To Judge or Not to Judge: An Important Question

Now, here is an important truth we must not miss. Jesus affirms the rightness of humbly and graciously correcting a brother or sister who is in sin. It is right and proper to do so. The issue is first to deal with oneself. Having first dealt with my sin, I am now rightly in a position to help others, something the Bible clearly commends and even commands (Matt 18:15-20; Gal 6:1-2). Inspection of others without introspection of myself is the road to playing the hypocrite. We must lovingly correct a brother or sister enslaved to sin. We must do it, however, compassionately and humbly, being aware of the lurking danger of arrogance, pride, and self-deception. Spurgeon says it well: “After we are ourselves sanctified, we are bound to be eyes to the blind, and correctors of unholy living; but not till then” (Exposition, 41).

Matthew 7:6

In verse 6 Jesus brings balance and clarity to what he has just said in verses 1-5. The words are extremely strong and can be troubling to our modern, politically correct ears; we have become morally unrestrained in what we allow. However, John Stott is right:

Jesus always called a spade a spade. His outspokenness led him to call Herod Antipas “that fox” and hypocritical scribes and Pharisees “whitewashed tombs” and a “brood of vipers.” Here he affirms that there are certain human beings who act like animals and may therefore be accurately designated “dogs” and “pigs.” (Message, 180)

Carson helpfully adds,

After warning us against judgmentalism, Jesus warns us against being undiscriminating, especially in our choice of people to whom we present the wonderful riches of the gospel. However, in seeking to do full justice to this warning in 7:6, we ought not fail to note that five verses are reserved for judgmental people, and only one for undiscerning people. The ratio reflects an accurate assessment of where the greater danger lies. (Sermon, 104)

So why do we not “give what is holy to dogs or toss pearls before pigs”? Jesus gives us two reasons.

“Dogs” in verse 6 are not the cute and cuddly domesticated pets we might have in the house to play with the children. In ancient times they lived in wild packs that roamed the streets. They were scavengers—vicious and dangerous. They may describe the false teachers Paul warns us about in Philippians 3:2. They are the type of persons the apostle John puts side by side with “the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” in Revelation 22:15. These are evil and wicked persons who despise the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truths of Holy Scripture. What do such people do with God’s precious truth? They rip it to shreds. Jesus actually personalizes their response, telling us that they will “tear you to pieces.” Their goal is to destroy the message and sometimes the messenger as well. Jesus warned us of this in Matthew 5:10-12.

Practically, Jesus is warning us not to force the gospel on those who are not only unreceptive but are actually hostile to our witness. Cynics and mockers will seldom listen. Move on and seek out receptive ears. Otherwise you run the risk of ravenous and savage dogs tearing you apart verbally (perhaps even literally).

Pigs were unclean animals according to the Old Testament (Lev 11:7; Deut 14:8). They are never spoken of positively in Scripture. In 2 Peter 2:22 pigs and dogs are images for false teachers. If dogs attack the messenger, pigs trample the message. Here the gospel is described as pearls (cf. Matt 13:45-46). Pigs cannot recognize the beauty and value of the pearls of biblical truth. They see it, ascribe it no value, trample it under their feet, and drag it through the mud. They not only reject it; they seek to destroy it. Quarles perceptively comments,

Just as dogs will fail to show proper reverence for sacrificial meat and pigs will fail to value precious pearls, the wicked will fail to value and show reverence for the message about the kingdom. On the contrary, they will only spurn, mock and ridicule it. (Sermon, 293)

The phrase “don’t give” has the force of an imperative. The idea is “never give,” “never do this.” Again, Jesus is his own best commentary regarding what he means. In Matthew 10:11-15 he says,

When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. Greet a household when you enter it, and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Jesus tells us not to judge in advance who will receive or reject the gospel. Only God knows the human heart. We offer the good news to all without discrimination. However, when it is rejected with adamance and force, we must move on. Others will listen, and they will believe. It is our calling to go and find them. Spurgeon again is helpful: “You are not to judge, but you are not to act without judgment. . . . Saints are not to be simpletons; they are not to be judges, but, also, they are not to be fools” (Exposition, 41–42).

I want to be both helpful and practical as we conclude our study on being judgmental. How can those of us who have been redeemed from all of our sin by the precious blood of Christ rightly make judgments without wrongly being judgmental?

Our goal in each of these principles is to treat others as God, in Christ, has treated us.