Introduction

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” 

3 “Why do you see 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,’ when there is the log 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 dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

Perhaps you have encountered the Great Defeater.

• Examples of people using this to defeat:
  • Confronted for being unreliable—don’t judge me!
  • Unbiblical relationship—don’t judge us!
  • Modern sexual ethic—don’t judge others!

Jesus is shifting to the close of his sermon.

• All this talk of internal and external righteousness might produce a community with high demands and expectations for one another.
• But Jesus wants a kingdom of humble, patient, gentle people who resist a critical spirit, while at the same time practicing discernment.
• Because Jesus is not only the teacher of this sermon, he is the One who made the kingdom possible in the first place.
  • His gospel should make us a gracious, humble, helpful people, because he humbled himself to extend his helpful grace to us.

Theme: Don’t be overly critical (7:1-2). Instead, examine yourself to become truly helpful (7:3-5), and don’t be naive—you can’t help everyone (7:6).

• The gospel is not legalism—do this to get in the kingdom!
• The gospel is not license—anything goes!
• The gospel gives us another way.

Don’t Be Overly Critical (7:1-2)

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” 

The Great Defeater: Judge not, that you be not judged.

But immediately before saying this, Jesus:

• Spoke to the inner workings of the heart (5:21-48).
• Spoke to the inner motivation to be seen by others (6:1-18).

And immediately after saying this, Jesus:

• Taught us to inspect ourselves so we can help others with their issues (7:3-5).
• Taught us not to give dogs what is holy (7:6).
• Taught us to beware of false prophets (7:15).

And in Matthew, Jesus:

• Sent his disciples out and told them to be wise as serpents (10:16).
• Rebuked the Pharisees for their inability to discern the signs of the times (16:2-3).
• Provided a process and structure for church discipline (18:15-17).

Other important Scriptures:

• “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (John 7:24)
• “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent…” (Philippians 1:9–10)
• “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)
• “…Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:10)
• “The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.” (1 Corinthians 2:15)
• “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” (1 Corinthians 5:12)

What does Jesus mean?

Judge not: a phrase that can be used in lots of ways.

• Various definitions (Michael Wilkins):
  • Could mean ordinary evaluation, pronouncing guilt (sometimes in a court of law), or determining a person’s fate.
• Example: Overlook
  • She overlooked a major red flag when they were dating (bad).
  • She overlooked how he ate with his elbows on the table (good).
  • Don’t overlook. Do overlook. What? It matters.

So context matters (as we mentioned already)—which leads to definitions such as these:

• Don’t be so critical (Bruner).
• Stop criticizing others (Blomberg).
• Quit fault finding in others (France).
• Given all I’ve taught here, watch out for perfectionism (Bruner).

Definition: An overly critical spirit that overlooks personal flaws while fixating on the flaws of others.

• Example: parent who over-coaches to the point of exasperation.
• Example: Would you rather be the harsh restaurant critic or the adventurous and hospitable chef?

Being overly critical could invite God’s judgment.

• That you be not judged (1).
  • Bible: God is the ultimate Judge.
  • This is the Fifth Beatitude in reverse—“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (5:7).
• For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (2).
  • Common Jewish proverb.

Our cultural blindness—fundamental attribution error.

• Example: On Lighthouse the other day, before going to two lanes, someone was riding my bumper hard. Once the road opened up to two lanes, he darted around me. I tried hard to believe he was just late for work or trying to get to the hospital. But the more I looked at the blacked-out windows of that Dodge Charger, I could not believe it. Surely, he was just a punk.
• Example: You cut me off, and you’re a maniac. I cut you off, and I made an honest mistake.

You wouldn’t want God to be hyper-critical with you, so extend grace to others.

• I am the chiefest of sinners here.
• I have found this sin produces a level of personal corruption, resulting in bitterness and loneliness. We are so much better when we remain highly relational and extend copious amounts of grace to one another.

Instead, Examine Yourself to Become Truly Helpful (7:3-5)

3 “Why do you see 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,’ when there is the log 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.”

Jesus was a brilliant teacher.

• Speck vs. Log: This imagery is hilarious—sawdust vs. wooden beam
• Hyperbolic imagery
• Straight from a carpenter’s workshop
• Example: Christina’s window.

What did Jesus mean?

• Jesus hoped we would bring correction to one another, but for that to happen well we first need to humbly confront ourselves.
  • He doesn’t abolish brotherly correction, but requires a specific sequence.
  • We must first recognize our poverty of spirit and need for God’s grace, allowing him to search us and show us our own issues.
• Biblical example: David and Nathan.
  • David had clear insight regarding the rich man in Nathan’s story.
  • But he was blind regarding his own major issues.
• Major issue: the “log” of an overly critical spirit.
  • Willard: Eliminate condemnation and then help.
  • Example: Gym guy walking around giving helpful “tips” to everyone else, yet never lifting anything himself.

The log of judgmentalism: excessive eagerness to help others can be a sign of pride.

Examples:

• I’ll show this younger Christian how it’s done.
• I’ll be the expert in the room.
• I’m the deeper Christian with more to say at Life Group.
• Soon, everyone runs when the super-helpful person waddles into the room!

But think of how Jesus helps us!

• Humble: With no long in his eye, he humbled himself to become one of us.
• Grace: He favored us as he worked to remove our log by his blood.
• Patience: He makes us his brothers and sisters, suffering long with our weaknesses.
• Note: Perhaps you have been harshly judged by a sawdust inspector—know that Jesus is not that kind of brother.

Log audit: Examine your frustrations.

Our frustrations often point to a shared sin (parallel), a suppressed desire (echo), or an overcorrection that has become its own problem (converse).

• Parallel: You do the same thing, just less visibly.
  • Note: parallel (or shared) sins are like splinters off the plank.
• Echo: You’re envious about what they’re doing freely.
• Converse: You’ve overcorrected so hard it became its own sin.

Example 1: the chronic talker who dominates conversation

• Parallel (shared sin): Are you upset because you also dominate conversations and there’s no room for you now that they’re there?
• Echo (suppressed desire): Are you secretly jealous of their ability to speak without self-censoring?
• Converse (overcorrection): Are you habitually self-suppressing in conversation so it makes you resent others who aren’t?

Example 2: people who are dishonest or evasive.

• Parallel (shared sin): Are you dishonest in subtler ways—spin, image management, leaving out important details, partial confession?
• Echo (suppressed desire): Do you wish you could avoid hard conversations without the guilt?
• Converse (overcorrection): Are you so blunt and unfiltered that you’ve weaponized honesty?

Example 3: people who are emotionally needy or high maintenance.

• Parallel (shared sin): Are you frustrated because there is less time for the maintenance and needs you have?
• Echo (suppressed desire): Do you wish you could express your needs without shame?
• Converse (overcorrection): Have you so suppressed your need for others that you’ve become emotionally unavailable?

I would love to see more humble self-correction that leads to interpersonal ministry.

• We are often allergic to candor because we can’t figure out how to do it with love.
• First, inspect yourself, then you will have grace for others as you help them.
• We need one another and our perspectives—humility is the key to that space.

And Don’t Be Naive—You Can’t Help Everyone (7:6)

6 “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.”

What is happening here?

General agreement: Jesus was providing some sort of counterbalance to 7:1-5 here.

• Don’t be pushy, and be discerning.
• Be a little critical (Bruner).

Q1: What do the holy things and pearls represent?

• What is holy might be consecrated temple food for the priests.
• Pearls are items of immense value.
• Our helpful corrections? Maybe, it does flow well from the context.
• The gospel? Maybe, it does fit Jesus’ attitude.
  • The kingdom will be called the pearl of great price (Matt. 13:45-46).
  • Good metaphor: forcing the spiritual truths of the gospel upon hardened individuals who will only mock it or hold it in contempt is not wise.
  • Jesus’ later missionary instructions: Shake the dust off your feet when a town rejects you (Matt. 10:14).
    • Paul had these moments in his missionary ministry (Acts 13:46; 18:6).
  • But this cannot be taken as an unwillingness to cast the gospel to unworthy people, for Christ came to die for the unworthy.

Q2: Who do the dogs and pigs represent?

• Dogs and pigs—not household pets in the first century—were ceremonially unclean animals, and often scavengers.
• Not Gentiles: Matthew concludes with a recommitment to the “all nations” mission that started with Abraham.
  • Expanded note: Matthew’s Gospel, written likely for a Jewish-Christian community navigating Gentile mission, would not undermine that mission at 7:6 when it culminates in it at 28:19.
• Anyone who demonstrates decided hostility to the truth.
• Something like: Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. (Proverbs 23:9)

Jesus: As you practice grace and mercy (7:1-2) by humbly examining yourself before correcting others (7:3-5), don’t become naive—you cannot help everyone!

Don’t become a pearl pusher! (Willard)

• We cannot harass people into righteousness—we must respect their free will.

God himself persuades, draws, and calls, while honoring the dignity of his creatures and respecting their choices. 

• He accepted the catastrophic cost of humanity’s decisions in the fall (Gen. 3).
• If he doesn’t force himself on the people he made and died for, we have no business forcing the things of God on those who won’t receive them.

Truth reception requires a willing participant—if someone isn’t pressing in or digesting the truth, we don’t have to ramp up the pressure.

• Jesus: It is dangerous to try to force them! They will turn to attack you!
• Paul in Ephesus: after three months, “some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way,” so Paul withdrew and taught the disciples (Acts 19:8-9).
• Example: College coach who uses the same tactics for a team of 5-year olds.

Applications:

• Parenting: warm up their receptivity first—content and readiness matter.
• Online behavior: you won’t change much—the wise response is often silence, a private message, or simply not engaging.
• Marriage: sometimes you’ve stated your complaint, and ongoing repetition turns into harassment, which breeds resentment more than heartfelt change. Pray. Give space. Let the Spirit work.

Conclusion

• Johnny Cash: Because you’re mine, I walk the line.
  • Because we have Christ, the one who graciously died to judge sin, remove sin, and offer forgiveness to all who would receive it, we should long to walk the line.
    • We can avoid the ditch of legalism—Not overly critical. Examining the self. Becoming truly helpful.
    • We can avoid the ditch of license—But without naivety. We know God’s grace will produce a response, but that we can’t force anyone!

Small Group Study Questions

Head (Knowledge, Facts, Understanding)

1. In Matthew 7:1–2, Jesus says, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” How does the surrounding context of Matthew’s Gospel (e.g., Matthew 7:3–5, 7:6, 7:15; 10:16; 16:2–3; 18:15–17) clarify what Jesus does and does not mean by this command? Why is it important to distinguish between a critical spirit and biblical discernment (John 7:24; Philippians 1:9–10; Hebrews 5:14)?
2. Walk through the logic of the speck-and-log imagery in Matthew 7:3–5. What sequence does Jesus require before we attempt to help a brother or sister, and what does this reveal about the posture of the heart Jesus is after in kingdom citizens?

Heart (Feelings, Impressions, Desires)

1. The sermon described three ways our frustrations with others can expose something in us—parallel (a shared sin), echo (a suppressed desire), or converse (an overcorrection). As you reflect honestly, which of these most often shows up in your own irritations with people, and what does that reveal about your heart?
2. Jesus warns against a hyper-critical spirit in Matthew 7:1–2, and the sermon noted that this sin tends to produce bitterness and loneliness. Have you sensed those fruits in your own life? What desires (for control, for superiority, for being right) might be feeding a critical spirit in you?

Hands (Actions, Commitments, Decisions, Beliefs)

1. Matthew 7:5 calls us to “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.”
2. What is one specific relationship in which God may be calling you to do a “log audit” this week before offering correction—and what concrete step will you take?
3. In Matthew 7:6, Jesus cautions us not to become “pearl pushers” who force truth on those who are decidedly hostile to it (cf. Proverbs 23:9; Acts 13:46; 19:8–9). Where in your life—parenting, marriage, online engagement, a difficult relationship—do you need to stop pressing and instead pray, give space, and trust the Spirit to work?