God has gathered us together for life in community, and in that community we must look out for each other. We must treat each other as family; we must not behave in the same way as the hypocrites who do not know God. That is the essence of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:1–29, and it is necessary for him to say these things because our default and natural behaviour is that of the hypocrite rather than a child.

A hypocrite is the person who thinks that he must bring a contribution to his salvation. Epitomized by the scribes and the Pharisees, the hypocrite realizes that he cannot fully obey God’s law. He cannot meet the standards that are required for life in the kingdom and so he reduces the law to the letter in such a way as to ignore the deeper principle. That is what we saw in Matthew 5:1–48. Having done so, he goes on to behave in a manner that is aimed at winning people’s approval. If he can be praised for his religious behaviour, then he has something to present before God, a good work that can merit his favour.

Now in Matthew 7:1–6, we see that the hypocrite's behaviour very naturally extends into a judgmental attitude. If God’s favour must be earned, if salvation is a competition amongst men where we need to end up in the top half, well, we can confirm our position by pointing out the mistakes of others, the speck in our brother’s eye. If I am doing better than those around me, if my light shines brighter than theirs, then surely I will be okay in the end?

And so the hypocrite makes it a regular habit to say who is in and who is out of the kingdom. He establishes extra laws and traditions to measure obedience and distinguish between those who truly belong and those who do not. He looks down on fellow believers who do not think as he thinks or act as he tells them to. A hypocrite derides others’ decisions about where to live and what to eat, decisions about how many children to have and their schooling, decisions about cars, telephones and clothing, decisions about politics and voting in elections. For the hypocrite, there is no room for biblical principles to be differently applied. There is no concept that our brothers and sisters may not have reflected in depth on certain topics, that they may be at a different level of maturity and Bible knowledge. Everyone is measured with the same rule, and the rule is not the precepts of Scripture, but the traditions and customs of men, the habits and patterns that you have established in your life.

Such was the attitude and conduct of the hypocrite. No desire to help a fellow believer. No concept of mutual support and encouragement. There is only competition and condemnation, a proud desire to finish in the top half. This is not behaviour that is fitting for those who know the Father.

Though we might like to think it is a danger only for others, if we are honest, we will recognize that hypocrisy is a place that we all come from. We compare ourselves with others. We look down on those who do not see things as we see them. We think that we are better in some way and the words we utter give us a means of affirming the same. Hypocrisy is a pattern, a way of thinking that comes naturally to us all, and it is one that we need to get rid of. It is a habit that will ruin life in God’s church, a sin that will condemn us to hell.

This is the context for Jesus’ words on judgment. He is not telling us that there is no place for discernment. He is not telling us that we must turn a blind eye to sin and give everyone space to live and do as they please. His words have often been twisted in that direction but that is not what he says. No, Jesus is encouraging us to behave as children who know God’s forgiveness. Children who are conscious of our own sins and need for God’s grace. Children who know that we have been made part of a family because of our union with Christ and not as a result of our good works. Children who must help our brother and sister instead of chasing them away.

Yes, Jesus has called us to please the Father. Yes, he has given us clear instruction on the depths of his law and how it is to be obeyed. But we are not here to criticize and condemn those who struggle and fail in these areas. We are not here to make our light shine brighter by diminishing theirs. The Christian life is not a competition for God’s favour.