What Did Jesus Mean at Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye be not judged." KJV & ASV?

BibleStudent

Well-known member
PART 1 - Jesus Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 7:1 - “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.” NASB

Question
: Here at Matthew 7:1 Jesus says, "Do not judge, so that you will not be judged." However, at John 7:24 Jesus says, "Stop judging from the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." John 7:24 1984 NWT. How are we to understand these seeming contradictions in Jesus' words?
More verses on the matter of judgement:
Deut. 1:16 "judge with righteousness."
Isaiah 11:3 , 4 "And he will not judge by any mere appearance to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to the thing heard by his ears. And with righteousness he must judge the lowly ones, and with uprightness he must give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth."

This post is based upon my recent research on this Biblical topic about Jesus words in Matthew chapter 7. Information was gathered from personal Bible study, and some articles, and is presented here to share what I found with interested persons. This is in an an effort to study and examine Scripture, in an effort to gain a clear and correct understanding of Jesus' words in Matthew 7:1 which are often misinterpreted and misunderstood.

The following s quoted from a very interesting non-Watchtower article that I came across recently on the topic of judging in the Bible:

"Probably one of the most frequently used, but misapplied, verses in the Bible is Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.” If people would keep reading, they would see that in verse 6 Jesus tells us not to give what is holy to dogs or to cast our pearls before swine. He was not talking about literal dogs and swine, but rather about people who are dogs and swine. To obey that verse, you have to judge whether a person is a dog or a swine. Then, in verse 15, Jesus warns about false prophets who come as wolves in sheep’s clothing. You have to judge carefully to conclude, “This isn’t a sheep—this is a wolf masquerading as a sheep!” The point is clear: if you don’t make correct judgments about others, you’ll be eaten by wolves! Also, Paul tells us that we are responsible to judge those in the Church who profess to be believers, but who are living in sin. (1 Cor. 5:9-13)"

Quoting from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he says, "In my letter I wrote YOU to quit mixing in company with fornicators, not [meaning] entirely with the fornicators of this world or the greedy persons and extortioners or idolaters. Otherwise, YOU would actually have to get out of the world. But now I am writing YOU to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do YOU not judge those inside, while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked [man] from among yourselves.”
1 Corinthians 5:9-19

From the verses above, it becomes clear that it is necessary for some judgements to be made by the "congregation" and for it to be determined by Christ's congregation if an indivdual has sinned because he/she is just weak in their faith, and sins due to spiritual weakness, or if the person's sin or sins are because they are "wicked", requiring their removal from the congregation, in order to protect the congregation from morally unclean and bad influences: "remove the wicked man from among yourselves."

So, then, Jesus, through Scripture, is telling us not to judge persons harshly, based upon our own opinions, our own standards, or about things that we have not corrected in ourselves. At John 7:24, Jesus further tells us that we should not judge by outward appearances, but judge with righteous judgement. We first need to recognize faults in ourselves, based on God's standards, found in his word the Bible, correct them, and only then can we properly help others. Not that we shouldn't try to help our brother to "remove the straw" from his eye, but first we must seek and apply correction from God's word to remove the rafter from our own eye. In other words, fix your life first, then you will be able to help others. The lesson is, don't be hypocritical and don't judge by our own imperfect standards or by outward appearances.

And, based on the context, Jesus is also showing that it is actually very necessary for Christians to use discernment, to make judgements at times; to make rational, logical, practical judgements, using discernment, about people, for the sake of our own self preservation, in a spiritual sense, and as a protection and defense in our spiritual warfare against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 We need to decide, for instance, if someone is bad association as per Paul's words in 1 Corinthians. "Bad associations spoil useful habits." 1 Corinthians 15:33. This requires the Christian to use discernment, based on God's word, to make a judgement about a person's character, and as to whether they are "good" or "bad" association, and then, to act accordingly, to either associate with them or not.

Also, Jesus told his followers to be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheep's covering, and said that these could be recognized "by their fruits", not by the message that they preach, but by their "fruits". This requires judgeing people, using discernment, as to whether or not they are false prophets. In order for us to make this judgment, Jesus tell us how to identify false prophets, "by their fruits you will recognize them." Matthew 7:16

Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to YOU in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits YOU will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? Likewise every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit; a good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, neither can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire. Really, then, by their fruits YOU will recognize those [men]."
Matthew 7:15-20

Paul also fortold that there would be wolves that would oppress the sheep of Christ's congregation, once the apostles were gone. Paul states, "I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among YOU and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among YOU yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves." Acts 20:29, 30 So, if we see people acting like oppressive wolves, but claiming to be Christian's, it's very possible they are oppressive wolves in sheep's covering, again, "by their fruits you will recognize them."

The following is another quote from another related article that discusses Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." KJV & ASV

"In the immediately following verse, Jesus requires good judgment: “Don’t give what is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls before swine.” Wouldn’t this require identifying who the “dogs” and “swine” are? What about identifying the “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” whom we “will know from their fruits” in 7:15–20? Elsewhere in Matthew (chapter 18), Jesus lays out guidelines for dealing with a “brother who sins,” involving a progression from showing him his error in private to taking the matter before the whole community. In the same vein, Paul repeatedly emphasizes the church’s responsibility to judge its members (though, interestingly, not the world; cf. 1 Cor 5–6, et al.).

If we are in a spiritual warfare, which all true Christian's are, as per Scripture, we'd better be able to judge who the enemy is, who is warring against us and our faith, as well as who is trying to devour, destroy, undermine and ruin our faith in the truth and in Jehovah, Christ Jesus, and in our being able to identify who, or at least what group of "Christians" comprises Christ's congregation, the body of Christ, and who do not. Otherwise, we will be completely vulnerable to our spiritual enemies.

Of course, with regard to the final judgement, Jehovah states that there is a day that He has set for judgeing mankind, and He has appointed Jesus as the ultimate and final Judge of the future prospects of individuals and whether they will receive eternal life, or not. Acts 17:31. The final judgement of mankind and of individuals is not for any human or other creature to determine or to judge.

Important Note to reader:
This is PART 1 *
of a discussion of Matthew Chapter 7 of Jesus Sermon on the Mount, focusing on Matt 7:1 and Jesus words about judgeing.

*There is a PART 2
and a continuing discussion focusing on Matthew 7:6 and what Jesus meant when he said, "Do not give what is holy to dogs nor throw your pearls before swine."

NOTE: Contrary to posts made by a couple of posters, (who must not have bothered to read the post prior to criticizing it) PART 2, focuses on verse 6, and contains entirely different commentary, and an entirely different video.
The link for that is here:
Part 2 Matthew 7 Sermon on the Mount

"So you should not pass judgment on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgment must wait until the Lord comes; he will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people's minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve." 1 Corinthians
Edited for typos, to clarify meaning, and additional commentary about Jesus seemingly contradictory words at John 7:24.
"Stop judging from the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." John 7:24
 
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Nomex

Well-known member
No commentary. just what the Bible (Jesus) says starting with and including Matt 7:1


7 “Stop judging+ that YOU may not be judged; 2 for with what judgment YOU are judging, YOU will be judged;+ and with the measure that YOU are measuring out, they will measure out to YOU.+ 3 Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the rafter in your own eye?+ 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to extract the straw from your eye’; when, look! a rafter is in your own eye?+ 5 Hypocrite! First extract the rafter from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to extract the straw from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs,+ neither throw YOUR pearls before swine, that they may never trample+ them under their feet and turn around and rip YOU open. 7 “Keep on asking,+ and it will be given YOU; keep on seeking, and YOU will find; keep on knocking,+ and it will be opened to YOU.
 

BibleStudent

Well-known member
"So you should not pass judgment on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgment must wait until the Lord comes; he will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people's minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve." 1 Corinthians 4:5
 
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BibleStudent

Well-known member

Important Note to reader:
This is Part 1 of a discussion of Matthew Chapter 7 of Jesus Sermon on the Mount, focusing on Matt 7:1 and Jesus words about judgeing.
There is a Part 2 and a continuing discussion focusing on Matthew 7:6 and what Jesus meant when he said, "Do not give what is holy to dogs nor throw your pearls before swine."

Contrary to one post made by someone who must not have bothered to read the post, PART 2, focuses on verse 6, contains entirely different commentary, and entirely different video.
The link for that is here:
Part 2 Matthew 7 Sermon on the Mount
 
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BARNABY THE DOG.

Well-known member
I think you will find the verse applies to those who do not appreciate the gravity of the word. That would come under insight, rather than an outright assumption of a person being a ‘swine’ for not appreciating the things that you or we do. The essence of the scripture is always love. Love is the basis of all our considerations - certainly - and it is with that in mind that we interact with others, rather than be confident in ourselves to the point whereby we assume such labels on others simply because we see the meaning of scriptures in an unequivocal and black and white manner. The object is certainly to gain that person, rather than in our own judgement, cast them out, without care, justifying our actions because in our opinion, they are ’swine’.
This means first and foremost that we speak kindly with them. Secondly, that we do not judge their response as a rejection of the word, for we are nothing more than the carrier of that message. It is not ours. Neither are we the instigator of such, or the one understanding the full weight of such. Jehovah reads the heart. As the scripture also notes, just move on. There is always room, and time, for that one to come to understand, until Jehovah can no longer be found. What you miss in your analysis is that the “swine” can change his or her attitude. The scripture is not a black and white command. It is far, far wider than than that.
What the scripture does imply, is that the gems of truth that we do have, (or assume we have) we should not waste in trying to turn around a persons thinking who is not receptive AT THAT TIME. Not, not that the person is beyond redemption and to be looked down upon, vilified and unvalued. How else would Saul/Paul have been saved? Jesus spoke to him at the right time for Paul. Jesus asked him the right question. ”Why do you persecute me?” In other words, provoking Paul to think through his actions.
Was Paul a ‘swine’ at that time? Yes. He was. He was off to kill Christian’s. A self appointed analyst of what is right and wrong, convinced that he was right and that all should think his way. Clearly then, there are elements to consider along with what is written. The scriptures contain such seemingly contradictory quotations as you note, because it is ALL of these issues that we need to think through to gain a balance in all the attributes of the spirit. Not a judgement. Jehovah exercises righteous indignation, even execution, yet also unmeasured depths of love and still remains perfect in all that he does. We do not have those powers of insight, and thus for us, we seek balance, always thinking the best, always hoping, always chipping away to reveal the beauty within. We cannot read hearts. We may think we do, but that in itself is just one arm of the treachery of the heart. Ignore it.
A commentary on the meaning of Matthew 7:1

A commentary on the meaning of Matthew 7:1

A commentary on the meaning of Matthew 7:1

"So you should not pass judgment on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgment must wait until the Lord comes; he will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people's minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve." 1 Corinthians 4:5
 

BibleStudent

Well-known member
I think you will find the verse applies to those who do not appreciate the gravity of the word. That would come under insight, rather than an outright assumption of a person being a ‘swine’ for not appreciating the things that you or we do. The essence of the scripture is always love. Love is the basis of all our considerations - certainly - and it is with that in mind that we interact with others, rather than be confident in ourselves to the point whereby we assume such labels on others simply because we see the meaning of scriptures in an unequivocal and black and white manner. The object is certainly to gain that person, rather than in our own judgement, cast them out, without care, justifying our actions because in our opinion, they are ’swine’.
This means first and foremost that we speak kindly with them. Secondly, that we do not judge their response as a rejection of the word, for we are nothing more than the carrier of that message. It is not ours. Neither are we the instigator of such, or the one understanding the full weight of such. Jehovah reads the heart. As the scripture also notes, just move on. There is always room, and time, for that one to come to understand, until Jehovah can no longer be found. What you miss in your analysis is that the “swine” can change his or her attitude. The scripture is not a black and white command. It is far, far wider than than that.
What the scripture does imply, is that the gems of truth that we do have, (or assume we have) we should not waste in trying to turn around a persons thinking who is not receptive AT THAT TIME. Not, not that the person is beyond redemption and to be looked down upon, vilified and unvalued. How else would Saul/Paul have been saved? Jesus spoke to him at the right time for Paul. Jesus asked him the right question. ”Why do you persecute me?” In other words, provoking Paul to think through his actions.
Was Paul a ‘swine’ at that time? Yes. He was. He was off to kill Christian’s. A self appointed analyst of what is right and wrong, convinced that he was right and that all should think his way. Clearly then, there are elements to consider along with what is written. The scriptures contain such seemingly contradictory quotations as you note, because it is ALL of these issues that we need to think through to gain a balance in all the attributes of the spirit. Not a judgement. Jehovah exercises righteous indignation, even execution, yet also unmeasured depths of love and still remains perfect in all that he does. We do not have those powers of insight, and thus for us, we seek balance, always thinking the best, always hoping, always chipping away to reveal the beauty within. We cannot read hearts. We may think we do, but that in itself is just one arm of the treachery of the heart. Ignore it.
Thank you for taking the time to write all of that. I appreciate your very good points. And you are correct, Jesus words are, as always, to make a point, and he uses the illustration of pigs and dogs because of how they act, in order to illustrate how some persons will react to his message, and his instructions here, are not directed to those persons, who act like pigs or dogs, but to those who preach his message, so that they can discern the difference between those who we should not continue to try to share the valuable pearls of the kingdom message with, at that time. We should not throw Jesus message before those who do not appreciate spiritual things, and who would just trample it down as if it had no value, or before dogs who would turn around and attack us. And, yes, it requires that time be given to determine the character of the individual, and we shouldn't make rash judgements. And yes, individuals can change their attitudes, and this judgement that Christians need to make is so they don't waste the Word on ones who won't appreciate it's value. As brought out above, Jesus has been appointed by Jehovah to make final judgements as to anyone's eternal future, and Jesus is not telling his disciples to make that kind of judgement of anyone.

Some take Jesus words to mean don't judge anything, as if "anything goes", which explains why it has become the most popular Bible verse of our times, as well as one of the most misunderstood. But John 7:24 is the key to understanding what Jesus means. There he tells us to "stop judgeing" by the outward appearance, but judge by righteous judgment. The NWT at Matthew 7:1 reads differently than the KJV & ASV, which says, "Judge not.". The NWT reads, "Stop judging that you may not be judged." We can't see into a person's heart.

Jesus showed how we can recognize false prophets, in Matthew 7:15, "By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they? Likewise every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotton tree produces worthless fruit; a good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, neither can a rotton tree produce fine fruit. Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire. Really then, by their fruits you will recognize these men."

So, this discernment that Christians need to use, is a judgement that Jesus instructs Christians to make, and is in obeidience to Jesus previous words in verse 15, "Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheeps covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves." James 1:22. Elsewhere he says, says, And, "If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples." John 8:31. James tells us, "However, becomes doers of the word, not hearers only...a doer of the work will be happy in his doing it." James 1:22, 25.

So, by saying, don't judge, or stop judgeing, Jesus didn't mean that Christians shouldn't use their God given reasoning powers, we are required to make judgements about things every day, it's a necessary part of a healthy, productive and successful life. I found this post by one member of interest. To not judge is stupid.

"The duck test is a form of abductive reasoning. This is its usual expression: If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. The test implies that a person can identify an unknown subject by observing that subject's habitual characteristics."

Note: This is a discussion of the meaning of verses in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. I find this most perfect sermon far more interesting and enriching than discussing Covid and masks, which I'm sure most of us are tired of hearing and talking about. No one is pointing fingers, as we know, there are always 4 pointing back at us.

"So you should not pass judgment on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgment must wait until the Lord comes; he will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people's minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve." 1 Corinthians 4:5
 
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