Jesus Didn’t Say “Don’t Judge” He Said Don’t Be a Hypocrite

Matthew 7:1-5, many miss this as a passage of Jesus rebuking his disciples for judging others and their own behaviors, interpreting that we should never judge.  Do we really and truly have the capacity to judge?  In reality, Jesus isn't saying we shouldn't judge others on behalf of their actions. He is simply telling us that one needs to proceed with caution by examining closely, ourselves.  The cornerstone of love is truth and with truth comes an evaluation of both ourselves through others. The example of the splinter in your neighbor's eye contrasted with the wooden beam in yours is to show us that we quite often act high and mighty. We perceive that we cannot do wrong. On the contrary, all of us on this earth are defiled by the very nature of our sin. But what our Lord is merely trying to say here is, one cannot tell the other they have done wrong without first acknowledging that you also have a load of rotten bones in your closet. Once you have finally understood your own wrongs in life, then may you begin evaluating your neighbor for his ills. The question then shouldn't be: Can we even fully be able to contend for our own sin? What we should really be asking is: Can we stop being hypocrites?  I will let you discern for yourselves.  God bless you and praise be the Lord!