“Judge not, lest you be judged.” This is one of the most familiar phrases in the Bible. It is also one of the most misunderstood and misused phrases in the Bible. Does this verse mean that we should never point out any sin or struggle in the lives of those we love for fear that they will feel “judged”?
Others might use the phrase, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone…” to avoid being called out in an area of struggle or sin. Is Jesus telling us to “mind our own business?”
There is no doubt that this passage is a warning about how we relate to others, but what did Jesus really when he said, “Judge not?” As we continue our study in the Sermon on the Mount, we will learn what Jesus had in mind, and we’ll learn valuable lessons on how we should relate in love to the world around us.