A Simple Guide for Behavior (Judging Others) Matthew 7:1-6 (The Message and Good News Translations)

THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION

1-5  "Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

6    “Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  “Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, 

2  for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. 

3  Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye? 

4  How dare you say to your brother, ‘Please, let me take that speck out of your eye,’ when you have a log in your own eye? 

5  You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

6  “Do not give what is holy to dogs—they will only turn and attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs—they will only trample them underfoot.