Judging Less, Praying More, and Living with Kindness (Matthew 7:1–12)
We all want to be treated fairly, loved deeply, and heard when we speak. In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us practical advice on how to live well with others and how to connect with God. His words in Matthew 7:1–12 remind us to stop judging, start praying, and treat people the way we want to be treated.
Let’s take a closer look.
Stop Judging and Start Looking at Yourself First
Jesus begins with something we all need to hear: “Do not judge.” It’s easy to point out what’s wrong in someone else’s life, but Jesus warns us to be careful. If we’re harsh with others, we’ll be judged the same way.
He uses a powerful image: someone trying to take a tiny speck out of another person’s eye while ignoring the big plank in their own eye. That’s a funny but serious way of saying—take care of your own issues first before trying to fix someone else.
The message? Be humble. Be kind. Look at yourself honestly before judging anyone else.
Be Wise with What You Share
Right after talking about judging, Jesus gives a short but wise warning. He says not to give what is valuable to those who won’t appreciate or respect it. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help others—it means we should be wise about when, how, and to whom we share advice, truth, or personal things.
In other words: use good judgment, not harsh judgment.
Keep Asking, Keep Seeking, Keep Knocking
Next, Jesus talks about prayer. He encourages us to ask, seek, and knock. That means we can come to God with our needs, our hopes, and our questions.
Why? Because God is a loving Father. Just like any good parent loves giving good things to their children, God loves to help us when we ask Him sincerely.
Jesus wants us to know that prayer isn’t just a ritual—it’s a relationship. God hears us. God cares. And God answers.
The Golden Rule
Jesus ends this section with one powerful sentence:
“Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
This is often called the Golden Rule, and it sums up how we should live every day. Imagine how different the world would be if everyone lived this way—being kind, patient, forgiving, and respectful.
We all know how we want to be treated. So Jesus tells us—go and do the same for others.
Final Thoughts
In just a few short verses, Jesus teaches us how to live with humility, how to pray with trust, and how to treat others with love.
So let’s ask ourselves:
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Am I quick to judge, or do I take a look at my own heart first?
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Am I bringing my needs to God in prayer, trusting Him to care?
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Am I treating others the way I’d want to be treated?
These are simple truths, but they can make a huge difference in our lives and relationships.
Let’s judge less, pray more, and live with kindness—just as Jesus taught.
Matthew 7:1-12 (WEB)
7:1 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 4 Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.6 “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.7 “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12 Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.