Judge not, that you be not Judged

Paul Takach emphasizes that Christ's command in Matthew 7:1, "Judge not," is often misunderstood as a prohibition on making any judgments about others' actions or doctrine. Instead, Jesus warns against harsh, condemning, and hypocritical judgment, where one judges others with the same severity they would expect God to judge them. Takach explains that there is a place for righteous judgment, citing examples from Scripture such as judging false prophets (Matthew 7:15) and withdrawing from disorderly brothers (2 Thessalonians 3:6). However, Jesus cautions against judging others with a condemning spirit, which can lead to God judging us in return. Takach stresses the importance of self-examination and removing the plank in one's own eye before trying to remove the speck from another's. He also warns against giving the Gospel to those who will trample it under their feet (Matthew 7:6), citing examples from Jesus' ministry, such as shaking off dust from his feet when rejected by cities. Takach concludes that an unbiblical and harsh attitude towards others can eat away at peace within the local body of Christ, emphasizing the need for self-examination before removing faults in others.