The verse below is a call to be discerning rather than judgmental.

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” [Matthew 7:3].

Jesus’ statement is against the kind of hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears others down in order to build oneself up. We should elevate our words and examine our lives before we judge others.

According to verse John 8:6-8, the Pharisees in order to have a basis for accusing Jesus brought a woman charged with adultery before him. Then they reminded Jesus that adultery was punishable by stoning under Mosaic law and challenged him to judge the woman so that they might then accuse him of disobeying the law. Jesus thought for a moment and then replied, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.” The people crowded around him were so touched by their own consciences they left one by one, from the oldest to the youngest, without saying another word. When Jesus found himself alone with the woman, he asked her who were her accusers. She replied, “No man, lord.” Jesus then said, “Neither do I condemn you: go and sin no more.”

Jesus set a perfect example for us. There is no doubt that this woman was guilty and the law required that she be stoned, but the Law also required that the guilty man be stoned as well [Deuteronomy 22:22].

Jesus, who is full of grace and truth, tells the woman to stop committing adultery, and He forgives her.

From this passage [John 8:7] we learn that we must not judge others unless we first thoroughly search our own hearts and minds to make certain that we are pure in every aspect of our lives. We ought to be careful and trust God to be the final Judge, as it says in [Matthew 7:1], “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

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