Are we to judge?

Matthew 7:1-5 - “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye...

v. 24 - Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Taken together, these verses, and the whole counsel of Jesus, what can we deduce?

1. You will be judged in the same manner that you judge others.

2. It is necessary to look at one's own flaws and sins first before trying to point out another's.

3. Jesus does NOT forbid all judging! We are apparently SUPPOSED to help others see their sin. given the rest of chapter 7, Jesus's counsel in v.1 cannot be take to exclude all judging, for he tells us to judge in verse 24. He elsewhere says you will "know them by their fruit." We are told to speak to one who sins against us, to restore one who is caught in a sin, to separate from church members who persist in unrepentant immorality. Of course, this should be done in love, with the ultimate goal of honoring God and pointing sinners toward Christ. But to exclude all judging is not biblical.