Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Matthew 7:1. Judge not These words of Christ do not contain an absolute prohibition from judging, but are intended to cure a disease, which appears to be natural to us all. We see how all flatter themselves, and every man passes a severe censure on others.
Christ reproves the scribes and Pharisees who condemn all about them with a magisterial and supercilious spirit. We must not judge our brother rashly or uncharitably, nor assume an authority over him we allow not him over us; we must not judge the hearts of others, nor make the worst of them, nor infer invidious things from their words and actions.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 7:1-6
MATTHEW CHAPTER 7 Verse 1. Judge not, etc. This command refers to rash, censorious, and unjust judgment. See . explains it in the sense of condemning. Christ does not condemn judging as a magistrate, for that, when according to justice, is lawful and necessary.