Judge Not Matthew 7:1
Jesus’ command that we “Judge not...” (Matthew 7:1) ... is likely the most misused and abused, verse in all of scripture. Neither scripture nor logic support the distorted notion that we are to respond to sin with meaningless neutrality... if such were the case then one could condemn nothing – including “judging.”
In this very same chapter Jesus teaches that we must judge “good fruit verses bad”, “false teachers verse good ones”, and the “good foundation verses the bad one” ... all of which require conclusions concerning right and wrong. Also, if I am to suspend all judgments then how would I determine that my brother has sinned against me 7 times 70 in one day so that I can forgive him all 490 times (Matthew 18:22)? The command is to forgive his sins against me – not to legitimize or ignore them.
Jesus actually meant that I must never condemn the sins of others without condemning my own... first v.5. The command is for me to assist you with removing your speck, but not without first addressing the log v.3 in my own eye. Jesus’ warning is that “speck judging” will in turn prove even more revealing and embarrassing for the plank-eyed hypocrite who sees everyone’s sin but his own.
I can also misuse this verse as a shield from correction... a sanctuary where my decisions to violate God’s word are safe from account. This selfish interpretation allows me to leave you with your speck, which is a lot easier than forgiving. Forgiving may require confrontation, which could lead to rejection... a risk I may not be willing to take. Perhaps my emotional deficits are so that I had rather be liked than for others to experience the freedom of forgiveness. The idolatrous need to feel that (unlike those who judge) “I“ am enlightened and inclusive is a powerful temptation for those who need to feel accepted and liked.
Judging is not the opposite of forgiving but rather a prerequisite. For me to forgive you then I must first recognize that you have committed a sin. Sadly, a misunderstanding of Matthew 7:1 will allow for neither.