Do not….first….then

Everyone seems to know the “Do not.” 

But few people know the “first” or the “then.” 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5 

Scripture never tells us not to judge. Instead, Scripture tells us How, Who, and What to Judge.

Matthew 7:1-5 explains that it's hypocritical to judge others if we aren’t first judging ourselves. 

And here's one of the best examples of hypocritical judging: 

Claiming it's wrong to judge—and then judging someone for judging.

And this hypocrisy proves an important point: it's impossible not to judge. Everyone judges situations, people, and teachings, and we should. But we must do it biblically. See How, Who, and What to Judge for the full counsel of God's Word.  

   

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