Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 7
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Matthew 7
Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary
Matthew 7
"Judge not, that ye be not judged." — Matthew 7:1 (ASV)
“Do not judge” (GK 3212) does not forbid all judging of any kind, for the moral distinctions drawn in the Sermon on the Mount require that decisive judgments be made. Jesus himself goes on to speak of some people as dogs and pigs (v.6) and to warn against false prophets (vv.15–20). Jesus’ demand here is for his disciples not to be judgmental and censorious . Those who judge like this will in turn be judged, not by other people (which would be of little consequence), but by God. Anyone who engages in such judgment usurps the place of God.
"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you." — Matthew 7:2 (ASV)
Using what was probably a proverbial saying, Jesus asserts that the judgmental person, by not being forgiving and loving, testifies to his own arrogance and impenitence, by which such individuals shut themselves out from God’s forgiveness.
"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother`s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" — Matthew 7:3 (ASV)
The “speck of sawdust” could be any bit of foreign matter. The “plank” is obviously colorful hyperbole. Jesus does not say it is wrong to help a fellow Christian remove the speck of dust in his eye, but it is wrong for a person with a “plank” in his eye to offer help. That is sheer hypocrisy . But when a brother in a meek and self-judging spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:31; Galatians 6:1) removes the log in his own eye, he has the responsibility of helping his brother remove his speck (cf. 18:15–20).
"Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye?" — Matthew 7:4 (ASV)
The “speck of sawdust” could be any bit of foreign matter. The “plank” is obviously colorful hyperbole. Jesus does not say it is wrong to help a fellow Christian remove the speck of dust in his eye, but it is wrong for a person with a “plank” in his eye to offer help. That is sheer hypocrisy . But when a brother in a meek and self-judging spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:31; Galatians 6:1) removes the log in his own eye, he has the responsibility of helping his brother remove his speck (cf. 18:15–20).
"Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother`s eye." — Matthew 7:5 (ASV)
The “speck of sawdust” could be any bit of foreign matter. The “plank” is obviously colorful hyperbole. Jesus does not say it is wrong to help a fellow Christian remove the speck of dust in his eye, but it is wrong for a person with a “plank” in his eye to offer help. That is sheer hypocrisy . But when a brother in a meek and self-judging spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:31; Galatians 6:1) removes the log in his own eye, he has the responsibility of helping his brother remove his speck (cf. 18:15–20).
Jump to: