Grant R. Osborne (2)
we must carefully note the exact meaning of "judge" (κρίνετε); in this context it does not mean a court trial or admonition. It cannot refer to discerning or evaluating right and wrong. All such are valid for believers (e.g., 1 Cor 5:5; Phil 3:2; Gal 6:1; Heb 3:13; 1 John 4:1). So what does this judgmental attitude connote? It means looking down on a person with a superior attitude, criticizing or condemning them without a loving concern (the opposite of the second we-petition on forgiveness, 6:12).
The key component is the absence of love. Admonition has a humility that says, "I love you enough to want to help you, and tomorrow you will need to correct me." There is no sense of superiority, no desire to make yourself look good at the expense of another. Bruner says this prohibition is the flip side of the fifth beatitude (5:5, "God blesses those who are merciful") as well as of the fifth petition of the Lord's Prayer (6:12, "forgive us our sins") and recapitulates the commands in ch. 5 against anger, revenge, and hate
Grant R. Osborne
Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 257–258.5.9K
While to many Jesus seemed to "destroy" the law by ignoring key elements like the Sabbath laws and by associating with the lower classes, Jesus wants them to realize that as Messiah, he is the true interpreter of Torah and so brings a higher righteousness.
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