Disciples Address Other’s Specks Only After Removing the Log in Their Own Eyes
Matthew 7:3-5
“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? 5 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.” ~ Jesus
Dallas Willard, a long-time disciple of Jesus, was a deep thinker of the impact of God’s Word on His people. He found a great way to encapsulate the teaching Jesus shares in these words: “Eliminate condemnation and then help.” (The Divine Conspiracy, p. 224).
Rather than try to describe “the log” in our eye as various sins each of us might struggle with, he saw the log as an attitude of condemnatory judging. We would do well to suspend judgment of others before we address any issues with them.
Prayer For the Week
Lord Jesus Christ, show me how to remove the log from my eye that I may see others clearly like You do – or at least more clearly than I see currently. I know that I can be blind to my own faults. Let Your Holy Spirit remove and blinders – with gentleness. Thank You Jesus. Amen.
Listen to the Sermon on the Mount Podcast
Episode 30
Is There Ever a Time to Judge Others?
After the four-part section on our relationship to money, Jesus turns to addressing relationships with each other. He begins with the command to not judge. But judging can mean condemnation – or it can mean evaluation. When is it acceptable to judge someone? And what does that mean for how we will be judged? In this episode, Tim and Jon unpack a challenging command that calls for a deep understanding of God’s generosity to compel us to respond generously to each other.
https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/there-ever-time-judge-others/
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 103:1-6
- Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name. - Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits— - who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases, - who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion, - who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. - The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
Read the verses of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask Him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Pondering Point
While we don’t want to dwell on our sin, there is a benefit to remembering where we have been and the grace God has been pouring out to us over the years.