“Do not judge.” It’s one of the most quoted—and misquoted—verses in the Bible. Some use it to mean, “Don’t ever confront me.” Others interpret it as “Never form an opinion.” But in Matthew 7:1–5, Jesus is getting at something deeper: humility and self-examination.
Jesus paints a vivid picture. Imagine noticing a speck in someone else’s eye while ignoring the plank in your own. The image is almost comical, but it gets the point across—our first responsibility is to deal with our own sin before addressing someone else’s.
This doesn’t mean we never speak truth into others’ lives. It means we approach it from the right place—after we’ve humbled ourselves before God. In John 8, when religious leaders tried to trap Jesus by condemning a woman caught in sin, He told them, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” One by one, they left, realizing they weren’t qualified to condemn.
The message is clear: before addressing others’ faults, we must confront our own. Otherwise, we risk becoming hypocrites.
When we do confront sin, it should flow not from arrogance, but from love and empathy. The goal isn’t condemnation—it’s restoration. Pointing people to Jesus, the only one who can truly deal with sin, is the aim.
This passage ultimately draws us back to the gospel. None of us can fix ourselves. Only through Christ’s forgiveness can we stand clean before God. That truth keeps us humble, reminding us that any confrontation with others should be filled with grace.
So, the next time you’re tempted to point out someone else’s flaw, pause. Ask God to reveal the planks in your own life first. Let His Spirit shape you, then approach others with the same mercy He has given you.