Critical Verse
I recently had a conversation with someone and they asked me what I though was the most popular verse among young people right now? My reply was I would think it would be Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that ye be judged.” His response was your right. So I began to wonder why that was and I felt that most people may take this verse out of context. By the way the Greek word here for judge here is (krinete) which means to criticize, condemn, judge, censor, etc. It is interesting that it means to criticize. It is speaking of fault finding; being picky.
Here is Matthew 7:1-6
1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
So I thought maybe I would spend the next few days just doing some work with these verses. So today will be more of an introduction then tomorrow I will get more into detail I think.
When I read these verse one of the first things that I notice is the we are told right from the start “do not judge”. This is a command do not judge. (v. 1)
Secondly it is made very clear that we will be judged with the same judgement or criticism we use and we will be judged with the same measurement (v. 2)
The thirdly think I have noticed is that the person doing the judging spends time looking for faults in others but spends very little time looking at themselves (v. 3)
The fourth thing I notice is that the person doing the judging is deceived about themselves (v. 4)
The fifth thing we notice is that the person doing the judging is really a hypocrite the text even calls them a hypocrite because of their failure to look at their own sin first (v. 5)
The sixth and final thing I notice is that this person is undeserving of the gospel (reality we all are) but this person tramples it under their feet and tears people apart (v.6)
Christ is not holding back when talking about those who are judgmental and critical. So over the next few days I will take at least one of the above points at a time and break it down.