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It’s simple: if you don’t want God to judge you, don’t judge others. This isn’t about God judging sin in general, but about how the way you judge people for their sins will be returned to you, as the following verses show. Many quote “judge not” in isolation as if it applies to anything they think is ok or they want to justify. But the phrase is tied to “that ye be not judged”. Therefore, this isn’t a blanket ban on judging; it instead is a warning that the measure you use will be measured back to you.

James 2:13 speaks to this when he says “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment”. Jesus tells/warns us here if we judge, we also will be judged in the same manor. It is better to be a merciful person than always judgemental. Our Lord Jesus, rich in mercy, forgave us of all our sins.

It is easy to look at other people and ignore our own issues. Jesus is pointing out how prideful we are as sinful humans, we can’t even see our own sin at times.

In 1 Corinthians 11:31 Paul says “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged”. Before looking at anyone else, we should be looking at ourselves.

Jesus seem to be trying to humble us with His example here. It is easy to see issues in other people and make our judgments against them. But once a person examines his own life in humility and removes the beam out of their own eye, it will humble cause them to be humble in approaching others. Who do we think we are to point out a speck (mote) in someone else’s eye when we had a beam in or own eye! It may even cause you not to make the judgement at all against another person. Jesus starts this off with “judge not” and then goes on to humble us.

Many will cite this passage and say we should not judge at all. But Paul tells we are to judge sin in the church in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 “ For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” The teaching is that we should not judge the world at all, and if judgment is necessary, it should be within the church. Jesus emphasizes that we must approach judgment with great humility and caution, as we ourselves are just as capable of sin and will be judged in the same way we judge others. We are not to go around looking for sin with a critical spirit. However, blatant sexual sin and other serious offenses must be addressed, as we see when Paul rebukes the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 5. See also Galatians 6:1 and 1 Corinthians 10:12.

1. While Paul instructs believers to judge those within the church in 1 Corinthians 5, he also says not to judge in Romans 14:3. The context clarifies the difference: in Romans, Paul is speaking of non-essential matters, not issues of serious sin. We are not called to nitpick the church of God but to let the Lord judge His own servants in matters of conscience. As Paul writes, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more, but rather resolve this: not to put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in our brother’s way.”

Lastly, Jesus tells us in John 7:24 that we should judge but he gives a guideline on it: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment”. So in summary, while the passage here in Matthew He we should not be hypocritical in our judgments, God will use the same measure against us we use against others and we should be humble if we truly must judge.

Sharing deep Biblical truths or even basic things of living a holy life may cause a false Christian or “dog” to turn and “bite” you. They will take what you say and trample it like a pig, they will not receive it in humility and it may cause strife in your interactions. See Proverbs 9:8.

Jude describes unbelievers that have rejected Jesus Christ and he uses similar language about their fruit being bad when in verse 12 he says “trees whose fruit withereth”

John says this same exact thing in Luke 3:9 “ And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

1. This wording of both John and Jesus sound quite similar to what Jesus says in John 15:6 about unfruitful branches being cut off and burned “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

2. The solution given by Jesus was to abide in Him in order to bear fruit John 15:4-5. He also said you can’t bear it on your own John 15:4. How do we abide? 1 John 4:15 says anyone that confesses that Jesus is the Son of God abides in God. In summary, if a person believes the gospel they will bear fruit (Philippians 2:13).

In the book of Jude it is perhaps the most clear explanation of what constitutes a fruitless tree being cut down. Those rejecting Jesus are again described as trees. It describes them as “ungodly men” that are guilty of “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” in verse 4. They are described as trees that are “without fruit” in verse 12. These are men that never knew believed in Jesus. They were never saved because as verse 5 says, they “believed not” and “to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” verse 13 says. The axe is at the root of every man (tree) and he is given a choice to receive or deny Jesus. Those that deny Jesus, without their sins forgiven, will be “hewn down” and cast into darkness and fire (Matthew 8:12, Matthew 22:13, Mark 9:43).

1. Jesus uses this same language in Matthew 7:18 describing people as trees and says that a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. A corrupt tree is a man without Christ.

In summary, John was the forerunner to Christ, preparing the way. In Acts 19:4 we see John prepared them to believe upon Jesus which once they did this would then cause them to become a good fruit bearing tree, one whom Jesus would not “hewn down”.

In context Jesus is speaking of “false prophets” as verse 15 says but as we can see from Luke 3, John 15, Jude and other passages, good and bad fruit simply describe what comes out of a person. This fruit test can be applied to anyone naming the name of Christ of whom rivers of living water should be pouring out of his heart (John 7:37-39).

This passage causes a lot of confusion and fear for Christians. First, we must establish that the “will of my Father” is not living a holy life, following Jesus, obeying Him in a daily relationship or turning from sin. The scripture that gives us the direct answer is found in John 6:40 which says “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” To do the “will of my Father” is to simply believe on Jesus.

The name of Jesus is so powerful it can be wielded by people that don’t know Jesus, that aren’t believers (as seen here in context verse 23 “I never knew you”).

1. John 3:35 says the Father gave Jesus all things into His hand.

2. Matthew 11:27 again says all things are delivered unto Jesus.

3. Matthew 28:18 says all power is given unto Jesus in heaven and in earth.

4. In Luke 9:49-50 we read there were people using the name of Jesus to cast out devils yet they weren’t disciples or followers of Jesus “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”

5. In Philippians 2:6-8 after the cross, we clearly see things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth are all subject to His name.

6. The Catholics believe in a works based salvation, trusting in themselves to get into heaven yet their priests are widely known for exorcism.

Some say this is not possible, that these people here weren’t really casting out demons and were perhaps using some magic or deception. They reference the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-16. Yet the disciples were actually given power to cast out demons (Luke 9:1) but weren’t able to (Matthew 17:19). So it seems there can be situations, perhaps were faith is lacking (Matthew 17:20) where using the name of Jesus doesn’t in a sense “work”. A good example is Judas. Jesus called him a devil (John 6:70) yet he was given power of the Holy Spirit to cast out demons and heal (Matthew 10:1-8).

These people thought they were Christians because they did many good works. This passage is a warning to anyone trusting in their performance or works to enter heaven. It is only by simple belief John 3:16, Acts 16:30-31. The only work we must do is believe John 6:28-29.

“I never knew you”, not I once knew you, or knew you for a bit but Jesus says He never knew these people. Not one time did they ever please Him. It is impossible to use this passage to say someone fell away from the faith or apostized.

We know these people are not, nor ever were Christians. A Christian has his inquities forgiven: Romans 4:7 “Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”

Is it not enough to believe? Why does Jesus say hear and do them, does it imply works? The answer to this Jesus makes clear when the people asked what they should “do” in John 6:28-29 “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

Christ is the “rock” (1 Corinthians 10:4) where we must build our “house” on, the foundation all starts on Jesus and not our self-righteoussness or works. For without Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5).

If our foundation is built on sand, namely, our own self-righteousness and works, then the fall after this life ends will be “great”. Standing before Jesus, hearing the words "depart from Me" will result in an eternal separation from God and punishment for one's sins, a consequence that is both severe and irreversible.