Matthew 7:1

 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

This passage is one of the most misquoted verses of the bible. Some take this to mean that you shouldn’t ever comment on other people’s sinful behavior. Therefore, you shouldn’t tell the alcoholic or drug addict that they need help. You shouldn’t tell people who are sleeping around that they might catch a deadly disease. You shouldn’t tell a liar that they are weaving harmful webs. And the police officer that pulls me over shouldn’t give me a ticket for speeding. Who is he to judge?

God is the author of law and order. He sets parameters so that people can live peaceful lives. When His laws are broken, peace is broken. So does Jesus want us to remove the spec from our brother’s eye? Some of you may answer, “No.” You say this because you believe Jesus doesn’t want you to judge your brother. Take a closer look at the context.

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.

So we are called to remove the spec from our brother’s eye. The point is that we are not to judge self-righteously or hypocritically, but we are called to judge. Through making right judgments, we move our lives into God’s will. A rebuke from somebody, reminds us that we are not in God’s will and that we need to change our behavior. We can likewise do the same for others. Iron sharpens iron. If a drunkard tells you in a self-righteous manner that shouldn’t drink, then he becomes the object of judgment through his hypocrisy. But if he tells you that you shouldn’t drink and goes on to confess that it ruined his life; he isn’t judging. He is giving you sound advice because he doesn’t want to see you ruin your life in the same manner. 

Jesus tells us to judge teachers who may lead others astray

Matthew 7:15-20

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Jesus tells us to judge under right standards. 

John 7:24

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”