The Sermon on the Mount: A 21-Day Guide to the Greatest Sermon Ever PreachedSample

How to Judge Like Jesus

In today’s reading, we’ll look at one of Jesus’ most misunderstood and misquoted sayings. As we do, we’ll discover the powerful truth behind His words—truth with the potential to completely change the way we treat ourselves and others. So, let’s dive in.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 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. Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:1-6 NIV

There’s a lot here—and this is just the first half of today’s Scripture! So, we’re going to slow way down and take things one section at a time.

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

What does Jesus mean by “judge”? It seems unlikely that He’s telling us to not practice any type of judgment because Proverbs 31:9 says, “Speak up and judge fairly …” and Jesus Himself commands us to “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly” (John 7:24 NIV). So, is He instructing us to never call out others when they do something wrong? Also unlikely, because later in Matthew’s Gospel He tells us how to appropriately navigate conflict with people who’ve sinned against us—and step one is to go directly to them and have a conversation about it.

So, what is Jesus getting at? We suggest that the kind of judgment Jesus is talking about is not discernment (identifying differences) but condemnation (looking down on others). Judging the differences (discerning) between right and wrong, good and bad, true and false is a necessary part of the Christian life. But looking down on others and declaring them as less than (condemnation) is not in the cards for a follower of Christ. Understanding the difference between these two types of judgment is vital for us to interpret what Jesus has to say in the rest of this passage. Now, let’s jump to verse two!

“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 NIV

Here, Jesus is calling out the reality of human relationships. More often than we would like to admit, the way we treat others is based on how we think they treat us. And the way they treat us is often based on the way they think we treat them. If someone is nice to you, you’re more likely to be nice back. If you’re not nice to them, chances are good they’ll not be nice back. Similarly, whatever way we judge others will determine the way they judge us. If we condemn them harshly, then it’s almost guaranteed that we will be condemned harshly. If we judge mercifully, kindly, and lovingly, then chances are good we will receive that in return.

“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 7:3-5 NIV

In the first two verses, Jesus laid out the principle of how we’re to think about judgment and the consequences that come with it. Now, He shifts to how we are to apply that principle in our lives. And He wants us to know that the order in which we go about judging matters—in a big way. When we put our efforts toward helping someone get over their problem (the speck in their eye) before recognizing and working on our problem (the plank in our own eye), then we become hypocrites. So, Jesus tells us to first focus on our issue and then offer to help the other person.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6 NIV

Up until this verse, Jesus has been telling us to not look down on others because of what they do wrong. But in this verse, the lesson shifts focus to not looking down on others because of what they don’t have.

If we see ourselves as better than others, and, from that prideful perspective, try to give them something good, it will not be received well. Because instead of seeing them as a person to be loved, we’re looking at them as a problem to be solved or a project to be fixed. Either way, we’re blind to their inherent dignity as human beings made in the image of God. As a result, we treat them as if they’re less than human and totally miss the mark of loving them the way Jesus wants us to.

When it comes to loving others well, Jesus starts by telling us what not to do. With that covered, Jesus is ready to move on to what we ought to do.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

As followers of Jesus, we don’t get what we want from others through manipulation or condemnation. Instead, we do what Jesus does. We offer an invitation. We make a request. We ask. We seek. And we knock. We see others as human beings with the authority to decide for themselves if they want to give us what we asked for or open the door we’ve knocked on.

Think about your own life. How much more respected do you feel when someone asks you to do something instead of bossing you around?

But what about when this doesn’t work? When you ask them to change, or seek a better solution, or knock on the door and they shut you out? And what about when you aren’t even sure what to do or say? Should you say anything or nothing? Let’s keep reading.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:9-11 NIV

As followers of Jesus, we have a lifeline to heaven’s throne room. We have direct access to the Ruler of the universe. So, if we want to love and judge like Jesus does, then we’ve got to lean on the Righteous Judge who is Perfect Love. He is stronger, wiser, and more loving than we ever could be. And, He wants to help us do this right—every step of the way. When you notice their speck, pray and ask God to help you find and remove your plank. If you’re having a hard time seeing that other person as anything other than a problem, ask God to help you see them with eyes of compassion. When you aren’t sure what to say or how to approach the issue, pray to God. After you’ve done all that you can, trust God to do what you can’t. He is a good and loving Father who wants what’s best for His kids.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NIV

The whole purpose of the Law is to make us more like Jesus, to make us into people who do for others what we would want done for us.

What did Jesus say?

The way we judge others is the way we will be judged. So, when you judge, do it with compassion and integrity, not condemnation and hypocrisy.

What did Jesus do?

Jesus did this and so much more. Everything He did was with love and for our good. Never once did He try to remove the speck in someone else’s eye while being blinded by the plank in His own eye. Jesus is the only human who has ever lived plank free. He is the only person who is able to see clearly and truly. So, when He brings correction to us, we can trust it is always free from hypocrisy and condemnation. Because, “... there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus …” (Romans 8:1 NIV).

How can I apply that to my life today?

Judge like Jesus taught us—with love, compassion, and integrity—by letting these five steps guide you. Remember, the way you judge others is the way you will be judged by others.

1. Notice the speck in their eye.

2. Remove the plank from your eye.

3. Resist the desire to look down.

4. Humbly ask for them to change.

5. Wrap it all in prayer.