When noting an inconsistency between an ideology poorly branded as “Christian” and Jesus’ actual teachings, one can expect a familiar, defensive two-word rebuke:
“Judge not!”
Those words are extracted from Matthew’s gospel where Jesus said more fully: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)
Jesus’ words are set in the larger framework of hypocrisy — noting how easily religious adherence can blind one to his or her own inconsistencies.
In its familiar, extracted use today, however, pronouncing “Judge not” is most often designed to avoid weighing one’s preferred perspectives against what Jesus actually said and did, and how he calls his followers to live.
To use those two words as an attempted shutdown — to deflect visibility and accountability — suggests, wrongly, that anything a professing Christian chooses to believe or empower — no matter how out of sync with Jesus — is off limits to critique by another person of faith.
There’s a vast difference, however, between attempting to judge the depths of someone’s heart and noting an obvious inconsistency that belittles and causes harm to the very people Jesus called his followers to love.
Certainly, only God sees into the depths of someone’s heart. It is not our role to be what the late Will Campbell call a “soul molester.”
But we should take note of the obvious inconsistencies between Jesus’ life, teachings and calling and the human desire for racial and religious privilege and the demeaning of those whom God loves lavishly and equally. Both in our own lives and that which is on public display.
While we lack the insight and character of Jesus, it’s worth noting that his criticism was almost always levied toward the religiously elite who considered themselves most righteous.
Therefore, Jesus’ warning to “Judge not” reminds us of the pitfalls of spiritual arrogance and hypocrisy. Therefore, according to Jesus, to judge is to be judged.
Good! We all need to be accountable for how our claims of following Jesus align with how we live.
While only God can see into someone’s heart, we are not to close our eyes to injustice and abuse whether advanced with or without religious motivation. Evil thrives in silence.
From childhood, I recall a small-church pastor in our community who was thin, bald and good-humored. He was known as “the curly-headed country philosopher.”
I heard him speak just a few times but still recall after many decades one thing he said.
He noted that while Jesus warned of judging the hearts of others, Jesus also warned his followers of the danger of falling for that which is false.
In fact, just a few verses after his warning about judging others and hypocrisy, Jesus said: “You can tell each tree by its fruit.” (Matthew 7:16)
The curly-headed country philosopher said it behooves us to be good, discerning “fruit inspectors.”
There is a difference in judging the depths of someone’s heart and noting the clear evidence of how what is offered in the name of Jesus actually aligns with his life and teachings.
Most often today, “Judge not” is a defense mechanism. It seeks to prevent the exposure of how someone’s professed belief or behavior doesn’t align with how Jesus taught and showed his followers to live.
Yet, if we claim the Way of Jesus then our lives should reflect his life and teachings. It can be hard; it is not complicated.
And much of the fruit being produced — whether bitter or sweet — is on full display.
Labeling something or someone as Christian doesn’t allow for building a fence of unaccountability with claims of improper judgment that causes division.
“Judge not” doesn’t mean to see not, think not or speak not.
In fact, the absence of critical thinking and careful discernment — along with complicit silence — is how much of Americanized Christianity got off its purposeful course.
We can see the fruit that is being produced by the activity or inactivity of all of us in response to Jesus’ most important two words: “Follow me.”
John D. Pierce is director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative (jesusworldview.org), part of Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership. Join us for the second annual Jesus Worldview Conference in Nashville October 12-13, 2026.