Judge Not…(At All?)

Matt. 7:1-5

To properly appreciate this passage a distinction must be made between judging and exercising discernment or making an appraisal.  When Jesus said in John 12:47, “I came not to judge the world but to save the world,” He was speaking of determining salvation, or lack there of.  The same idea is found here.  No man has the authority, or ability for that matter, to pass judgment on another’s salvation.  On the other hand, we are expected to be discerning (Matt. 7:15-20). 

Each of us has two responsibilities concerning salvation.  First, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).  Then we are to “preach the gospel to every creature” so that others might be saved (Mark 16:15-16).  If we would give these two things the attention they rightly deserve there would be precious little time left for judging.

It seems that this may be the thought behind Jesus’ words, “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.”  We are to help others find the way of salvation.  This involves teaching and exhortation, even correction when needed, but never judgment.  But in order to do this effectively, we must first inspect our own lives and remove those things that are an obstruction.  This is not something that is done only once; rather it is an ongoing process that we must do everyday, as often as needed.

Thomas Sneed

Pond Church of Christ