Matthew 7:1-6
Judging Others
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
When I first read the lesson of Judging Others, I was confused with Jesus' last statements of “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs...If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."...The connection between Matthew 7:1-5 ("Judge not") and Matthew 7:6 ("Do not give dogs what is sacred...") seems jarring and contradictory to me...So as I read the lesson on judging others, I know this is not a reversal of the command to be merciful; it is the strategic complement that defines true Christian discernment...
Jesus places this command here to show that the opposite of condemnation (Matthew 7:1-5) is not naive acceptance, but for us to be wise in our actions...Once we have humbly removed the plank from our own eye, we are finally able to see clearly enough to make wise, compassionate decisions about how and where we share the most sacred truths...
Matthew 7:6 into a dedicated section, "The Necessary Shift: From Condemnation to Wise Discernment," explaining the difference between condemnation (forbidden) and strategic discernment (commanded)...This completes the lesson by showing how all parts of Matthew 7 fit together...The Necessary Shift: From Condemnation to Wise Discernment (Matt 7:6)...
Discernment is the ability to judge well, perceive clearly, and understand what is obscure, often involving deep insight beyond what is obvious to distinguish truth from falsehood, good from bad, or Divine Guidance from human will, using wisdom, reflection, and spiritual perception...It's about one seeing the "heart of the matter," sorting through their complexities, and making sound, wise decisions with care and understanding, especially in spiritual or complex situations...
The phrase, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs,” (Matt 7:6) resolves the tension between mercy and wisdom...While the previous verses forbid the internal, self-righteous act of condemnation, this verse provides the external, strategic command for discernment...Discernment, here, is this ability to judge well, perceive clearly, and understand what is obscure and less important in life...It involves deep insight to distinguish some truths from falsehoods, and to make sound, wise decisions about complex situations...Jesus was the best One ever on earth, in practicing Wise Discernment...He is our Example...
The tension exists because if Jesus had only commanded, "Judge not," without verse 6, the Christian life would be spiritually naive...It would imply that we must have universal acceptance: We must treat everyone equally in every situation...And that there is reckless sharing and that we must share the most sacred and intimate parts of the Gospel indiscriminately, even when met with hostility...The command in 7:1–5 emphasizes Mercy and Humility...It tells us: You are not the Supreme Judge; you are a fellow sinner with the one or ones you are judging...Therefore, focus on your own faults (the plank) and exercise grace toward your neighbor (the speck)...This is an internal, spiritual command concerning our attitude and heart...
Matthew 7:6, "Do not give dogs what is sacred," introduces Wisdom and Discernment...It tells us: Now that my heart is clean and humble (my plank is removed), now I must be a wise steward of God's Truth, because God's Word is Truth...I must use clear vision to evaluate the situation and the receptivity of all people...This is an external, practical command concerning our actions and strategy...This resolves the tension because the resolution is that Jesus demands two different kinds of "judging":...Forbidden Judgment (7:1-5): This is Condemnation and being critical of others...It is hypocritical, self-righteous judging of the person's worth or eternal state...We are forbidden to do this -to be judgmental and critical of others...We are to love our neighbors...Let us practice discernment (7:6): This is Strategic Judgment...It is the wise evaluation of a situation or a response...Jesus now commands us to do this...
The verses are placed together to show that true mercy must be guarded by wisdom...If you continue to preach the "pearls" (the Gospel) to "pigs" (those who actively reject, mock, and attack it), you achieve nothing but disrespect for God's Truth, and you invite hostility upon yourself...Discernment allows you to strategically withdraw from that specific confrontation—not out of condemnation, but out of wisdom—and seek those who are ready to hear the message...
So, the tension is resolved because we are not asked to be universally naive (wisdom is required), but we are also not allowed to be hypocritically cruel (mercy is required)...Humility must come first, which then allows for wise discernment...