Matthew 7:1
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Matthew 7:1 in other translations
| BSB | “Do not judge, or you will be judged. |
|---|---|
| WEB | “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. |
| ASV | Judge not, that ye be not judged. |
| YLT | ‘Judge not, that ye may not be judged, |
| DARBY | Judge not, that ye may not be judged; |
| BBE | Be not judges of others, and you will not be judged. |
| Webster | Judge not, that ye be not judged. |
What does Matthew 7:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Mt 7:1-12. Miscellaneous Supplementary Counsels.
That these verses are entirely supplementary is the simplest and most natural view of them. All attempts to make out any evident connection with the immediately preceding context are, in our judgment, forced. But, though supplementary, these counsels are far from being of subordinate importance. On the contrary, they involve some of the most delicate and vital duties of the Christian life. In the vivid form in which they are here presented, perhaps they could not have been introduced with the same effect under any of the foregoing heads; but they spring out of the same great principles, and are but other forms and manifestations of the same evangelical "righteousness." Censorious Judgment (Mt 7:1-5). 1. Judge not, that ye be not judged--To "judge" here does not exactly mean to pronounce condemnatory judgment, nor does it refer to simple judging at all, whether favorable or the reverse. The context makes it clear that the thing here condemned is that disposition to look unfavorably on the character and actions of others, which leads invariably to the pronouncing of rash, unjust, and unlovely judgments upon them. No doubt it is the judgments so pronounced which are here spoken of; but what our Lord aims at is the spirit out of which they spring. Provided we eschew this unlovely spirit, we are not only warranted to sit in judgment upon a brother's character and actions, but in the exercise of a necessary discrimination are often constrained to do so for our own guidance. It is the violation of the law of love involved in the exercise of a censorious disposition which alone is here condemned. And the argument against it--"that ye be not judged"--confirms this: "that your own character and actions be not pronounced upon with the like severity"; that is, at the great day.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Verse 1. Judge not, etc. This command refers to rash, censorious, and unjust judgment. See Rom 2:1. Lk 6:37 explains it in the sense of condemning. Christ does not condemn judging as a magistrate, for that, when according to justice, is lawful and necessary. Nor does he condemn our forming an opinion of the conduct of others, for it is impossible not to form an opinion of conduct that we know to be evil. But what he refers to is a habit of forming a judgment hastily, harshly, and without an allowance for every palliating circumstance, and of expressing such an opinion harshly and unnecessarily when formed. It rather refers to private judgment than judicial, and perhaps primarily to the habits of the scribes and Pharisees.
(r) "Judge not" Lk 6:37, Rom 2:1, 1Cor 4:5.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Our Lord warns men against rash judgment and uncharitable censures, Mat 7:1-5. Shows that holy things must not be profaned, Mat 7:6; gives encouragement to fervent persevering prayer, Mat 7:7-11. Shows how men should deal with each other, Mat 7:12. Exhorts the people to enter in at the strait gate, Mat 7:13, Mat 7:14; to beware of false teachers, who are to be known by their fruits, Mat 7:15-20. Shows that no man shall be saved by his mere profession of Christianity, however specious, Mat 7:22, Mat 7:23. The parable of the wise man who built his house upon a rock, Mat 7:24, Mat 7:25. Of the foolish man who built his house, without a foundation, on the sand, Mat 7:26, Mat 7:27. Christ concludes his sermon, and the people are astonished at his doctrine, Mat 7:28, Mat 7:29. Verse 1 Judge not, that ye be not judged - These exhortations are pointed against rash, harsh, and uncharitable judgments, the thinking evil, where no evil seems, and speaking of it accordingly. The Jews were highly criminal here, and yet had very excellent maxims against it, as may be seen in Schoettgen. This is one of the most important exhortations in the whole of this excellent sermon. By a secret and criminal disposition of nature, man endeavors to elevate himself above others, and, to do it more effectually, depresses them. His jealous and envious heart wishes that there may be no good quality found but in himself, that he alone may be esteemed. Such is the state of every unconverted man; and it is from this criminal disposition, that evil surmises, rash judgments, precipitate decisions, and all other unjust procedures against our neighbor, flow.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 7:1-6
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Matthew 7:1 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Matthew 7:1
- Luke 6:37
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
- Romans 2:1-2
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
- James 4:11-12
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
- Luke 6:41
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
- Romans 14:10-13
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
- Matthew 7:5
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
- Romans 14:3-4
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
- Matthew 7:2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
- Ezekiel 16:52-56
Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters. When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them: That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them. When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate. …
- James 3:1
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
- Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Matthew 7:1
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
- Matthew 7:2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Matthew 7:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | NO juzguéis, para que no seáis juzgados. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Ne jugez pas, afin que vous ne soyez pas jugés: |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Richtet nicht, auf daß ihr nicht gerichtet werdet; |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Nolite judicare, ut non judicemini. |