Judge Not, that ye be not judged!

Matthew 7:1 is often quoted by many to magically quote the Bible and purportedly show how the Bible defends an issue from attack. In fact, the complete passage is not just verse one but verses one to five and while the passage does deal with judging another person it does not defend issues declared by other Scriptures to be sinful.

“Judge not, that ye be not judged” has been used to defend all types of sinful actions as if we in the human race should not discern between right and wrong or moral and immoral actions as to do this would be “judging another person”. In fact this passage doesn’t argue that the “mote” and “beam” are good and acceptable, but rather that each person should cast out or get rid of the unacceptable “mote” or “beam” from their own life prior to trying to help someone else.

In verse 5, Jesus says “Thou hypocrite” which means that one person is critical of another person while ignoring their own problems. Jesus then states get rid of your “beam” or sin and then you will be able to better see how to cast out the “mote” or sin in someone else’s life. Jesus does not defend either person of their sins, nor does he imply that He finds their actions acceptable. Those using this one verse to support immoral and sinful actions are simply showing their ignorance of the Scriptures and attempting to quiet anyone questioning these immoral and sinful actions. In reality they have become the judge with the “beam” in their eye.

Matthew Chapter 7 Verses 1-5

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.