WHAT CULTURE THINKS JESUS SAID: "Do not judge. " Just the first 3 words of Matt 7:1, nothing more The PROBLEM with this view: matters Matt 7:15 counts Matt 7:16 WHAT WE OFTEN ACT LIKE JESUS SAID: "Don’t judge… unless they’re not " The 2026 culturally amplified version of Matthew 7:1 The PROBLEM with this view: It’s Matt 7:1-2 It’s Matt 7:3-5 WHAT JESUS ACTUALLY SAID (IN CONTEXT): “Be how you judge” Matt 7:2; John 7:24 The CORRECT APPROACH: Start with Matt 7:5a Seek to Matt 7:5b Be wise about Matt 7:6 Leave ultimate judgement with 1 Cor 4:5 Questions for Further Reflection & Discussion What’s a harmless thing you tend to be overly judgmental about (food, driving habits, parking protocol, movie taste, etc.)? Read Matt 7:1-6 and review the sermon outline. What stuck with you and why? Why do you think our culture tends to stop at “Do not judge…period”? What is the appeal of that? What is the danger? What about the opposite? Where have you seen people being quick to judge those who are simply different from them? What makes that so common? What’s the difference between being discerning and being judgmental? What does it practically look like to “start with yourself” before addressing something in someone else? When is it wise to hold back and not say something? How does trusting God with ultimate judgment change the way you handle people?