Sermon on the Mount - Don't Judge

(Matthew 7:1-6)

By Mary Jane Chaignot

Categories: Sermon on the Mount, Sermon on the Mount (Bible Study)

After teaching his disciples about their duty towards God, Jesus now turns his attention to the way they should treat others.
He begins by saying: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.”
This is not the first time he has said this. He alludes to judging in the fifth beatitude about mercy.
He mentions forgiving others in the Lord’s Prayer.
He’s already talked about anger, revenge, and hate in the commands.
This time he explicitly says, “Do not judge.”
“Do not judge,” is an imperative. It really means “do not pass judgment upon.”
However, there are some caveats to be noted.
Jesus is not saying, “Don’t think, or don’t discern.”
In this case, “don’t judge” refers to the judgment of condemnation.
It should be noted that being a judge has other connotations.
The Old Testament has a whole book devoted to “Judges.”
These were real people that played a pivotal role in the life of the Israelites.
Sometimes they were heroes, warriors, or even conquerors.
They fought for God.
Jesus is basically saying that was then; this is now.
The disciples are not to go out warring for God in any heroic sense.
They are disciples, not conquerors.
Their job is not to uproot evil, but to overcome it with good.
The message is clear: Do not judge, lest you be judged.
“Be judged” is in the passive again. God will be doing this judging.
Jesus adds, “For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.”
This is another argument for mercy and forgiveness.
Disciples are told that the Father is going to be using the same measures they use.
“Measures” could refer to standards in the marketplace. It could be a scale, a measuring stick, or a vessel.
It was a fact of life in antiquity that everybody had two sets of measures. One was for buying; the other was for selling.
Unscrupulous people always used the one that would work to their advantage.
Jesus is cautioning against such behavior.
Yet, one might ask if justice is the aim, isn’t part of the struggle dispensing it?
Not according to this sermon.
Surely, one can work for justice, but this sermon makes it clear that it is not up to us to mete it out, unless of course we are a judge.
Now there may be some people who are wonderful disciples who are also judges. Then it is their job to make decisions.
But even those people cannot be dispensers of God’s judgment in society.
Jesus continues, “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eyes, but do not notice the log in your own eye?”
Having a log in one’s eye is meant to be ludicrous.
The point is well taken, though.
With this metaphor Jesus is saying that we can see the tiniest flaw in someone else, while ignoring much bigger flaws within ourselves.
It seems a truism that we always undervalue our faults and overvalue the faults of others.
It is like having a law of gravity that always works in our favor.
It is a log-eyed reformer trying to save a speck-eyed sinner.
The religious leaders were renown for publicly condemning minor behaviors while ignoring their own faults.
Jesus is admonishing his disciples not to be like them.
He goes on, “Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye?”
The idea of having a log extending from one’s eye precludes getting anywhere near enough to help with a speck in a neighbor’s eye.
“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.”
“Hypocrite” again refers to the one that is playing a part, an actor expecting applause for his acting.
Yet, Jesus isn’t telling us to walk away from the neighbor who has a speck in his eye.
The fact is that it hurts when someone has something in his/her eye.
Disciples are not to be indifferent, but they are to be aware of how they offer help.
The self-critical aid can be tolerated, as long as they keep that log in mind.
The humble eye can be very helpful; the haughty eye usually hurts.
In 7:6, there is a unique line about dogs and pigs.
Jesus says, “Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.”
Scholars struggle to fully explain the words, but the meaning is pretty clear.
Obviously this is not meant in the literal sense.
Pearls and holiness are Christian talents/teachings.
They symbolize something very, very precious.
Pigs and dogs are references to Israel’s enemies.
Dogs aren’t the cute little puppies that one sees today.
In antiquity, they were wild, scavenging for food wherever they could find it.
Such activity rendered them perpetually unclean.
They were despised in that society.
Pigs, of course, have always been unclean, abominable.
This is a great example that “don’t judge” does not mean, “don’t think.”
In this story disciples are being specifically asked to think, to discern.
The question is one of receptivity.
They are to notice whether or not there is any interest.
Don’t give what is precious to the insensitive. This also provides a check on their zeal.
Some were probably all ready, willing, and eager to go out and save the world.
But not everybody is so ready, willing, and eager to be saved.
In Matt. 10:14, Jesus will say, “If they don’t receive you, shake off the dust and go on.”
They are not to aggressively push anyone, to be insensitive to their response.
No one is won over with yelling and belittling.
On the other hand, many have been won over by observing a life well-lived.

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