For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Parallel translations
- WEB For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
- KJV For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
- NKJV For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
- NASB For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
- NLT For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
You will be judged by the same standard you apply to others. A harsh, unmerciful spirit invites the same measure in return.
Overview
Jesus states the principle behind the warning against judging: the measure we use for others is the measure used for us, both by people and finally by God. This exposes the danger of a critical, unforgiving attitude that holds others to a standard it ignores in itself. It calls disciples to humility and mercy, mindful of their own need for grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Jas 2:13For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Mark 4:24He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.
- Luke 6:38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
- Obad 1:15For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your recompense will return upon your own head.
- Rev 18:6Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.
- Ps 18:25–26To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
- Judg 1:7Then Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done to them, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.
- 2 Th 1:6–7After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
- 2 Cor 9:6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
- Ps 137:7–8Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”
- Jer 51:24Before your very eyes I will repay Babylon and all the dwellers of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion,” declares the LORD.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 7:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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