Episode 64 - Holier Than Thou

Who are you to judge me? Only God can judge me!

When Jesus told His followers "Do not judge." in Matthew 7:1 was he telling us that any moral statements on our part would be a sin? As a cultural shorthand to self-ingratiation is the command not to judge an open door to every moral failing in the name of love?

I'm pretty sure we've lost the plot on this one. Even as far back as Tertullian and the early church fathers, this command by Jesus has created controversies. But the command is clear. So why all the fuss?

Transcript

Holier Than Thou

Introduction

I was listening to Howie Mandel’s podcast recently, and he was interviewing Rhett and Link from Good Mythical Morning regarding their decisions to renounce their Christian beliefs. One thing they said echoed a phrase that I have heard a lot. Link said that he struggled with the Judgmentalist aspect of his former beliefs. 

As Christians we will often be challenged by those who will tell us that the Bible instructs us not to judge, and who are we to judge them? This Holier than Thou argument is often enough to make some in the Christian faith jettison their core beliefs. Why is that, and what is meant when Jesus instructs His followers not to judge?

Matthew 7:1 says, “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. ”That seems straightforward enough, doesn’t it? In fact the misuse of this verse has found its way into some very interesting places. Jeraldine Saunders, a syndicated astrologer included this verse in her horoscope, and clarified her understanding of this verse saying, “It’s not for you to say, if someone wants to do something that you consider foolish or silly.” And I think her explanation is how most of us read, and understand, this verse. [https://daily.jstor.org/nderstanding-a-misunderstood-bible-verse/]

It’s not just today’s society that struggles with the meaning of Christ's words here. Tertullian is also known to have struggled with this throughout his life concluding that the command to “judge not” is a reminder to us that judgement and punishment are not ours to mete, but God’s. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3161077]

How far do we take this? We use judgements everyday to determine how to react to the world around us. When we are walking we judge our speed and foot placement based on the terrain, when we meet someone we will judge if they are friendly or not based on how they carry themselves. These judgements are normal and good because they keep us safe. But this isn’t the intention of what Jesus is saying. So let's look into this verse and how it was intended to be understood.

Misinterpretation

We could choose any number of Biblical passages, concepts, or teachings and point out how they have been changed and twisted through misinterpretation. One of the more recent is the work of Aaron Abke and his work to show that Scripture and the teachings of Christ promote a vegetarian lifestyle. However, it is Matthew 7:1, which is most often misquoted and misused. This is very quickly followed up by, “Who are you to judge me?” or, “You can’t tell me what to do.” The misunderstanding of the words of Jesus become a weapon of confusion rather than a guide to righteous living.

The social media response is very telling. Watch any one of the videos put out by Living Waters Ministry, where they are involved in street evangelism, and you will hear many turn this verse into an argument against the Gospel message. On platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok this verse is often used as a defense mechanism. Anytime someone makes a moral statement — say about sexual ethics, integrity, or even basic Christian doctrine — there’s a predictable wave of backlash. You’ll see replies like, “Didn’t Jesus say not to judge?” or, “Only God can judge me.”

The misunderstanding is that Jesus was advocating for moral relativism or a “live and let live” philosophy. But if we read further in the text, we see that Jesus isn’t banning judgment; He’s clarifying how it should be done. What’s happening to the words of Christ is something called “cultural shorthand”.

We could look at Matthew 7:5, only a few verses later where Jesus says, "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.” Here, He’s not prohibiting judgment; He’s prescribing humility and self-examination as prerequisites to making judgements.

What we have seen happen is that the “cultural shorthand” becomes the church's new doctrine. Many progressive and liberal churches have also leaned into this cultural misreading. In the name of inclusivity, some have reduced the gospel to a message of non-confrontation. These churches and their congregants have chosen to avoid talking about sin in violation of the clear teaching of the Biblical mandate.

Repeatedly the Bible commands discernment. A good example of this is found in 1 Corinthians 5:12, where Paul asks: “For what business of mine is it to judge outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?” The point Paul is making is that as Christians we are to hold each other accountable, we are not to pretend that sin doesn’t exist or doesn’t matter. 1 Corinthians 13:6 says that true love “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;” To ignore judgment is to ignore holiness. It’s also to ignore love. Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is confront sin, gently and prayerfully.

When we look at the broader religious landscape, we see that the misuse — or complete dismissal — of judgment is a common thread among cults and alternative spiritual movements. Many of them promote a pseudo-spiritual tolerance that denies objective truth. Take New Age teachings, like those of Aaron Abke, for example. They often elevate personal experience and emotional peace over truth. In this worldview, judgment is synonymous with negativity, and questioning someone’s path is considered an act of spiritual violence. But that’s not the biblical view.

Even cults that appear Christian distort judgment for control. The Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, for instance, impose rigid man-made standards under the guise of righteousness while simultaneously forbidding the flock from questioning their leaders. That’s not righteous judgment; that’s manipulation. Meanwhile, in Islam, moral judgment is rooted in Sharia law, which enforces legalistic codes that can include severe punishments. In contrast, Jesus calls us to a righteousness not of the letter, but of the Spirit — discernment that leads to restoration, not condemnation.

Judgment, rightly understood, is about wisdom and love — knowing right from wrong and having the courage to speak truth in love. As Jesus says in John 7:24,
“Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Modern heresies, from prosperity theology to universalism, flourish because people refuse to judge teachings against Scripture. In the name of being “nonjudgmental,” we’ve opened the door to deception. Church history is full of examples where ignoring biblical judgment led to heresy. The early church battled false teachings not by tolerating them, but by exposing them. Paul warned Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” Sound familiar? That’s our world today.

But Scripture repeatedly calls us to be vigilant.1 John 4:1 tells us: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Testing involves judgment. Not condemnation, not self-righteousness, but discernment — a commitment to truth that protects the church from falling into error.

Understanding

If misinterpretation is the disease, context is the cure. One of the most important tools for rightly handling the Word of God is understanding the context in which a verse appears. Isolating verses from their surroundings is like pulling bricks from a wall and expecting it to stand. Let’s dive into Matthew 7:1, not just as a standalone statement, but as part of a deeper conversation Jesus is having with His followers.

When He says, “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.” there is a tone of caution in His voice. But that caution isn’t about stopping all judgment; it’s about avoiding hypocrisy. If we continue to read Matthew 7, verses 2-5 add crucial depth. They read, “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at 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,’ and look, the log is 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!”

Jesus is addressing a specific kind of judgment here: self-righteous judgment. The image is powerful — a man trying to remove a tiny splinter from someone else’s eye while walking around with a plank in his own. It’s almost comedic. And Jesus wants us to see the absurdity of trying to call out others' sins when we haven't examined our own hearts. This verse isn’t a command to abandon discernment. It’s a call to clean our lenses before we try to help others see clearly.

Now let’s widen the frame and look at Matthew chapter 7 as a whole. This chapter is part of the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most profound teachings Jesus ever delivered. It’s all about the kingdom of God — how it works, who belongs to it, and what kind of character its citizens display. In this same chapter, just a few verses after “Judge not,” Jesus tells us: “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?” (Matthew 7:15-16, NASB)

Think about that: how can we recognize false prophets without making some sort of judgment? This reinforces the idea that Jesus is not forbidding discernment — He’s requiring it. The key is that our judgment must be righteous, humble, and rooted in truth. Jesus also ends the chapter with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, emphasizing that His words must not just be heard — they must be obeyed. (Matthew 7:24-27) That kind of obedience involves careful listening, evaluation, and yes — judgment.

Now, zooming out again, let’s look at the book of Matthew. This Gospel was written primarily to a Jewish audience, and one of its key goals is to present Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and as the true King of Israel. Throughout Matthew, there’s a consistent call to righteousness — not just surface-level morality, but heart-level transformation. Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raises the standard beyond legalism and into love and purity: “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20, ESV)

That’s a bold statement. The scribes and Pharisees were known for their rule-following, but Jesus was exposing the hypocrisy beneath their actions. So when we get to chapter 7 and He warns about judging others, He’s continuing the same theme: don’t be like the Pharisees, who judge harshly but live unexamined lives. Also, throughout Matthew, Jesus models discernment. He confronts sin, calls out hypocrisy, and praises faith when He sees it. He doesn’t avoid judgment — He executes it perfectly.

Finally, let’s put Matthew 7:1 into the full context of the Bible. Scripture interprets Scripture, and the Bible has much to say about judgment, discernment, and righteousness. Consider James 4:11-12, which says: “Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or sister, or judges his brother or sister, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you, judging your neighbor?”

This sounds similar to Matthew 7:1, but the context is about slander and condemnation — not accountability. James is warning against the kind of judgment that tears others down to build ourselves up. Contrast that with Galatians 6:1, where Paul writes: “Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.”

This is what biblical judgment looks like: gentle restoration, not harsh condemnation. It’s about healing, not harming. It’s about helping someone see clearly, not proving them wrong. And then there's Hebrews 5:14, which says: “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil.” Mature Christians are expected to practice discernment — to make righteous judgments informed by the Word and shaped by humility.

Intention and Application

As we’ve explored the misinterpretation and context of Matthew 7:1, we now turn to its intended meaning and how it has been applied historically and theologically. Jesus didn’t speak in riddles to confuse us. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, ”God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.” His words were meant to shape not only how we think but how we live in community. Let’s examine how the early church, traditional theology, Jewish roots, and current teachings have all sought to apply this verse faithfully.

The early church took the words of Jesus seriously — especially in ethical and relational matters. Tertullian, one of the earliest Latin theologians (c. 155–220 AD), addressed judgment in the context of Christian conduct. His writings often emphasized both moral rigor and pastoral care. In his treatise On Repentance, Tertullian criticized both overly harsh judgment and careless permissiveness. He encouraged a form of judgment that leads to repentance, not shame or ostracization. He wrote: “What is more necessary than a knowledge of the Lord’s judgment? So that we may not judge others wrongly, and thereby bring judgment upon ourselves.” (Tertullian, On Repentance, Chapter 12)

For Tertullian, Matthew 7:1 wasn’t a ban on making judgments — it was a warning against hypocrisy and rashness. He understood this verse as part of a broader ethic: Christians are to call out sin — but humbly, cautiously, and redemptively. The early church, often under persecution, needed unity and holiness. They couldn’t afford petty divisions or self-righteousness. That’s why judgment had to be handled with fear of God and love for others.

Throughout church history, traditional commentaries on Matthew 7:1 echo this theme. Let’s take John Calvin, for example. In his Commentary on the Gospel According to Matthew, Calvin wrote: “Nothing is more difficult than to keep men within the bounds of moderation, and hence they fall into the opposite extreme of rashness.” (Calvin, Commentary on Matthew 7:1) Calvin emphasized that Jesus was not prohibiting judgment altogether, but condemning a censorious and arrogant spirit. To Calvin, the kind of judgment Jesus forbade was the kind that looked down on others while failing to see one’s own flaws.

Similarly, Matthew Henry, in his classic commentary on the Whole Bible, wrote: “We must not judge uncharitably, nor pass judgment rashly, or upon uncertain evidence, nor judge the hearts of others.” (Matthew Henry, Commentary on Matthew 7:1) This thread runs consistently through theological tradition: judgment is necessary but must be done righteously, guided by humility, truth, and a desire for restoration — not superiority.

Understanding Jesus’ original Jewish context also helps us interpret this verse. In first-century Judaism, the idea of judgment wasn’t foreign or taboo — it was expected, but it was also tempered with mercy. The Mishnah, a foundational Jewish legal text compiled in the 2nd century AD, teaches: “Judge every person favorably.” (Pirkei Avot 1:6) This rabbinic instruction emphasizes giving others the benefit of the doubt, not abandoning judgment altogether. It reflects the broader Jewish ethical teaching that discernment should be compassionate and just — not rash or self-serving.

Jesus, a Jewish rabbi speaking to a Jewish audience, was building on this heritage. He was not introducing a novel idea, but refining and intensifying it. In the Torah, judges were expected to evaluate fairly, avoid partiality, and pursue justice (Deuteronomy 16:18–20). This legal and moral framework would have been in the minds of Jesus’ audience. So when Jesus said, “Judge not,” they wouldn’t have heard “Don’t ever make judgments.” They would have heard, “Judge rightly. Judge as God judges — with mercy, truth, and holiness.”

Fast-forward to today, and we see both clarity and confusion in how this verse is applied. Some churches and pastors use it to uphold healthy accountability, while others twist it to excuse sin or avoid confrontation. R.C. Sproul, addressed this distortion directly: “The favorite verse of our culture is no longer John 3:16, but Matthew 7:1: ‘Judge not.’ People think Jesus was forbidding us to make moral judgments. He wasn’t. He was warning us not to judge hypocritically.” (R.C. Sproul, “What Jesus Said About Judgment”, Ligonier Ministries)

This modern perspective helps clarify that Jesus was not promoting moral relativism, but guarding against self-righteousness. True biblical judgment requires humility and truth — not superiority. In contrast, some modern spiritual influencers or progressive leaders interpret “judge not” as a command to affirm everything and confront nothing. This turns love into license and grace into moral confusion.

But true biblical love requires correction. As Proverbs 27:6 reminds us: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” This principle still applies. The friend who lovingly confronts wrongdoing — after dealing with their own issues — is acting in line with Jesus’ teachings.

Outro

When Jesus said, “Judge not” it never meant to be a license for moral chaos or theological laziness. Jesus was warning against hypocritical judgment — not all judgment. When we misinterpret this verse, we lose a vital part of Christian responsibility: the call to discernment, accountability, and truth in love. Understanding Matthew 7:1 requires us to do more than memorize a verse — we have to step into the conversation Jesus is having with His disciples. When we read the verse in the context of the sentence, the chapter, the book, and the whole Bible, it becomes clear: Jesus is not canceling judgment. He’s refining it. He's calling us to judge like kingdom citizens — with clean hearts, clear eyes, and compassionate spirits.

The intention behind Matthew 7:1 is not to silence judgment, but to shape it. Jesus knew the danger of unchecked condemnation — but He also knew the danger of moral apathy. That’s why He gave us a framework: check your heart first, then help your brother see clearly. From Tertullian to Sproul, from Jewish ethics to Christian theology, the consensus is this: judgment, when done rightly, is a form of love. The wrong kind of judgment condemns and divides. The right kind convicts and restores. Let’s not throw out discernment in the name of tolerance. 

In Anabaptist theology, the teachings of Jesus — especially in the Sermon on the Mount — are central to Christian life and community. Matthew 7:1, is not a call to moral relativism, but to humble, accountable discipleship. The Anabaptist tradition emphasizes a communal ethic — where believers walk together in truth, love, and mutual correction. We’ve seen how this verse is often misinterpreted today as a defense against accountability, but through context — verse, chapter, book, and Bible — we uncover Jesus’ true intention: not to abolish judgment, but to refine it. Historically, from the early church to modern theology, faithful voices have echoed this call to righteous discernment rooted in humility.

Anabaptists hold firmly to Jesus as the interpretive lens of Scripture, applying His words in ways that promote peace, purity, and shared responsibility. Judgment, in this context, is never about condemnation but about loving restoration within the body. We are not judges over one another, but brothers and sisters tasked with helping each other live in the way of Christ. As we follow Him, may our judgment reflect His — gentle, just, and always redemptive.