God's Gospel Truths
Matthew 7:1-5
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
~Jesus
Pondering Point
Reading this part of the Bible helps us see that there’s a way to help people without being judgmental Jesus infers that one person CAN notice a speck of sawdust in another person’s eye – and be helpful about it – without being judgmental as to why the speck is there. He describes it as removing the log from your eye. To be clear, Jesus is not saying, “ignore the sawdust” (i.e. act like you don't notice). For instance, person A notices the speck in the eye of person B. Here’s the plan:
Step 1. Person A removes LOG from person A’s eye
Step 2. Person A helps remove SPECK from person B’s eye
It stands to reason that both God and the person suffering from sawdust in the eye would like it removed. Maybe you are the one to help remove the speck, but NOT if you’re judgmental while trying to help. In fact, many bible teachers see the sin of judgment AS the log Jesus describes here. If you can’t stop judging inappropriately, then you’re not in position to start helping others. God help us!
Prayer
Father God, in all seriousness, help us to be free of judgment before we offer to assist others with their issues. Help us flush our eyes of logs prior to flushing others eyes of specks. We really could use Your help here — all of us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.