Lately, we've been hearing a lot about judging, repentance, punishment, and forgiveness. What's more, Scripture is being quoted frequently, and often by those who normally wouldn't go near it. Worse, passages are being quoted out of context, and the meaning is skewed, to say the least.

But, this is hardly a new phenomenon. Indeed, even the Devil quotes Scripture!! ( Matthew 4:6, Luke 4:10-11)

Let's take a look at two of the most widely misinterpreted passages, using logic and right reason.

Matthew 7:1-4

Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,' while the wooden beam is in your eye?

Matthew 7:5

You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye.

Matthew 7:6

Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

****Clearly, 7:1 is not a prohibition against recognizing the faults of others. This would be incompatible with verses 5 and 6. Unless we make judgments, how could we determine what is the splinter in our brother's eye, or be able to distinguish swine from those who might be worthy?

Rather, we are warned against passing judgment in a spirit of arrogance, forgetful of our own faults.

John 8:3-11

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you, Go, and from now on do not sin anymore."

****This passage in no way says that sins should go unpunished. Instead, it attacks unjust condemnation.

Remember, it "takes two to tango." Where was the man? Why wasn't he condemned?

Jesus' writing on the ground was a judgment in itself: Those who turn away from thee shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water. (Jeremiah 17:13)

The first stones were to be thrown by the witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:7). If you were a witness, were you not pretty close to the situation? Could you have been one of her illicit partners, as well? Maybe the whole thing was trumped up, and Jesus saw through it.

By acting as a true moral authority, Jesus dissuaded the would be accusers. He didn't condemn her, and he couldn't condemn her, since two or three witnesses were required to condemn someone to death. (Deuteronomy 17:6) No doubt, he was also mindful of the story of Susanna, falsely accused of adultery by two old men who unsuccessfully attempted to extort sexual favors from her. (Daniel 13:1-63)

But mark this: He said, "Do not sin anymore." If she got a free pass at all, it was only because she was brought into a kangaroo court. Her sin was recognized nonetheless.