Bible Study on Matthew 7:1 ("Do not judge")
Matthew 7:1
“Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.” (CSB)
Welcome to the Bible Study Guide for Matthew 7:1, which leverages questions from the CHARA Bible Study Guide when studying this verse. Below are the questions the Chara team chose to ask, in the order they chose to ask them, but feel free to use other questions or change up the order as you dive into this passage. For ANSWERS from the Chara team on these questions, check out the video below.
APPLY
Yield: What personal, cultural, or religious bias and assumptions do you bring to the text? How is “do not judge” used in our culture today?
HISTORY
Where/Who: Where does the narrative take place and where was it written? What can you learn about their town and travel? Who was it written to and who was it written about? How does the Bible describe them? The Sermon on the Mount is one of Jesus’ most well known teachings. Describe the setting of this teaching that you find in Matthew 4:23-25. Who might have been a part of the crowd mentioned in Matthew 5:1?
CONTEXT
Immediate: What is the theme or main idea found in the surrounding paragraph(s) and how does that help determine what the verse means? (Hint: start with the paragraph in Matthew 7:1-6).
When we expand our context out a bit further we see that in chapter 5 Jesus corrected the scribes and Pharisees teachings (Matt 5:20) and in chapter 6 Jesus addressed their behavior. Read Matthew 6:1-18. What is the theme or main idea? (Hint: look for repetition)
Do you see that same theme carried over into our passage in Matthew 7:1-6? How does that help you understand what Jesus’ point was in verse 2?
AUTHOR
Speech: What is the point being made through figurative language or symbolism? In Matthew 7:3-5 Jesus paints a rather ludicrous and humorous picture using hyperbole. What point is Jesus trying to emphasize?
Patterns: What is highlighted through the use of repetition? How does repetition in Matthew 7:3-5 help you understand who Jesus is talking about judging? (also Matthew 18:15, 1 Corinthians 5:12)
Speech: What is the point being made through figurative language or symbolism? In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus instructs His disciples to deal with their own sin before confronting a brother or sister in Christ about their sin. But in verse 6 it switches, and once again Jesus uses symbolic language, this time to demonstrate how those who are outside your faith family will respond to godly correction. Dogs and pigs are known to devour anything, but their rejection of “what is holy” and the “pearls” emphasizes Jesus’ point. Have you ever experienced this? What insight does this give into how Christ followers should respond to righteous judgment (John 7:24)?
RESEARCH
Original Language: What does a word mean in the original language? “Judge” means to distinguish, to decide/condemn. How do you see this play out in Matthew 7:15-20?
Paraphrase: How would you rewrite Matthew 7:1 into your own words?
APPLY
Respond: What was expected of the original audience and what principles make sense for us today (is it cultural or timeless truth)? “Do not judge” is one of the most quoted Bible verses in our culture today, but the original meaning of this verse hasn’t changed. What timeless principles have you learned by studying this verse?
Yield: Consider the personal, cultural, or religious bias and assumptions that you brought to this verse? What do you need to surrender, if anything, to be in harmony with the Bible?
Join the Chara Project team as they study Matthew 7:1 and see their ANSWERS to the questions asked from the CHARA Bible Study Guide.