7 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” What should be the attitude of the disciple toward the evil he sees or think he sees in the world about him? In the passage before us we have the answer. The Teacher points out two dangers lying in opposite directions.
I. That of being too severe. (Verses 1-5.) In this portion of the passage, we have” (1). A prohibition: (Verse 1a.) “Judge not,” i.e., unkindly, unwisely, unjustly. Be not a critic, a mote-finder. Be not too severe with the faults you see or think you see in others. Let your critical eye be focused on yourself, your charitable eye on others. (1 Peter 4:8.) (2). Reasons for the prohibition: (a) Judging provokes judgment (Verses 1b-2.) It excites animosity, invites retaliation. The judge will be judged, the critic will be criticized, the measured will be measured. In other words, “Life is action and reaction.” (b) It is hypocritical (Verses 3-4.) The mote-finder, by his very profession, lifts himself above others. As a matter of fact, he has faults of his own. The eagerness to find a mote indicates a beam; a glaring sin; a heart poisoned with hatred. Criticism is a revealing thing: It may reveal more about the critic than the one criticized. (Titus 1:15.) (c) The judge is incapable. With a beam in his own eye, the critic cannot properly evaluate his brother. He magnifies the evil and minimizes the good in the life of his brother. Malicious minded men see evil, i.e., they think they see evil where no evil is. (d) There is a prior obligation (Verse 5.) By removing the beam, (the passion for fault-finding) he can see his brother more clearly and help him. The power to do good rests with the man of a loving heart. The way to righteousness lies not in finding the faults of others, but in finding our own (2 Cor. 13:5.)
II.That of being too lenient. (Verse 6.) Due to a desire to avoid the spirit of stern severity, some people swing to the other extreme, they condone; they compromise, etc. So, let us consider: (1). A prohibition: “Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine.” Things “holy” and “pearls” refer to precious values, i.e., God’s word, wholesome character. These “dogs” are two-legged dogs, these “swine” are two-legged swine. They typify the sensual, the unspiritual, men without appreciation for precious values. (2). A reason for the prohibition: “Lest haply they trample them under their feet and turn and rend you.” Swinish men regard not precious values: “They trample them under their feet.” Doggish men regard not holy people: They “turn and rend you” (tear you to pieces.) They care not for your body, character, your good name.
You should not judge; yet you must discriminate. You must avoid the spirit of stern severity; “yet a dog is to be esteemed a dog, and a swing a swine.” It is wrong to be unkind; it is also wrong to tolerate evil. It is wrong to condemn; yet it is often necessary to avoid. (Acts 13:44-46; 1 Cor. 5:11.)
Onward Rejoicing, John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
