1 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.
These verses are popularly invoked in such ways that allow disobedience and sin to continue unchecked in the church. “Who are we to judge?” It’s a common statement when someone chooses the wrong path or refuses to live within the church’s guidelines. In one sense they are correct, for on his own authority no man has the right to judge seeing that he himself has transgressed the law. On the other hand, Jesus commanded the Christian to declare what God has judged: Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). See also John 8:1-11; Rom 2:1; 14:10. He that is spiritual judges all things (1Cor 2:10). Consistent with these truths, Paul reprimanded the Corinthian church for not judging (1Cor 6:1-5). See also 1Cor 5:1-13. Even the verses in this passage admit the validity of making judgments about a matter. Verse 6 implies that we evaluate a person and judge him to be holy, a dog, or even a pig.
So what does judge not that ye be not judged mean? I believe this sets the tone for the whole the chapter. Within that context, we can at least make the following inferences:
- Don’t be characterized by a judgmental attitude of others. Rather, judge yourself (1Cor 11:31). Those quick to criticize others will find that others are quick to criticize them (v2). This is a common truth of life based upon the Golden Rule.
- Don’t judge others when you have something condemnatory in your own life. Take care of your problems first and then you will be able to help others with their problems. This seems to be the chief point Jesus is making (see verses 3-5).
- Don’t hold others to a higher standard than the one you apply to yourself. Jesus stressed this point on many occasions and did not hesitate to call these people hypocrites (v5). We will all stand before the Judge that will be no less lenient than the standard by which we judged others (v2).
Wise applications of these three guidelines to everyday life are manifold. Even in church settings there are tendencies for gossip and character slandering, and there is also the constant concern to keep the church body pure from unforgiven sins. Some people tend to take offense where none was intended and such will in turn be held to the same measurement of offending others unintentionally.
It is very important that we examine our motives any time we judge another. Are we justifying our own actions? Are we cultivating a spirit of pride and superiority by comparing ourselves with others? Or is our one concern for the church of Christ and our brothers. A judgmental person enjoys seeing the punishment carried out rather than seeing the erring brother restored to fellowship.
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.
The mental image of a person trying to remove a speck of dirt from somebody’s eye when he has a log protruding from his own eye is quite funny. Does Jesus speak with some humor here? I can imagine His listeners chuckled as they pictured it in their minds. Yet this very attitude and action was common among the Jewish people of Jesus’ day. It continues as a potential error today in varying degrees of gravity. The Pharisees were blatantly hypocritical in condemning others while they had the same sins in their own life. Things are not so different today. I have noticed that often people with the strongest words of condemnation or criticism don’t realize that they have the very same problem in their own life! This little observation is so consistently true that whenever I feel myself reacting strongly to the action or attitude of another, I uneasily suspect myself of projecting the same image.
The mote and beam analogy should be read in context with Jesus’ words about judging others (v1-2). It is great arrogance to judge others when we ourselves are guilty of greater sins. Why is it that we are able to spy the smallest speck of fault in someone else and not see the great log of sin in ourselves? On the other hand, the church must not take this analogy as a reason to avoid judgment and discipline (v1). Each of us has faults, temptations and even sins. The church is to judge and remedy all situations that involve sinful conditions (1Cor 5:13) – not for the purpose of punishment but for repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness.
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.
Like the statement, Judge not that ye be not judged, this verse must be applied in wisdom and proper judgment. If we never offer pearls to swine, how will the sinner be saved? The admonition seems to be based, at least partially, on the futility of reasoning with a fool (Pro 9:7-8; Pro 23:9). Yet even in this, wisdom and judgment is required. Pro 26:4-5 says, Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Then it continues, Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
The analogy of dogs and swine to haters of truth and righteousness is aimed at those who have heard the Truth and have rejected it (Rom 1:18, 28; 2Pet 2:22). When Jesus sent out His disciples, He told them to depart from those cities where people would not listen to the Gospel (Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5). However, that doesn’t mean missionaries should never preach in areas where they are persecuted by the authorities. Historically those have been very fruitful mission fields. But there are people groups that are uninterested, cold and bitter towards the Gospel message even though they have been exposed to its goodness for centuries. It is better to send missionaries to more fertile fields ripe unto harvest than to deserts where only a few plants can be found. Interestingly, Jesus never shared the Gospel to non-seekers (Mat 10:14).
On the individual level, this verse seems to caution against engaging the angry, vitriolic atheists of society who have specifically chosen to disbelieve God so that they can follow their own way without conscience. Jesus did not spend time trying to convince such people. He let them continue in their rebellion and error, and went out to find the honest seeker. So let the Christian concentrate on giving what is holy to those searching for the Way, those who God is actively calling and who need affirmation. And we do not take a single rejection by an unbeliever as reason to call him a swine.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Quite a few verses affirm that God will always answer the Christian’s prayers (Mat 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 14:13; 16:23-24). This does not mean however, that God will answer every prayer in the way that we would wish. The next few verses explain that God knows what is truly best for us and He will give us good gifts that may not be what we expected. In other words, our petitions must be made according to His will (1John 5:14-15). Jesus set this example in Gethsemane when He prayed, not my will but Thine be done (Luke 22:42). Selfish petitions and prayers of pride will not be accepted (Jam 4:3; Luke 18:10-14). And the Christian who expects to receive from God must be doing His commandments (1John 3:22). In this way, Every one that asketh receiveth.
In order to receive we must ask, and what’s more, we must seek and knock. A casual prayer will not do if we really want to receive. We must seek, and diligently; we must knock, and without ceasing (1Thes 5:17). In other words, persevere in prayer when we ask of God (Luke 18:1-5), taking caution to always pray according to His will. We should never, like Balaam, ask outside of the known will of God lest, like Balaam, God grants us our wish to our own hurt. If we do not care for one of His commands and so ask to be exempted from it, we are revealing our insubmissive inner self.
In verse 11 petitions to God are likened to a son asking something of his father. A father wishes to give only what is good for his children, but sometimes the father will relent if a son asks persistently for something the father thinks is not good (remember the parable of the prodigal son). That is a dangerous situation. For a fuller discussion of the subject of prayer, see my note for John 14:13.
Why does God want us to pray? He already knows our needs. Prayer is more than petition! Jesus prayed for hours on end, sometimes all night. Did God need to hear from Him? Prayer humbles the heart of man even as it moves the hand of God. He wants to hear our doubts and needs; He wants to give us good things.
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
If a sinner father gives his children good things and not bad, how much more will God give good things to His children? The parallel passage reads, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him (Luke 11:5-13). Having the Holy Spirit within is a sure recipe for asking in accordance with God’s will (see note on v7). Luke’s account likens a man persistently asking his friend for bread in the middle of the night to a man asking God for something (especially the Spirit). This implies that the work of holiness and entrance of the Spirit into a Christian’s life is not instantaneous, but gradual, and that at times we become discouraged at the slow pace of growth in our lives. Yet we should not faint (Luke 18:1-5), for fruit does not appear and mature on a tree in one day either. It gradually matures and ripens until finally the deep, mysterious work of development is accomplished, ready to be eaten and enjoyed. So too is the ripening of the fruit of our lives. It happens slowly and we must continue patiently, despite the setbacks, asking persistently that God would develop that fruit for His use. See the parable in Mark 4:26-29.
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
The Golden Rule this has been called (Luke 6:31), or the Royal Law (Jam 2:8). It is a re-statement of the second commandment under both Covenants (Mat 22:40). Love is the fulfilling of the Law (Rom 13:10). This forms the concluding statement of the teaching given in the previous dozen verses. The manner in which we judge others determines the manner in which we will be judged, and the measure by which we give to others will determine the measure by which we receive from others (Mat 7:2).
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The strait gate. The Greek word here means narrow, tight, confining – it contrasts with the wide, broad gate that leads to destruction. The gate to salvation is narrow and small because we must there leave all earthly baggage before walking the road that leads to life (Heb 12:1-2). The gate to destruction is wide – one can bring along all his selfish desires, pride and possessions. Uncomfortable as it may be, there is no avoiding the fact that Christ is here expressing the extreme difficulty of entering the Kingdom! Luke makes it even more serious: Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able (Luke 13:24). The Way of the Kingdom is not for weaklings or lazys; rather, forceful men and women of courage and valor strive to press their way into it (Mat 11:12; Acts 14:22). This truth does not square with the Calvinist ideas of Unconditional Election and Irresistible Grace. The example of Jacob wrestling all night with the Angel and refusing to give up until he received the blessing (see Gen 32:24-28) very clearly illustrates the call to give all diligence to secure our election (2Pet 1:10).
The Sermon on the Mount has now stretched into 3 chapters. In it, Jesus gives a new and difficult rule: the Law of Christ. Now, so as to avoid any doubt, Jesus warns that this Way is narrow, difficult and long. Few there be that find it. Many will come in the name of Christ and broaden the way, explaining away certain principles and commands that are not popular socially. These are false prophets, ravening wolves that will not spare the flock (Act 20:29). How terrible that they will lead many astray by following their pernicious ways (2Pet 2:1-3).
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Every person who has entered upon the strait and narrow way and has become a sheep in the flock of Christ must be aware that he will encounter false prophets, or wolves disguised as sheep that are intent upon killing and stealing (John 10:10). Every child of God must be constantly alert for the many lures and disguises of life-taking deceptions of Satan. It is everywhere warned about in the NT (Act 20:29-30; Rom 16:17-18; Eph 5:6; Col 2:8; 1John 4:1; Rev 3:11). This topic continues through the end of the chapter.
According to these verses, false prophets are not so much recognized by what they say as by what they do. In other words, their fruits (read “works”) reveal their true identity (see note on Mat 12:14). If you try a little, you will discover that you can make the Bible read the way you want it to read. And that’s why there are all manner of errors, falsehoods and sins among the so-called churches of God today. These false prophets are popular because they teach what their people want to hear (2Tim 4:3), and they are betrayed by their own actions. Some false prophets know they are teaching lies; others sincerely teach untruth. It’s like two kinds of poison – it doesn’t really matter which one applies because both will kill you. Unsure if a teacher is a true prophet or a false one? Look at what he is eating: good pasture like every true sheep? Or is he eating other sheep?
The picture of trees bearing fruit as a figure of salvation and good works has three aspects. First, there are many fruit-bearing trees, yet they always bear the same kind of fruit. An apple tree will not bear oranges and an orange tree will never bear apples. So too will the Christian bear Christ-fruit and a worldly person will bear world-fruit. Second, fruit trees do not all bear the same quality or quantity of fruit. So too will Christians vary in good works and faith. Sometimes God needs to prune the tree to get it to bear the fruit it should. And sometimes He just throws it in the fire (John 15:1-7). Third, just as it is impossible to know a good tree from a bad one in the winter time, so too the just and unjust are at times indistinguishable. Wait until summer and then it will become clear. These points hold true in the test of false teachers. See 2Pet 2.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
If the warning of the strait gate has not quite convinced the apathetic person, the direct statements in the next few verses are absolutely compelling. The picture is of that day, the final judgment day, when many will suddenly discover that they have been deceived. They thought they were saved, but now realize they are eternally lost. Their earnest profession, Lord Lord, implies many words of praise but no accompanying works of doing the will of the Father. Many who have done great works in Jesus’ name will find themselves shut out of the Father’s Kingdom. Clearly then, casting out devils and doing wonderful works in the name of Christ do not qualify as spiritual fruits! The fruit which the Spirit cultivates in our lives will reveal who is the good and righteous man of God. Obedience is not optional (1John 2:3-6). However, do not confuse this fruit with the works of the Law (see Gal 5:22-23).
Almost all the commentaries I have read misunderstand what Jesus is warning about in these verses. Yet it seems very straightforward and simple! “Not everyone who professes to be a Christian is going to be saved, but the one who pleases Me. Many will profess to know Me, will preach about Me and do great deeds in My name, but on the Judgment Day I will reject them because they did not please Me. They were workers of iniquity, following their own heart and pleasure instead of living to please Me. The wise man will understand that in order to be saved, he must be careful to do all that I have taught.” The last sentence is the whole point of these verses. It is very common for false prophets to emphasize some of Christ’s teaching while rejecting or leaving undone much of it.
Uncomfortable as it may sound, the fact is that many professing Christians, upon encountering eternity, will be sent to hell when they were expecting to be received in heaven. And why? For just one reason: their lives were stained with iniquity, laden down with unconfessed and unforgiven sins of flesh, soul and spirit. Yes, they had done many wonderful things in Christ’s name. They had attended church every Sunday, they had preached the name of Jesus, they had even cast out devils. But Jesus will say, Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. There can be no greater stimulus to seeking and discovering all that doing the will of My Father entails. See Titus 1:16.
These people had acted in Christ’s name, but His confession, I never knew you, means that their wonderful works were “counterfeit miracles, signs, and lying wonders” (2Thes 2:9); that is, they were either clever, fraudulent fakes like the magicians of pharaoh, or they were erroneously thought to be miraculous events. Certainly these signs did not come from Jesus. Deception is the reason these people find themselves outside the gates of heaven.
The false teachers Jesus warned about (Mat 7:15) will lead many astray, deceiving them into believing a lie (Jer 9:4-5). Yet many will deceive themselves, thinking they are doers of the Word (Jam 1:22) when in fact they are ignoring or misapplying it unto their own destruction (2Pet 3:16). Let every one of us so walk as to be ever watchful against the wiles of the devil, for many will wake up in hell because of his exceedingly sly and deceptive methods. Not every one…but he that doeth the will of my Father will be saved. Let us check and recheck our lives. Let us be sure to be found faithfully doing His will on that day. The warning cannot be over-emphasized, for in the last days the very elect, if they are not careful, shall be deceived by the great signs and wonders of false prophets (Mat 24:24). But take into account Mark 9:38-39.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
The Rock is Jesus Christ: His power, His will, His Word. The Christian will experience many tests of the Flesh, of Faith and of Love (see note Mat 4:2), but if his life is truly and firmly built upon Christ he cannot fail to withstand the attacks of the Devil (Eph 6:11; 1Cor 3:11). What a powerful analogy this makes! May we take heart and with full force work powerfully in the Kingdom. This life is a great, great proving, and only that which cannot be moved will survive! (Heb 12:27-28). That is the final proof of faith, the last test of the righteous soul (1Pet 1:7).
Whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine. This forms the reason every man and woman should read the Scriptures. In His words we can find eternal life (John 8:31).
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Here concludes the greatest and highest rule of life ever seen in the history of the world and mankind. The Sermon on the Mount calls for a lifestyle radically opposite the general human tendency and is entirely counter-social to the world’s mores. Yet it is compellingly true. It calls to the soul like a beacon calls a ship into harbor. It is so clearly divine and authoritative, that it is folly to think it could have originated in the mind of a man. Adam Clarke says this in one of his final notes on the chapter:
"Let it be observed, that it is not the man who hears or believes these sayings of Christ, whose building shall stand, when the earth and its works are burnt up; but the man who DOES them. Many suppose that the law of Moses is abolished, merely because it is too strict, and impossible to be observed; and that the Gospel was brought in to liberate us from its obligations; but let all such know, that in the whole of the old covenant nothing can be found so exceedingly strict and holy as this sermon, which Christ lays down as the rule by which we are to walk."
I add that while the Gospel is “strict,” it goes beyond the Old and offers a remedy for those who fail in keeping its commandments! O wonderful grace (Rom 11:33). Under the Old Covenant, there was no provision to forgiveness for the “greater” sins (Rom 7:24). The sacrifices and offerings were for sins committed in ignorance, or for errors in judgment, but to sin against the Ten Commandments was unforgivable. The penalty for breaking the first commandment was death (Lev 24:16); for breaking the second, death (Deut 17:3-5); for murder, death (Ex 21:12), for breaking the Sabbath, death (Ex 31:15), for adultery, death (Lev 20:10). In practice, those penalties were often not enforced, but the fact remains: the Law held no place for mercy. Under the New Covenant, mercy rejoices over justice (James 2:13) and all sins are forgivable (Mat 12:31). But let us never presume upon that mercy (Rom 6:1), for there does come a moment when God will no more extend it to a perpetually unrepentant sinner (Heb 10:26).
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Or, as the officers who were sent by the Pharisees to arrest Jesus said when asked why they had come back empty-handed, Never man spake like this Man (John 7:46). The scribes and Pharisees were greatly respected by the Jews. The people followed their rules and believed their interpretations of the OT Scriptures. Yet Jesus taught as one having authority, exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees. The Greek word here is exousia, which means “the right, authority, or jurisdictional power.” Jesus’ bearing, mannerism, words and deeds presented a powerful testimony to the veracity of His claim to be the Son of God sent to save His people from their sins.
Today as we read Jesus’ teachings, the honest and seeking person will marvel still at the words that flowed from His mouth. They do indeed carry a weight of authority beyond any words ever spoken in the history of mankind. Who would dare to say, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away (Mat 24:35)? And yet 2000 years of time continue to prove Him right. Only God (or a madman) would proclaim, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by Me (John 14:6), or, Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58). All were astonished at his understanding and answers (Luke 2:47). True wisemen today are astonished still.