Matthew 7:1 – “Judge Not” Doesn’t Mean What You Think
It is a phrase that has been used countless times during contentious conversations or in defensive moments when someone is confronted about their behavior: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” These famous words from Jesus are recited by many but profoundly misunderstood. One could easily argue that Matthew 7:1 is by far the most frequently misapplied verse in the entire Bible, used and abused by both Christians and non-Christians alike.
Instead, in this context, Jesus uses krino to refer to condemning others, or treating them with judgmental contempt. He’s talking about the times we decide another person doesn’t measure up, so we look down on them or think of them as a lesser person. In that context, Jesus says to the crowds of Jewish people following Him not to unfairly judge others in order not to be unfairly judged. He is talking about having an arrogant attitude: taking the place of God. Lack of humility and grace in how we perceive others leads us to wrongly declare one person’s righteousness worthy and another person unworthy merely based on our assumptions.
Philippians 4:13 – The “I Can Do Anything” Fallacy
According to Bible Gateway, Philippians 4:13 is the second most popular verse in the New Testament, only behind John 3:16. It’s a verse memorized and beloved by many. But for as popular as this verse is, it’s also often misunderstood and taken out of context. The verse’s popularity has led to some misunderstandings. Even the first half of the verse – “I can do all things” – has been plucked out of context and repackaged as a feel-good, inspirational mantra that people repeat to themselves when attempting something difficult, or even impossible.
Throughout history (and especially in recent times) this verse has not been well understood and has been easy prey for misinterpretation and misuse (as has been done by countless well-meaning Christians). Many Christians have used Philippians 4:13 as an inspirational and motivational maxim as though it is affirming they are supposed to be able to accomplish anything, attain anything, and do anything with the help of Christ. The heart of this teaching is that contentment does not depend upon our circumstances. Circumstances are always changing, but contentment can remain constant. Paul wasn’t talking about winning marathons or getting promotions – he was writing about finding contentment whether you have plenty or nothing at all.
Romans 8:28 – When “All Things Work Together” Gets Twisted
In the pantheon of classic verses many Christians learn in childhood, not far behind John 3:16 (“God so loved the world…”) comes Romans 8:28: “All things work together for good to them that love God.” A text to cling to, many people think, when things go wrong. A kind of spiritual version of “Every cloud has a silver lining,” or “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.” Except it isn’t what St Paul wrote. The King James version, which I just quoted and which we all learned, made it sound as though “everything,” all events in the world, had a kind of inner dynamic which would guarantee a happy outcome.
As we come to verse 28, Paul reiterates that he is speaking to Christians, “we,” about what they “know” because of the Holy Spirit. It is important to recognize that Paul is only speaking to Christians, not unbelievers; what he is about to share does not apply to everyone, but is “for those who love God.” The “all things” is everything from the deepest sufferings to the fullest joy, “work together for good.” The verse isn’t promising that bad things won’t happen to Christians. Instead, it’s saying God works through all circumstances – including painful ones – to shape believers into the image of Christ.
Jeremiah 29:11 – The Promise That Wasn’t Yours
“For I know the plans I have for you” was slapped on like a bandaid (Jeremiah 29:11). #9 – Jeremiah 29:11 – Does the Bible Promise Prosperity for God’s People? This verse has become a go-to comfort scripture for Christians facing uncertainty, but it was written specifically to Jewish exiles in Babylon around 600 BC. Therefore, we should be cautious about grabbing it out of context and inappropriately applying it to individual believers in the 21st century. God is talking about His plans to once again restore His people, prosper them and literally bring them back from Babylonian captivity!
The historical context completely changes the meaning. God wasn’t making a blanket promise to every Christian that their personal plans would work out perfectly. He was specifically addressing a group of people who had been forcibly removed from their homeland, promising that their seventy-year exile would eventually end. Taking this verse as a personal promise ignores the specific historical situation and can lead to false expectations about how God operates in individual lives.
Psalm 46:10 – “Be Still” Doesn’t Mean Be Passive
Resting in the Lord is an excellent and necessary proclamation to live by, but choosing to relax and do nothing else, is problematic and dangerous to the Christian faith. In Context: In the fullness of our verse, Psalm 46:10 tells us that no matter what we face in life, we can be still and know that God is God. However, resting in this place of contentment is only possible because He will preside over every circumstance life throws our way, and He will be praised.
The phrase “be still and know that I am God” is often quoted as biblical support for meditation or passive waiting. But the Hebrew word “raphah” translated as “be still” actually means “let go” or “release your grip.” The psalm is talking about nations and warfare – God is telling the nations to stop fighting and recognize His sovereignty. It’s not a call to spiritual inactivity but rather a command to stop striving against God’s will and recognize His ultimate authority over all circumstances.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle?
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV) Out of Context: God won’t put more on you than you can handle. In Context: The point of this passage is that no one is exempt from experiencing temptation (v. 12). The good news is that God, in His faithfulness, provides an escape to avoid temptation (v. 13). However strong a temptation might be – to disbelieve God, to fall into sexual sin, to lie or to gossip – Jesus is our escape.
This verse is specifically about temptation, not trials or suffering in general. Paul is telling the Corinthians that when they face temptation to sin, God will always provide a way out. He’s not promising that life won’t overwhelm them with circumstances beyond their control. We are called to rely, not on ourselves, but God (2 Corinthians 1:9). The distinction matters because people often use this verse to minimize someone’s genuine suffering or to suggest that struggling means lack of faith.
Matthew 18:20 – Where Two or Three Are Gathered
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20 ESV) Out of Context: God is always in the midst of a gathering of the saints. In Context: There is some truth to this promise. God promises that He will never leave or forsake His children (Matthew 28:20). Many Christians quote this verse to guarantee God’s presence at small group meetings or prayer gatherings, but the context is actually about church discipline and confronting sin.
Jesus was teaching about what to do when a fellow believer sins against you. After trying to resolve it privately, then with witnesses, the final step is to “tell it to the church.” The promise of God’s presence “where two or three are gathered” refers specifically to the authority given to the church community in making these difficult decisions about sin and restoration. While God is certainly present with believers generally, this verse isn’t a guarantee about small group attendance – it’s about the gravity and divine backing of church discipline decisions.
Proverbs 22:6 – Train Up a Child and They’ll Never Depart
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6 ESV) Out of Context: Perfect parenting will prevent your child from rebellion. In Context: Parents do not have the power to create salvation or right living in their children. Only God can change hearts. There is wisdom in training a child in the ways of godly living and morality, but it is not a guarantee your child will grow up to follow God’s laws.
This verse has caused tremendous guilt for parents whose children have walked away from faith, as if their parenting was somehow deficient. Proverbs are general principles, not ironclad promises. They describe what typically happens when wisdom is applied, but they account for the reality that children grow up to make their own choices. Even God, the perfect parent, had children (Adam and Eve, Israel) who rebelled against Him. The verse encourages godly parenting while acknowledging that ultimate outcomes depend on individual choices and God’s work in hearts.
Psalm 37:4 – Delight Yourself and Get Your Heart’s Desires
“God will give you your heart’s desires” rooted pride in unseen places (Psalm 37:4). I’m curious to see if Psalm 37:4 is one of them. That’s a loaded verse! This verse is often treated like a spiritual vending machine – delight in God, and He’ll give you whatever you want. But the Hebrew concept of “delight” involves finding your deepest joy and satisfaction in God Himself, not in what He might give you.
When someone truly delights in the Lord, their desires begin to align with God’s desires. The promise isn’t that God will fulfill selfish wishes, but that as we grow closer to Him, our wants will increasingly match His will. A person who genuinely delights in God will desire things like justice, mercy, love, and righteousness – desires that God is always pleased to fulfill. The transformation happens in the person’s heart first, then God fulfills those God-shaped desires.
James 3:2 – We All Sin, So Sin Doesn’t Matter?
James 3:2, “In many things we sin all.” True; but God’s children sin not in all things as you do, without either bridling their lusts or mortifying their corruptions. And though the relics of sin remain in the dearest children of God, that they had need daily to cry, “Our Father which art in heaven, forgive us our debts;” yet, in the New Testament, none are properly called sinners, but the unregenerate. …insomuch that John says, “Whoever is born of God sinneth not,” (1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18); that is, lives not in willful filthiness, allowing sin to reign in him, as you do.
Some use this verse to excuse ongoing sin or to argue that striving for holiness is pointless since everyone sins anyway. But James is talking about sins of speech – specifically, the difficulty of controlling the tongue. He’s not giving a free pass for deliberate, ongoing sin. The verse acknowledges human frailty while still calling for growth in holiness. There’s a difference between struggling with occasional failures while pursuing godliness and using universal human sinfulness as an excuse to continue in deliberate wrongdoing without repentance or effort to change.
Understanding Context Changes Everything
When Scripture is cherry-picked, often times the verse is misunderstood and therefore becomes misrepresented. Grasping an accurate understanding of Biblical passages is essential to properly represent the meaning of Scripture. To establish proper context of a passage it is necessary to look at the content and framework of the passage. Whenever a verse is dislocated from its context, it is almost guaranteed to be wrongly interpreted and misapplied. Such negligence butchers the Scriptures and sanctions them to perform whatever tune the reader wants them to play. The failure to grasp the context and properly understand 4:13 accordingly misleads people in their faith by pointing them toward false realities and untrue biblical conclusions.
These misunderstandings aren’t just academic issues – they affect how believers live their faith and relate to others. When we misuse Scripture, we can create false expectations, inappropriate guilt, or dangerous theology. For the collective teaching of the Bible insists that those who are created in the image of God are morally responsible to God and to one another. So to use “do not judge” as a means of dismissing oneself from moral responsibility would be to interpret it in a way that pits it against the rest of Scripture. We should remember that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 or inspired by the Holy Spirit, and as such it is without error and never contradicts itself (because God never contradicts himself). Therefore, it is always wise to interpret a given passage of Scripture by comparing it with the principles and teachings found elsewhere in Scripture. Proper interpretation requires understanding the original audience, historical context, and how each passage fits within the broader biblical narrative rather than treating individual verses like fortune cookies with personalized messages for modern readers.
