Scripture Reading:

Matthew 7:1-6  

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

Introduction: The Weight of Judgment  

In our passage this morning, we will examine one of the most misquoted and misapplied verses in all of Scripture. Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged. ” is often cited, especially by secularly minded people, whenever the truth of the gospel becomes offensive. Some assume Jesus' primary message was simply to be kind and never judge, but would a man with such a message have been crucified?  

Many take this verse to mean we should never make moral evaluations, as if Jesus taught a passive acceptance of all behavior. But is that truly what He meant? More often than not, when someone says, “Judge not,” what they really mean is, “Don’t challenge a sin I approve of.” Yet, I’ve never seen this interpretation consistently applied. If I declare that sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman is sinful, I may be called judgmental. But would the same person say “Judge not” if I condemned racism or child abuse? Likely not.  

The reality is, none of us are fully consistent in how we view sin. We excuse our own failures while judging others harshly for theirs. I doubt anyone is immune to this struggle. If you are, I’d love to shake your hand and learn your secret, because I know I’m not guiltless in this area. This passage is not a call to abandon all moral discernment, rather it is a warning against the dangers of a hypocritical and judgmental spirit that can lead you into a sense of damnable false self-confidence and self-righteousness. 

I. Judging Others and Ourselves (Matthew 7:1-2)  

When Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1, ESV), He was not suggesting that we should never discern right from wrong. To do so would make Jesus a hypocrite himself, and we know that Jesus does not contradict Himself nor does He contradict the rest of Scripture. If we ever perceive a contradiction, the error lies not in God’s Word but in our interpretation. Throughout His ministry, Jesus called out sin and exposed hypocrisy. He rebuked the Pharisees, who were notorious for their self-righteous and hypocritical judgment placing heavy burdens on others while failing to uphold the very standards they preached. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy:  

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:25-28, ESV).  

And if we are tempted to say, “Well, of course, Jesus can judge. He is God, but we are not,” we must remember that He also commands His followers to exercise discernment. Later in Matthew 7, Jesus instructs us to recognize false prophets by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). This command requires believers to make moral distinctions, not only about actions but also about teachings and character. Clearly, Jesus does not forbid all judgment; rather, He calls us to judge rightly, wisely, and righteously, with humility and discernment.

I believe that through this command, Jesus was also prohibiting His followers from thinking that they can somehow sit in the place of God as the ultimate judge. You are allowed, and in fact commanded, to call out things that are sinful and to call sinners to repentance. At the same time that does not give you the right to assume God’s role as the ultimate judge. You can warn people of the coming judgment, but God will be the one who decides every sinner's fate. As James, the brother of Jesus reminds us: “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12, ESV).  

I believe that when all is said and done, and we stand in glory, three things will be true. Firstly, I believe we will be surprised at some of the people who were brought into the kingdom. There will be those we assumed they were far too sinful and lost for us to hope for their salvation, who repented of sin and were washed white as snow.  

Secondly, I believe that we will be surprised by some of the people who did not make it in. We thought they were good and godly people who were generous, kind, and of good character. We will be surprised to learn, as Jesus warned, that they never actually knew Him at all and it was all an act done for show. 

Finally, I believe that we will be surprised, after having truly understood the weight and severity of our sins and the holiness of God, that sinners even as wretched as we, could be redeemed and brought into such a heavenly kingdom. 

Call out sin, and call it out boldly, but leave ultimate judgement in the hands of the Lord. I am sure many who knew the repentant rebel who died on the cross next to Jesus would have been shocked to hear Jesus say, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42, ESV). I would not be surprised if many Christians who died under the persecution of Paul were pleasantly surprised to look down from heaven and see their persecutor traveling across the world preaching the gospel to all who would listen. My point is this ultimate judgement belongs to God, so before you write anyone off, let’s remember that on the last days we may find ourselves pleasantly surprised by who stands next to us as we enter the Kingdom.  

II. The Log and the Speck (Matthew 7:3-5)  

Now that we have seen the right attitude toward judgment, how do we uphold truth, offer correction, and engage in ministry without falling into hypocrisy or self-righteousness? Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 7:3-5 that before we seek to correct others, we must first examine our own hearts. This is the foundation of biblical judgment: humility, self-awareness, and grace.  

True discernment requires fairness and impartiality. It is not swayed by personal bias, nor does it seek to elevate oneself at the expense of another. It is charitable and patient, motivated not by a desire to condemn but by a desire to restore. Above all, it is guided by truth and love, aligning with the character of Christ. The Apostle Paul provides a powerful guideline for correction in Galatians 6:1: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."  

Biblical correction should never come from a place of superiority but from a place of humility. How do we cultivate this spiritual humility? We do so by remembering and recognizing our own need for grace. To illustrate this point Jesus describes a man walking around with a massive wooden beam lodged in his eye, yet rather than focusing on the beam in his own eye, he is fixated on removing a tiny speck from his brother’s eye. The imagery is so exaggerated that it almost seems comical, but that is exactly Jesus' point. His words would have evoked laughter from His audience, but that laughter would have quickly turned to reflection. It is far easier to see the faults in others than to recognize our own. In fact, many make a habit of pointing out the sins of others, because in doing so they can distract themselves and others from the sins in their own lives. 

In case the point was not clear, Jesus told another famous parable to drive this point home. In Luke 18:9-14, where He contrasts the self-righteous Pharisee with the humble tax collector. The Pharisee stood proudly, thanking God that he was not like other sinners, while the tax collector bowed his head and prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Jesus makes it clear that the one who acknowledged his own sin was the one justified before God. 

But notice that in both of these illustrations, Jesus is not saying we should never address sin. He is not advocating for silence in the face of wrongdoing. Instead, He teaches that before we seek to correct others, we must first deal with our own hearts. Only then can we approach others with clarity, humility, and love.  

Jesus says in Matthew 7:5: "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."  Paul echoes this warning in Romans 2:21-23: "You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?"  

It is easy to hold others to a higher standard than we hold ourselves. But Jesus makes it clear: before we can help someone else grow in righteousness, we must first confront our own sin. Only then will we be able to offer correction in a way that is truly loving and redemptive.  

Before we criticize others, we should first pause and pray: “Lord, show me my own sins before I point out the sins of others.” How different would our lives be if we hated our own sins as much as we hate the sins we see in others? How different would we act if we were as quick to confess as we were to condemn? 

Lest we forget, our calling as Christians is not about passing judgment, it is about proclaiming the gospel. If we miss this we miss everything. Jesus is reminding us that we are all in need of mercy. Our sins are always worse than we imagine them to be. None of us stand righteous before God on our own. But in Christ, we have been forgiven. And if we, who have received such grace, turn around and withhold that grace from others, we have missed the very heart of the gospel. You can’t have the gospel without an awareness of sin, but an awareness of sin is worthless if it is not followed up by the good news of salvation by grace through faith. 

III. Do Not Give Dogs What Is Holy (Matthew 7:6)  

But what should we do when people refuse to listen? What do we do when the conviction of sin falls on deaf ears, when the gospel is preached to those who continue to treat it with mockery and scorn? While Christians are called to share the gospel, Jesus also warns against continually offering sacred things to those who are openly hostile, unreceptive, or scornful. 

“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” (Matthew 7:6, ESV).  

To His audience, these words would have been immediately clear. In Jewish culture, dogs were not the domesticated pets we know today but filthy, scavenging animals, often dangerous and unclean. Throughout Scripture, they symbolized those who opposed God’s truth. Likewise, pigs were considered unclean under the Mosaic Law and were often associated with moral corruption and a rejection of righteousness. In 2 Peter 2:22, those who return to sin after hearing the truth are compared to “a dog returning to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returning to wallow in the mire.”  At the same time, Jesus likens the truths of God’s kingdom to pearls, an image He uses again in Matthew 13:45-46, where He describes the kingdom of heaven as “a pearl of great price.” The gospel is precious, valuable, and worthy of reverence. Just as pearls hold no significance to pigs, there are those who fail to recognize the worth of God’s wisdom and treat it with contempt. 

So what is Jesus saying? It seems like at one moment He calls us not to judge and that God can save the worst of sinners, and then in the next moment we are told “not [to] give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs.” Which one is it Jesus?

It would be nice if there was a one size fits all approach to every situation, but that’s simply not the case. As I studied this passage I found that the reformation theologian Philipp Melanchthon had some helpful observations. When he was commentating on this passage he observed that Jesus was identifying different responses to the gospel: those who openly oppose it, those who reject it and continue in sin, and those who are open to wisdom and correction. Just as pigs have no appreciation for the value of pearls, there are people who treat divine truth as worthless. Just as wild dogs can turn on those who approach them, some will react to the gospel’s offer of salvation with hostility. 

While believers are called to share God’s truth with all people, not everyone will receive it. Some will mock, reject, or even lash out in response. Now Jesus is not telling us to be harsh or dismissive, but rather to be wise and discerning.  While believers are called to be slow to judge, and always open to God’s mercy, we must also be wise in our interactions. Paul reinforces this when he wrote to Timothy, “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24-26, ESV). 

Let’s put all of this wisdom together. Yes, we must call out sin and error. Yes, we must call people to repentance and faith. Yes, we must do so with patience, humility, and love. However, we must acknowledge that there are times when continuing to engage with those who reject the truth does more harm than good. 

Jesus and His disciples modeled this wisdom in their ministry. When faced with persistent rejection and hostility, Jesus taught his disciples: 

“And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.. (Matthew 10:11-15, ESV)

The Apostle Paul did likewise. When the Jews in Antioch and Pisidia repeatedly rejected the gospel, he and barnabas declared: 

“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:45, ESV) 

And again when Corinth would not receive the gospel: 

“Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:6, ESV). 

There is a time for persistence, but also a time for recognizing we have done all we can do. Some people, at certain times, are hardened against the truth, and persisting in offering correction may only provoke greater resistance or hostility. This is not about dismissing people or assuming they are beyond hope, but about recognizing that forcing truth on a hardened heart will not produce repentance. Titus 3:10-11 advises, “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him.”

Matthew 7:6 is not a command to withhold the gospel from anyone, but a reminder that wisdom is necessary in how we share it. The mission to proclaim the gospel is urgent and universal. However, when the message is consistently met with hostility or an unwillingness to listen, Jesus teaches that it is sometimes best to move on and seek receptive hearts elsewhere.  

While Christians should never be judgmental, they are called to be discerning. We need to do all we can to bring people to repentance and the truth of the gospel. We also need to recognize that only God can change a heart and that sometimes we must realize that some people are not ready to hear and that, until God softens their hearts, trying to call them to repentance and faith will be a fruitless effort. At the same time there are those who are truly ready to hear and embrace the good news of the kingdom. Let’s be bold, patient, and loving. Let’s also be wise and discerning, because our time is limited and the day of judgement grows closer with each passing day. 

Conclusion: Walking in Grace and Truth

 As we conclude, let’s reflect on our own hearts. Have we surrendered to Christ, recognizing our need for His grace? Are we more focused on others’ failures than our own? When we speak truth, do we do so with love, pointing others to the grace that has saved us?  

Jesus warns against hypocritical judgment, calling us to humility, self-examination, and dependence on Him. The gospel reminds us that we are all guilty before a holy God, yet in Christ, we find forgiveness and new life. We are not called to judge self-righteously but to discern with humility, knowing we, too, need mercy. Before we look down on others, we must first look up to Christ.  

The good news is that Jesus invites the weary to come to Him. His grace is greater than our sin, His mercy deeper than our failures, and His love powerful enough to transform us. If you have not yet come to Christ, let today be the day of salvation. Do not trample on the gift He offers. Surrender your pride, your judgments, and your burdens at the cross. Receive His grace and extend it to others, that we may reflect His mercy and wisdom to the world.