned to return to God. These verses show that there is a right time and a right way to judge.

If We Can Judge Others According to the Bible, How Do We Do It Righteously?

If there is a “right judgment,” how do we do it? We must be very careful and humble, and we must rely on the Holy Spirit. A right judgment is not based on our feelings or what our culture says. It needs three things: the right standard, the right reason, and the right first step.

What is the Biblical Standard if We Can Judge Others According to the Bible?

Our feelings change. Culture changes. What we like or dislike does not matter. The only true standard for judging anything is God’s Word. A right judgment is not saying, “I don’t like what you did.” It is being able to say, “The Bible calls that a sin, and I care about you.” This takes our opinion out of it and puts the focus on God’s truth.

What Should Our Motive Be When Confronting Sin in Others?

This is a key heart-check. Why do we want to point out a sin in someone’s life? Is it to show we are right? Is it to feel better than them? The only good reason is love. It is a true love for our brother or sister in Christ. We want to see them in a right relationship with God. Paul says it well in Galatians 6:1: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.”

Why is Self-Examination Necessary Before Judging Others?

Before we try to help our brother with the speck in his eye, Jesus gives us a clear first step. We must “first take the plank out of your own eye.” Before we can make any right judgment, we must first look at our own lives. We need to be aware of our own sin and how much we need God’s grace. This makes us humble. When we are humble, Jesus says we can “see clearly” to help our brother.

When should we ask ourselves, “Can We Judge Others According to the Bible?”

Knowing these ideas is one thing. Using them in real life is another. So, when does the question of whether can we judge others according to the bible really apply to us?

One clear time is when we spot false teachers. Right after talking about the speck and the plank, Jesus warns, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). We can’t watch out for them if we don’t judge what they teach. Jesus says we will know them by their fruit. This means we must compare what they say to God’s Word.

Another time is in church discipline. In Matthew 18, Jesus gives steps for how to talk to a brother who has sinned. This process involves making judgments about sin to keep the church healthy. For more on how to understand the Bible, Dallas Theological Seminary has some great free resources online.

What is the Danger if We Wrongly Judge Others According to the Bible?

Jesus gives a scary warning. He says, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2).

Can Judging Others Affect Our Own Relationship with God?

When we are harsh and mean to others, we are asking God to treat us the same way. That is a scary thought. If we do not show mercy, we cannot expect to get mercy. Our walk with God is based on His grace. When we refuse to give grace to others, it hurts our own spiritual life.

How Does Hypocritical Judgment Harm Our Christian Witness?

Being a hypocrite also hurts our witness for Christ. The world is watching. When people see Christians acting mean and hateful, it pushes them away from Jesus. It makes them think the worst about us and builds a wall against the Gospel. It also breaks up the church family and creates fear and division.

How Do We Remove the Log from Our Own Eye?

This is where it all starts. To honor God, we must deal with our own sin first. This is a job for our whole lives, not just a one-time thing.

Why is Self-Examination the First Step?

Jesus said we can’t see clearly to help someone else if our own view is blocked. Dealing with our own sin first helps us in two ways. First, it clears up our spiritual sight. Second, it makes us humble. It reminds us that we all need God’s grace. We stop acting like a judge and start acting like a friend who is pointing another friend to the Great Doctor.

How can we practice self-judgment before judging others?

We can practice this every day. It starts by reading God’s Word. The Bible is like a mirror that shows us who we really are (James 1:23-25). Hebrews 4:12 says God’s Word is alive and active, and it shows us our deepest thoughts and feelings. We should let it search our hearts. This leads us to pray and confess our sins, just like it says in 1 John 1:9.

What is the Difference Between Judging and Discerning?

It is very important to know the difference here. Judging, in the bad way, is trying to do God’s job. It is to condemn a person’s soul. We can’t see their heart. Only God is the final judge.

How Can We Discern if We Can Judge Others According to the Bible?

Discernment is different. It is a gift from the Spirit to tell the difference between truth and error, good and evil. We need this skill to live as Christians. The Bible tells us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). Discernment looks at actions and words and compares them to the Bible. It says, “This teaching is false,” or “This action is a sin.” It does not say, “This person is going to hell.” We can judge the fruit, but we cannot judge the root.

How Does Grace Transform Our View of Judgment?

In the end, we must see this whole topic through the eyes of the Gospel. We need to remember the judgment we should have received. We were guilty before a holy God. Our sin was a plank so big we could never remove it on our own.

How Does the Gospel Change Our Approach to a Brother’s Sin?

But God showed us great mercy. He sent His Son, Jesus, to take our judgment on the cross. Jesus was condemned for our sin so we could be forgiven. When we truly understand this amazing grace, we can’t look at a struggling brother or sister in a harsh way. Our understanding of grace completely changes how we think about if can we judge others according to the bible. Our hearts should be full of a desire to see them find the same grace we have found.

So, can we judge others according to the bible? The answer is a careful “yes.” We must not judge in a mean or hypocritical way. But we are called to discern right from wrong. We must do this with love, based on God’s Word, and only after we have looked at our own hearts. Let’s pray that God gives us the wisdom to know how to do this in a way that honors Him.

FAQ – Can We Judge Others According to the Bible