Judging Others

Jesus forbids judgment that will rebound on the one who speaks it, presses the image of the beam and the speck to expose self-blindness, and calls for first removing the larger fault from oneself before helping a brother. He then warns that sacred things and pearls should not be given where they will be rejected and attacked.

“¹Do not judge, or you will be judged. ²For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ³Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. ⁶Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.