“ Judge not, that you be not judged.” This phrase taken from Matthew 7:1 is often used in response to any comment that is thought to be an attack. Associated with the response would be some response like, “Who are you to judge me?” or “Jesus told us never to judge people, only to love them.” No text in the Bible is more familiar, misunderstood, and misapplied than Matthew 7:1. This, in turn, will lead to wrong applications and affect relationships and the responsibilities in them.
It is interesting that the very ones who quote this prohibition fail to read the rest of the context in verses 2-5 and are oblivious to verse six which reads, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” It is clear that Jesus is not giving advice to farmers about what to feed dogs and pigs. The carnal man living only for the moment to satisfy the longings of the flesh will not distinguish anything of real value from the common or ordinary. A twenty-first-century man or woman, if living at that time and listening to Jesus’ teaching, would say, “I don’t think we should call anybody a ‘dog’ or a ‘pig’. That’s not very nice.” Of course, Jesus was not addressing anyone in person, but he does use some strong adjectives when talking to the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23, calling them “hypocrites,” “blind guides,” “fools,” “generation of vipers,” and “serpents.” Not only does he attach these strong labels to them, but he offers scathing rebukes for their spiritual condition (vs. 13-35). We understand that he knew hearts and could read minds. He would certainly be qualified for tasks that neither you nor I am qualified to perform. However, the point is that Jesus was the most loving person to walk the face of this earth. Therefore, to pass these judgments on them did not negate his love. Making judgments and using illustrations to clarify one’s spiritual condition in the sharing of one’s assessment are not antithetical.
Furthermore, while we may hesitate to do as Jesus did to the Pharisees because we do not have His divine powers, he later warns His disciples in verses 15-16 of false prophets. Then, without hesitation, He illustrates their character by the use of “ravenous wolves” and “corrupt fruit.” Clearly, we can see that to be aware of false teachers requires the right and responsibility to identify them. That is a judgment that Jesus places on them. It’s not just a right, it’s a responsibility.
You may ask, “How are we going to identify these people?” Jesus tells us in that same context, “You shall know them by their fruits.” Unfortunately, many people attempt to do this at a distance like someone looking at a grove of apples and seeing the trees full of fruit. I have observed shoppers picking out fruit from a grocery store and some will take extreme precautions to pierce an apple with their nail to determine its freshness. So, are we to just observe the presence of fruit, or are we to make an effort to look for pestilence and worms (“corrupt fruit”)? The teaching of Jesus demands a closer look than the distant appearances.
I am not advocating hypercriticism and treating everyone with suspicion before we offer our love and fellowship. It takes a season for a fruit tree to produce a harvest. Some will not even have the appearance of good fruit and start unproductive. But, others will require a longer time before the harvest day. Most of these kinds are false teachers. Initially, they have a pleasant appearance, blossoming well and bearing fruit. Until we see further evidence, it appears to be a good tree. But, appearances can be deceitful and the enemy is still present to effect a change before harvest. We cannot see the heart but if it is corrupt, it will eventually produce corrupt fruit. This is the only way we are known by each other — our fruit. Jesus requires his disciples to judge with righteous judgment instead of mere outward appearances (cf. John 7:24).
So, Jesus is teaching by what he says and does. He is making judgments for various people and by the time Matthew records the twenty-third chapter, he has seen the fruit in the lives of the Jewish leadership. He’s calling them dogs and pigs; He’s calling out false prophets. Then, the Master Teacher tells His disciples to follow His lead. To shout, “You are judging” when Christ requires it is a compliment. Ironically, the ones shouting this are, themselves, judging and it’s not very righteous.