Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 7:1

"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.