What did Jesus mean by "judge not"?
Jesus’ "judge not" (Matthew 7:1) forbids self-righteous, hypocritical condemnation — not all moral discernment. He himself calls us to "remove the plank" from our own eye so we can see clearly to help our brother.
"Judge not, that you be not judged" is famously misused as "never call any behavior wrong." Jesus’ next sentences disprove that: he goes on to expect his hearers to identify "swine" and "false prophets."
What he forbids is self-righteous hypocrisy: noticing the speck in your brother’s eye while ignoring the plank in your own. Take the plank out first; then you’ll see clearly to help.
Christians are called to discern, name sin, and admonish — gently, after first dealing with their own. The opposite of judgment is not indifference; it is humility.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.