Matthew 7:1-5
“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at 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,’ and look, the log is 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!”
This is an often misunderstood scripture. What He means is that we aren’t to be judgmental. As we look at the sermon on the mount we can see it. Look at the beatitudes. Blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart. Then there is the talk about murder being hatred in one’s heart. There is to be no judgmentalism.
The examples in today’s passage explain what Jesus is talking about. These are merciless with others and excuse themselves for much more. The log verses the speck. That’s hypocrisy. It’s ok to see the speck, but we must have checked ourselves. We’ll see we do much the same thing. This helps us with being merciful. It also helps us to be humble when approaching others.
What is Jesus not talking about? Using proper judgment. The next verse says not to cast pearls before swine. To follow this command we must use some type of judgment. We are deciding if someone is a swine or not. Some have called it being a fruit inspector.
Not being judgmental fits right in with Jesus’ message. We are to be gentle, humble and meek. There are times when we speak the truth. It shouldn’t be discolored with any sour attitudes. Galatians 6:1 shows the spirit in which we talk to someone who is in error, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” We are gentle because we know that we could be in that spot easily.
The pharisees were judgmental. It angered Jesus. He called them out often. They had such pride that His actions infuriated them. It was a war. However, He was gentle with some of them. Nicodemus was one. He wasn’t a swine, but was humble and open. John 3 shares the story.
There were others in whom Jesus dialogued with. Luke 10:25-28 says, ‘And behold, a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”’
Lord, help us to be gentle and humble. You do ask us to share the truth with others at times. Help us to bath that in prayer. Help us to check ourselves. Help us to not be judgmental.