The Speck and the Log

How often do we point fingers when others do wrong? How often do we become self-righteous when others sin? Much too often, I'm afraid. Yet contrary to popular belief, we may judge others--just not in a self-righteous, damning way.

In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches the right way to judge. First, he gives a warning:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."

This refers to the self-righteous, damning way the religious leaders were judging others at the time. Many of us continue to act like Pharisees to this day in spite of Jesus' warning; however, this is the method of judgement we are to avoid like the plague. 

Then, he teaches what steps must be taken to judge correctly: 

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

First of all, the speck is a smaller version of the log. Basically, it's easy for us to see a splinter in someone else's eye because we have a log in our own or, more specifically, the same sin in our lives. We must deal with our logs (a.k.a. repent) and then go to our brother/sister in Christ and help remove the splinter we see over there. I love the metaphor here about sight. The log blocks our view. When we judge sinfully, we can't see to judge correctly, yet when we repent, we have a clear view to know how to help our neighbor overcome the same sins we have struggled to overcome. It's a beautiful picture of restoring a brother/sister to Christ: Christ knew that we would know how to help the least of these only after we realized our own struggles, confessed these to Christ, and turned from our wicked ways. 

And finally, a command is given:

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." 

The ones who fail to repent, even after you approach them in the right manner must be left to their own devices. If sinners won't listen to you when you've judged them correctly, leave them to God. You've done all you can do, and God will not be mocked. Sadly, the speck bearers will have to learn the hard way.

The next time you hear someone say, "It's wrong to judge" or "Judge not lest ye be judged" or "Don't judge me," please remember the rest of what Jesus said. Jesus didn't stop with a warning about judging. That was only the beginning of an important lesson on how to judge correctly. 

Is there someone whose sin concerns you? Repent first. Then, through God's guidance, you will know how to judge.