Judge not, that you be not judged.

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged” seams to be one of the most quoted verses, yet one of the most misunderstood. This isn’t because it’s not clearly interpreted, it’s because most people stop reading at that point and ignore the actual message, which isn’t made clear until the end.

Matthew 7:1–5 Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

As you see, in the end, we are told we can judge others, once we have fixed ourselves. Once we remove the sin from ourselves we can see and try to remove the sin of our brothers.

In the old testament we were told to judge others, and punish them, usually with stoning.

Leviticus 24:16 Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The stranger as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

Leviticus 20:27 Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist must be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; they have brought their own deaths upon themselves.

There are several places in the old testament where we are told to judge and punish others for their sins. Why don’t we do this today? because something happened, something changed, Jesus came and took that punishment.

Because Jesus took the punishment for sin, we do not do the punishing anymore, but nowhere are we told not to judge or point out the sin of others. In fact, we are told to judge the sin of others:

Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

1 Timothy 5:20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.

John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

James 5:19 & 20 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
(you can’t turn them away from sin if you don’t tell them)

2 Timothy 4:2 & 3 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

As you can see, we are told to judge sin that we may help others.

1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.