Matthew 7:1–5

The Savior Taught His Disciples to Judge Righteously

During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ taught His disciples to judge righteously. In this lesson, you will have the opportunity to learn about making righteous judgments.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder what they know about judgments they should make and those they should be careful not to make. Encourage them to think of questions they have about judging.

Possible Learning Activities

We should judge righteously

Read the following scenarios as a class,and invite students to think about what kind of judgments someone might make in each situation. Consider changing the scenarios to make them more relevant to the students.

Someone invites you to a party where many teenagers will be using substances against the Word of Wisdom.
Someone who lives according to different standards than you wants to be your close friend.
A member of your ward does different activities on the Sabbath than your family does.
You find out that a friend has a habit of looking at pornography.

Throughout this lesson, you will learn about judging righteously. You will have an opportunity to revisit your thoughts about these scenarios and apply what you have learned.

What questions do you have about judging?

As you study today’s lesson, think about how you feel about judging, and listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Record impressions that increase your understanding about the Savior’s teachings on judgment. Read Matthew 7:1. This verse is often misunderstood to mean that the Savior taught that we should never judge. Now read the Joseph Smith Translation of this verse (in Matthew 7:1, footnote a).

How does the Joseph Smith Translation increase your understanding of what the Savior taught about judging?
What do you think it means to judge righteously?

Read the following statement:

Consider displaying the following statement so students can follow along as someone reads it aloud.

Judgment is an important use of our agency and requires great care, especially when we make judgments about other people. All our judgments must be guided by righteous standards. Only God, who knows each individual’s heart, can make final judgments of individuals.

Sometimes people feel that it is wrong to judge others in any way. While it is true that we should not condemn others or judge them unrighteously, we will need to make judgments of ideas, situations, and people throughout our lives. …

… As much as we can, we should judge people’s situations rather than judging the people themselves. Whenever possible, we should refrain from making judgments until we have an adequate knowledge of the facts. And we should always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, who can guide our decisions.

(Gospel Topics, “Judging Others,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

What words or phrases in this statement help you understand righteous judgment?

We should not focus on the faults of others

Read Matthew 7:2–5, looking for other teachings about judging. In verse 3, the Savior referred to a sliver of wood as a mote (see footnote b) and a large piece of wood as a beam (see footnote c).

Consider showing students the included pictures of a mote and a beam.

Alternatively, bring a sliver of wood (or another small object) and a large piece of wood (or another large object). Invite two students to illustrate this parable by having each carefully hold one of these objects in front of their eyes.

Why would it be difficult for someone with a beam in their eye to remove a mote from someone else’s eye?
What do you think the Savior is teaching through the analogy of the beam and the mote?

Students may identify some of the following principles:

The way we judge others affects the way we will be judged by the Savior.
If we focus on seeing and repenting of our own sins and weaknesses, then we will be less likely to judge others unrighteously.
After we repent of our own sins, we can better help others.

As students mention these or other principles, write them on the board using students’ words.

Why are these teachings important for us to remember?
What can you learn about Jesus Christ from these teachings?

To see another illustration of the truths the Savior taught, watch “Looking through Windows” (2:19), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

2:19

Why might it sometimes be difficult to live according to Christ’s teachings about judging?
How can you invite your Father in Heaven’s help, through Jesus Christ, to help you apply these principle in your life?

Practice applying principles of righteous judgment

Choose one of the scenarios from the beginning of the lesson, or think of a similar scenario.

Consider dividing students into pairs or small groups for this activity. Visit each group briefly, participating in their discussions as appropriate.

Which scenario did you choose?
What righteous judgments should you make about this situation?
What judgments should you be careful not to make?
Following the Savior’s teachings, how could you be both fair and merciful in judgments you make?
How might remembering your own sins and weaknesses help in this kind of situation?

Invite volunteers to share their comments. Listen carefully to students’ responses to evaluate how well they have learned.

Sometimes, people assume that the Savior’s teachings in Matthew 7:1–5 means that we should never make judgments. President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency clarified that there are some kinds of judgments that we are encouraged to make:

There are two kinds of judging: final judgments, which we are forbidden to make, and intermediate judgments, which we are directed to make, but upon righteous principles. …

… Let us consider some principles or ingredients that lead to a “righteous judgment.”

First, a righteous judgment must, by definition, be intermediate. It will refrain from declaring that a person has been assured of exaltation or from dismissing a person as being irrevocably bound for hellfire. …

Second, a righteous judgment will be guided by the Spirit of the Lord, not by anger, revenge, jealousy, or self-interest. …

Third, to be righteous, an intermediate judgment must be within our stewardship. We should not presume to exercise and act upon judgments that are outside our personal responsibilities. …

Fourth, we should, if possible, refrain from judging until we have adequate knowledge of the facts. …

A fifth principle of a righteous intermediate judgment is that whenever possible we will refrain from judging people and only judge situations.

(Dallin H. Oaks, “‘Judge Not’ and Judging,” Ensign, Aug. 1999, 7, 9–11)

Invite students to ponder on their answers to the first question. The other questions that follow could be discussed as a class or students could respond to these questions in a study journal.

Which judgments should I make, and which should I be careful not to make?
What did you learn in this lesson about righteous judgment? How can what you learned help you see others and yourself more as the Savior does?
How have your questions about judging been answered? If you have unanswered questions, commit to continue your study and seek answers from the Holy Ghost.
What can help you be less judgmental of others in your life?

Consider bearing testimony of judging righteously.

Commentary and Background Information

How does God see His children?

President Russell M. Nelson taught that we are all equal in the eyes of our Heavenly Father:

Each of us has a divine potential because each is a child of God. Each is equal in His eyes. The implications of this truth are profound. Brothers and sisters, please listen carefully to what I am about to say. God does not love one race more than another. His doctrine on this matter is clear. He invites all to come unto Him, “black and white, bond and free, male and female” [2 Nephi 26:33].

(Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 94)

How can developing Christlike qualities affect the way you judge?

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about being Christlike, which can help us judge righteously.

To be Christlike, a person loves mercy. People who love mercy are not judgmental; they manifest compassion for others, especially for those who are less fortunate; they are gracious, kind, and honorable. These individuals treat everyone with love and understanding, regardless of characteristics such as race, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and tribal, clan, or national differences. These are superseded by Christlike love.

(Dale G. Renlund, “Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 111)