Matthew 7:1 kjv

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Matthew 7:1 nkjv

"Judge not, that you be not judged.

Matthew 7:1 niv

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

Matthew 7:1 esv

"Judge not, that you be not judged.

Matthew 7:1 nlt

"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.

Matthew 7 verses

Matthew 7 1 Meaning

Matthew 7:1 commands believers to refrain from harsh, condemning judgment of others, so that they themselves will not face similar condemnation from God or others. It warns against a censorious spirit, promoting a spirit of humility and mercy. The essence is not to forbid all discernment or evaluation, but specifically to prohibit hypocritical, self-righteous, or unduly severe criticism that lacks compassion and self-awareness, reserving ultimate judgment to God.

Matthew 7 1 Context

Matthew 7:1 begins the concluding section of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5-7). After outlining principles of righteousness (Mat 5) and sincere devotion (Mat 6), Jesus now addresses external actions and internal attitudes crucial for true discipleship. This verse flows directly from the call for single-minded devotion to God in Matthew 6 and leads into warnings against hypocrisy (Mat 7:3-5) and false prophets (Mat 7:15-20), culminating in the call for obedience to His words (Mat 7:24-27). The immediate context shows this prohibition on judging is tied to personal accountability and self-examination before criticizing others. Historically, this command challenges the rigid, externalistic, and often hypocritical legalism prevalent among some religious leaders of Jesus' day, who were quick to condemn others while often overlooking their own spiritual shortcomings.

Matthew 7 1 Word analysis

• Judge (κρίνω - krino):
  • Meaning: This Greek verb has a wide semantic range, from "to separate, distinguish" or "to discern," to "to evaluate, pass judgment," and more sternly, "to condemn" or "to punish."
  • Significance: In this context, it primarily refers to a critical, condemnatory, and harsh assessment of another person, particularly regarding their character, motives, or standing before God. It implies passing a verdict. It is not a prohibition against discerning right from wrong, but against the censorious spirit that finds fault and condemns with self-righteous superiority.
• not (μή - mē):
  • Meaning: A prohibitive particle, indicating a negative command or warning, often used with the present imperative or aorist subjunctive.
  • Significance: When used with the present tense ("judge not"), it often means "stop judging" if they are already doing it, or "do not habitually judge." It conveys a strong, ongoing prohibition.
• that (ἵνα - hina):
  • Meaning: A subordinating conjunction introducing a purpose clause ("in order that," "so that") or a result clause.
  • Significance: Connects the command to refrain from judging with its immediate and direct consequence. The reason to not judge is the ensuing judgment upon oneself.
• ye be not judged (ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε - hina mē krithēte):
  • Meaning: "so that you yourselves might not be judged." The verb krithēte is the aorist passive subjunctive of krino.
  • Significance: The passive voice (known as the "divine passive") strongly implies that God is the one doing the judging. "You will be judged" means "God will judge you." This elevates the warning from a mere social consequence to a theological one, linking human action directly to divine consequence. It highlights God's reciprocal justice.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Judge not: This concise command is a strong, negative imperative directed against a prevalent human tendency. It challenges the presumption of occupying God's role as ultimate judge and calls for humility. It is a direct prohibition against censoriousness, hypocrisy, and condemnatory attitudes towards others.
• that ye be not judged: This phrase reveals the underlying rationale and consequence. It implies a divine principle of reciprocity and equitable justice. The measure with which one judges others will be the measure by which one is judged. This acts as both a warning and a motivation for merciful conduct, prompting self-reflection over external criticism.

Matthew 7 1 Bonus section

The context of "judgment" in the Sermon on the Mount moves beyond simple fault-finding to address a deeper spiritual issue: the attempt by humans to usurp God's unique prerogative as the ultimate judge. The principle of reciprocity embedded in "that ye be not judged" implies a spiritual law that operates not only in terms of divine justice but also through human social interaction. Those who are habitually judgmental often experience others judging them in return. The teaching also relates to the 'righteousness that exceeds' (Mat 5:20) that Jesus previously spoke of – it’s a righteousness that is inward, humble, and merciful, rather than external, proud, and critical. This command is often misunderstood as a call to accept all behaviors uncritically; however, genuine love requires speaking truth in love and exercising discernment (Eph 4:15, Phil 1:9-10). The key is the spirit behind the judgment: is it to condemn, elevate self, or is it to restore in love and humility, guided by righteous discernment? Matthew 7:1 primarily prohibits the former.

Matthew 7 1 Commentary

Matthew 7:1 lays a foundational ethical principle within the Sermon on the Mount: true righteousness includes a profound humility that refrains from passing condemnatory judgment on others. Jesus' teaching here does not advocate for moral relativism or blind acceptance of all behavior, nor does it forbid all forms of evaluation, discernment, or accountability within the church (e.g., for confronting sin, Mat 18:15-17; 1 Cor 5:12). Instead, it primarily condemns a judgmental spirit characterized by hypocrisy, harshness, and a readiness to find fault while overlooking one's own deficiencies (as explained in Mat 7:3-5). The imperative "Judge not" challenges individuals to address their own spiritual condition before presuming to critically assess another's. The powerful reciprocal consequence, "that ye be not judged," implies divine judgment. It emphasizes that the very standard and spirit one applies to others will be applied back to oneself, ultimately by God. This underscores the profound connection between how we treat others and how God treats us, advocating for mercy, self-reflection, and deference to God as the sole ultimate arbiter of human hearts and actions.

Examples:

• Refraining from gossiping or speaking critically about someone's appearance, finances, or life choices when we don't know their full story or struggles.
• Instead of condemning a fellow believer who falls into sin, seeking to restore them gently with humility, recognizing our own potential for stumbling.
• When tempted to criticize a public figure or a stranger, remembering the command to examine our own motives and internal attitudes first.