Judge Not – Does Not Mean What Most Think it Means

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1).

That right there is one of the most misunderstood and misused Bible passages in all of scripture. Even people who are not believers know this verse and they know exactly when to use it. It’s when people feel like their choices, preferences, and lifestyles are being confronted.

Almost ever single time I have heard this verse quoted, it’s been misquoted. Let me explain. Let’s take a look at what Jesus does not mean and then look at what Jesus meant.

What Jesus did not mean:

• Jesus is not telling his disciples to stop making distinctions between what is right and wrong.
• Jesus is not saying don’t distinguish between good and evil.
• Jesus is not telling his followers to disregard the teachings and the commandments of God

If Jesus were saying those things that would be ludicrous! Jesus himself tells us, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).

It is the responsibility of the disciple to “Present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

So what did Jesus mean? Jesus is talking about a blind judgmental spirit. Look at how Jesus expounds on our verse – “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'” (Matthew 7:3-6).

We are all sinners in need of a Savior. We never put ourselves in a situation where we are better than or above another sinner. We are all sinners and as a fellow sinner, we can lead one another to the truths of God’s teachings and commandments. Not as one who is better, but a fellow sinner in need of a Savior.

Jesus is not telling us to cease making judgments about right and wrong. Jesus is telling his disciples to deal with sin as fellow sinners in need of a Savior.