Judging Others

by Terry Wane Benton

Some think Matthew 7:1 forbids any judging of others. Actually, it only forbids unfair and hypocritical judging where the one doing the judging has a bigger issue that does not allow him to see clearly how to remove a "speck" in his brother's eye.

Now, the text admits that the speck needs to be removed, and someone with better vision should judge that the speck needs to be removed and how to remove it with caution and care. But a brother with a plank in his eye is not the one to judge how to remove a speck.

Removing a plank must take priority over removing someone else's speck. Further, even the brother with a plank in his eye is to be judged as needing help. So, Jesus is not forbidding all judging, just all self-blinded and hypocritical judging.

If we are not to judge anyone else in any way, we can't judge ourselves, or whether we have a plank or speck in the eye. Further, you could not commend someone for doing good; that, too, is "judging" them. Further, you could not judge that someone is lost in sin and in need of the gospel. Further, you could not judge when someone is judging. How could you judge that someone did wrong in judging another without violating the rule of no judging?

Unfair judging is wrong, but fair and righteous judging is in fact commanded (John 7:24).

Matthew 7:1 does not contradict the command to judge with righteous judgment. It only forbids hypocritical judging, looking for the smallest issue in others when refusing to deal with the larger issue in oneself.

First, deal with the larger issue in yourself, which will give you a more sympathetic outlook toward others. Judge with fairness, clarity, and sympathy. Don't judge when you are not taking care of larger issues in your own life. Don't be too quick to hunt for specks in others with a huge problem, which will blind your ability to be fair and careful.

You do not have to be perfect to help others, but you do have to be self-discerning and much more self-critical than you are toward others. That tends to improve your judgment.