“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.” – Matthew 7:3-5
One common theme heard in our society is “no one should judge me.” Many people want to make pleasurable or selfish choices with no feedback or condemnation from others – especially from Christians.
In their defense, many will quote the verse found in Matthew 7:1, which says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” They use this verse as an excuse to live as they please without ever being rebuked.
While we all are sinners and fall short of the glory of God, Jesus did not halt the discussion about judging others after the first verse of Matthew 7. Because God often uses the wisdom and insight of others to bring awareness to our sinful behaviors, it is essential we learn how to reprove others in a gentle and Biblical way.
As followers of Christ, we are encouraged to constantly examine ourselves. We are quick to find faults and flaws in other people, yet carnal desires rest in our own hearts. We may feel tempted to condemn another for sexual sin, but are we living sexually pure ourselves? We may feel tempted to condemn another for lying or cheating, but are we living virtuously and truthfully in all that we say and do? We may feel tempted to condemn another for making an unwise financial decision, but are all of our monetary affairs in order? Furthermore, what motivates us to judge others? Are we judging them because we feel superior when we do so? Or, are we sincerely concerned about their well-being and the potential consequences of their choices?
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” As a community of believers, we are charged with holding one another accountable to the tenets of our faith. If we discover that our brother or sister in Christ is tempted to cheat on their spouse, we should suggest the support and resources needed to stay faithful in their marriage. If we discover that our brother or sister in Christ is tempted to follow a crowd that engages in dangerous or reckless behavior, we are to encourage them instead to seek friendships and relationships that will deepen their faith and strengthen their walk.
But as the versus in Matthew 7 remind us, we are to do this carefully and mindfully. First, we are to take the proverbial plank out of our own eye. Meaning, before I confront my friend about their transgression, I need to ensure that particular area of my own life is free of sin. If I struggle with pride and arrogance, I should not be the one to call out those same characteristics in my friend. When I remove sinful behaviors from my own life, then “I will see clearly to remove the speck from my brother’s eye.”
While we are not to judge one another out of malice, anger, or feelings of superiority, we are called to convey the truth found in God’s Word, as lovingly and as gently as we can. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” We should confront one another so that we can be convicted by the Holy Spirit of our transgressions, and thus have the opportunity to live life to the fullest. The fullness of life is found through accepting Christ as our Savior, being obedient to God’s will, and rejecting that which the Lord detests.
As we move forward in a culture that frequently rejects being corrected or rebuked, may we personally move ever closer to righteousness. May we pray for wisdom and compassion, so that we can clearly see how to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24).
