2. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3. "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?
4. 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?
Jesus tells His hearers not to be critical of other people since you have so many faults that need to be dealt with yourself. We need to look at the first area of responsibility, and ask ourselves, are we living to please the Lord? Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."
Pastor George Truett talked about some hyper-critical individuals who accused a sister believer of a minor infraction of the Church covenant. With an air of self-righteousness, they suggested that her name be removed from the membership roll. The poor woman admitted she had made a mistake and asked forgiveness, and promised to do better, but they felt no mercy. Disturbed by their attitude, Truett got the treasurer’s record which revealed what they had given, and the report of their meager contributions and left them shamefaced. He said, “On the same harsh basis of judgment you applied to your fellow member, I suppose we should also vote to crop everyone here who has violated God's law against covetousness." The self-examining attitude says before I can look at the speck in my brother’s eye, I need to get things straightened out with God in my own life.
In marriage counseling often one spouse cites the cruel and unfair treatment the mate has done. Seldom does someone come and tell how they have failed in the marriage. How some people can carry grudges and bitterness for years makes me think they better be faultless, which the Bible says they are not, for all of us have sinned and all of us need to be forgiven and forgive. There is nothing within the power of any individual that we ourselves are not incapable of doing. There but for the grace of God go I.
By dealing with our own motives and behavior we can become better able to evaluate others with righteousness and have truth tempered by mercy
The priority is to take the log out of our own eye and then, with the clarity of vision, we will be able to take the speck out of another’s. Jesus is condemning the attitude that seeks to criticize others before we examine our own sins and shortcomings.
Kenneth Roundhill tells of a missionary to India who wrote, "If there is one thing more than anything else that I believe retards the spiritual progress of the church in this country it is the almost total lack of capacity for self-criticism." How we need to learn to see ourselves as God sees us and allow Him to tell us through whom He will. Instead of praying for the problems of others, our first prayer should be Psalm 139:23 "Search me, O God and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting."
One church member stood before a church that was struggling with critical attitude and said, "Last night I had a dream in which we all got together to plan the best way to clean up our dirty meeting house. Many suggestions were made, but no conclusion was reached. Finally, one person stood to his feet and said, Friends, I think if we'd each take a broom and begin sweeping around our own seat, the place would be cleaned up very quickly."
Prayer: We pray with You Jesus from Your High Priesstly Prayer, "that we may all be one".
