SPLINTERS AND LOGS
MATTHEW 7:1-5
MATTHEW 7:1-5 NKJ
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
OBSERVATION:
There is a slang phrase that I always thought was pretty catchy. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Or in other words, be aware of what you are doing before you wind up in a difficult situation. I like the check yourself version better.
In our passage for today, Jesus is giving us a check yourself warning. "Judge not that you be not judged."
The Amplified Bible gives a clearer definition of judge not. "Do not judge and criticize and condemn (others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge). "Whew! Easy to see why they call this the Amplified version. But judge, criticize and condemn and acting like a judge is clear.
Then Jesus goes on to share what this judging looks like. Someone sees a splinter in their brother's eye but does not notice the log in their own eye. So this attitude is what is wrong. Someone has a small problem, but we notice their issue and miss our own big problem.
Jesus tells us what to do. Fix the log in our own eye before we start working on other people's splinters.
In essence, work on yourself before you start to straighten out and correct everyone else. Chances are getting rid of our logs will keep us so busy we will not have time to observe and criticize and condemn others.
APPLICATION:
It is just not my place to judge, criticize and condemn others.
In Galatians 6:1, Paul encourages spiritual people to restore someone who is caught up in a sin or damaging situation. Restoring is a far cry from judging.
We will always need discernment as we encounter the family of God in our path. But again, the goal is restoration and encouragement.
Wouldn't it be great to have a built-in judgment detector on our computer or phone that warned us if we are being judgmental? Even better to have a judgment detector in our heart!
PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for helping me focus on fixing me before I try to fix others.