“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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't forbidding all forms of judgment, but specifically the harsh, self-righteous kind that overlooks our own faults. The core of the command is about reciprocity: the severity with which we judge others is the measure God will use for us, urging us to be merciful rather than condemnatory.
“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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is concluding His Sermon on the Mount, the charter for His kingdom. After teaching about the character and actions of His disciples, He now addresses the temptations they will face, specifically the danger of self-righteous judgment and hypocrisy. He then offers practical guidance on prayer, finances, and discernment, before ending with the stark choice between two paths.
Ever feel like you're walking on eggshells, afraid to say the wrong thing? Jesus addresses a common human tendency here: the urge to pass harsh judgment. But what does 'judge not' really mean?
Jesus isn't forbidding all forms of evaluation. He's warning against a specific kind of judgment: rash, censorious, and unjust condemnation.
What's Forbidden:
What's Allowed:
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We're quick to spot that tiny speck in our brother's eye, but Jesus points out something much bigger we often miss. What's the hilarious, yet profound, imagery He uses?
Jesus uses a vivid analogy to expose the hypocrisy of judging others without first looking at ourselves. He contrasts a 'mote' (a tiny speck of dust) with a 'beam' (a large piece of wood).
The Principle:
This isn't about never helping others, but about the order and attitude. True help comes from a place of humility and self-awareness, not self-righteousness.
Understand the original words
krinete · Greek Verb
To critique, condemn, or pass sentence upon someone. Biblically, it often refers to the assumption of a posture of moral superiority or judicial authority over others in a way that ignores one's own faults.
krimati · Greek Noun
A standard of evaluation or assessment. In this context, it refers to the criteria one uses to judge others, which will also be applied to the person doing the judging.
This passage directly echoes Matthew 7:1 by stating that those who judge others are inexcusable because they do the same things, highlighting the universal principle of accountability for our judgments.
James 4:11-12James warns against slandering and judging fellow believers, stating that to judge a brother is to judge the law and God, reinforcing Jesus' teaching that judgment belongs to God alone.
Luke 6:37This parallel passage from Luke's Gospel emphasizes the reciprocal nature of judgment, stating 'Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned,' directly supporting Jesus' warning in Matthew.
1 Corinthians 4:3-5Paul addresses the issue of judging one another, stating that it is a small thing to be judged by human standards, but God is the one who will judge, urging believers to wait until the Lord comes before passing judgment.
barnesMatthew 7:1: "Judge not, that ye be not judged."
Judge not ... - This command refers to rash, censorious, and unjust judgment. See Romans 2:1 . Luke Luk 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…
bensonMatthew 7:1: "Judge not, that ye be not judged."
Matthew 7:1-2 . Judge not — Our Lord now proceeds to warn us against the chief hinderances of holiness. And how wisely does he begin with judging! Wherein all young converts are so apt to spend that zeal which is given them for better purposes. He must be understood as forbidding all rash and unfavourable judgments, whether of the characters of others in general, or of their actions in particular, glancing, probably, in these as also in some othe…
Jesus isn't forbidding all forms of judgment, but specifically the harsh, self-righteous kind that overlooks our own faults. The core of the command is about reciprocity: the severity with which we judge others is the measure God will use for us, urging us to be merciful rather than condemnatory.
Jesus is concluding His Sermon on the Mount, the charter for His kingdom. After teaching about the character and actions of His disciples, He now addresses the temptations they will face, specifically the danger of self-righteous judgment and hypocrisy. He then offers practical guidance on prayer, finances, and discernment, before ending with the stark choice between two paths.
Jesus is concluding His Sermon on the Mount, the charter for His kingdom. After teaching about the character and actions of His disciples, He now addresses the temptations they will face, specifically the danger of self-righteous judgment and hypocrisy. He then offers practical guidance on prayer, finances, and discernment, before ending with the stark choice between two paths.
"“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." — Jesus isn't forbidding all forms of judgment, but specifically the harsh, self-righteous kind that overlooks our own faults. The core of the command is about reciprocity: the severity with which we j…
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Last reviewed October 2026