Matthew 7:1-5 Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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 out of your eye” when there is a 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.
Judgment hurts and divides while love unites and heals. Before moving on it is important to define those terms. “Judging” is making an opinion using some criteria. In a court of law a judgment is the legal opinion of guilt or innocence. In a talent contest it is an opinion of who performed the best. The judging Jesus is referring to here is making an opinion about another person based on wrong criteria.
The proper criterion that we should use to form an opinion about other people is love. Christians are commanded to love each other (John 15:12). Loving someone means we will be patient, kind, and humble (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) towards them. If we base our opinions about someone on patience, kindness, and humility then we may recognize their faults but we will focus on their possibilities and want what is best for them.
Every person has faults and weaknesses. We all struggle with sin(s). Yet there is something deep in the human psyche that lets each of us clearly see flaws in others while minimizing our own issues. That is why the Bible tells us to examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28, 2 Corinthians 13:5). If we prayerfully look at our hearts and lives, God will show us the areas we need to work on. We can then repent of sins and grow in our relationship with Him.
When Christians read this passage they often mistakenly think it is telling them not to concern themselves with their brother’s sin. That is not the case at all. Sin kills. If we see something killing our brother we should act. Notice in verse 5 Jesus says that once we have removed the log from our own eye we can help our brother with his speck.
No one will ever be fully free from sin as long as they live in their mortal bodies. However, if we are regularly examining ourselves and growing in our relationship with God then He can allow us to be part of the process to set other people free from the sins they struggle with. Many times it is the fact that we have dealt with a certain sin in own life that we are prepared to help another overcome it.
When we see our brother’s speck we should ask God how to proceed. If He guides us to help we should do so with love and humility knowing we still have many specks/logs of our own. At the same time, if someone mentions a speck that we have, we should respond with that same love and humility.
A healthy relationship with God is one where we are growing closer to Him. A healthy relationship with our brothers (and sisters) is where we are helping each other grow closer to God.
Lord God, please show me the areas of my life that are not pleasing to You. Grant me the grace to repent and change those areas. If You lead me to assist someone else to overcome a sin problem, please give me the right attitude and motivation to do so.