“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. The principle of reciprocal judgment: the standard you apply to others will be applied to you. This is not a threat but a description of how judgment works in the kingdom's moral economy. Luke 6:38 expands this to the positive direction: give, and it will be given to you — the reciprocal principle operates in mercy as well as judgment. The implication is that the harsh judge who applies rigorous standards to others will face rigorous standards themselves, while the merciful judge who applies generous standards will receive generous judgment. The measure you use determines what you can expect.
Church Fathers on Matthew 7:2
Since when these temporal things are provided beforehand against the future, it is uncertain with what purpose it is done, as it may be with a single or double mind, He opportunely subjoins, 'Judge not.'
Otherwise; He has drawn out thus far the consequences of his injunctions of almsgiving; He now takes up those respecting prayer. And this doctrine is in a sort of continuation of that of the prayer; as though it should run, 'Forgive us our debts,' and then should follow, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.'
But if He forbids us to judge, how then does Paul judge the Corinthian who had committed uncleanness? Or Peter convict Ananias and Sapphira of falsehood?
Read all 10 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!