Let's look at Matthew 7:1-3 in context. To look at a passage in context we need to look at the verses before the passage, the verses after the passageand other verses that cover the topic. The topic here is judging others who say they are Christians. Matthew 7:3-6 instructs aChristian to take care of major sin(s) in their own life before they confront another Christian about a less major sin in that persons life. An example would be if a husband who claims to be a Christianis routinely rudetohis wife, children and/or othersand this husbandconfronts another who claims to be aChristian who wasshort with another person. This passage does not say to ignore sin(s) in others who say they are Christians.
Matthew 7:1-6(New American Standard Bible)
Matthew 7
Judging Others1"(
A)Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
2"For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and (
B)by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you (
C)look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4"(
D)Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
5"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.
6"(
E)Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Christians are also instructed to judge by righteous judgement.
John 7:24(New American Standard Bible)
24"Do not (
A)judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
We are tolook at the lives of others who say they are Christians to see if they have fruits of a Christian. The Bible warns many times regarding false teachers.
Matthew 7:15-28(New American Standard Bible)
A Tree and Its Fruit15"Beware of the (
A)false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are (
B)ravenous wolves.
16"You will (
C)know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17"So (
D)every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19"(
E)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20"So then, you will know them (
F)by their fruits.
21"(
G)Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22"(
H)Many will say to Me on (
I)that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; (
J)DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
24"Therefore (
K)everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25"And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
26"Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27"The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."
28(
L)When Jesus had finished these words, (
M)the crowds were amazed at His teaching;
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What does this verse mean?
in green
