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1 Do not judge, lest you be judged. 2 For you will be judged by the same standard by which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure with which you measure others. 3 Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but you do not notice the log in your own? 4 How can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye,” while there is a log in yours? 5 Hypocrite! First take the log our from your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s. 6 Do not give holy things to dogs, nor throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn to attack you as well.

7 Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks will receive, and everyone who seeks will find, and everyone who knocks will be welcomed. 9 Is there any person among you who, if their son asks them for bread, would give him a stone? 10 Would anyone give their son a snake when he asked for a fish? 11 So if you, who are sinful, know how to give good things to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask him? 12 Whatever you would wish other to do for you, you must do for others, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13 Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the road is easy that lead to destruction, and there are many who pass through them. 14 The gate is narrow and the road is difficult that lead to life, and there are few who find them.

Comments

Jesus warns his followers against judging, telling them that they will be judged by the same standard by which they judge others. He also cautions them against trying to “fix” others. It may well be the case that we ourselves have moral blind spots far worse than our neighbor’s, and even if we do not, it may be the case that our neighbor is not in a place in their life where they can receive advice (7.6).

He then encourages them to confidently pray to God: If they know how to provide for their children’s needs, will not God do the same? This leads into Jesus’ version of the Golden Rule (7.12). We must treat others as we would wish them to treat us, and as we would wish God to treat us all. This is the ethical core of the Jewish faith (“the Law and the Prophets.”) He concludes with a stern warning that the path of justice and faith is not the path of least resistance.