Friday, July 1, 2005
Matthew 7:1-5
7:1 “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. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (ESV)
by Victoria Shephard
Many unbelievers point to this verse as “proof” that we are not to judge how they act or what they do. Are they right? Can we not judge anything?
We must read these verses with the rest of Matthew 7 in mind. Verses 15-23 tell us to judge by “fruit.” We can see someone’s outer actions and judge whether it is in keeping with God’s word or not.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
