Scripture

“Hypocrite! First, get rid of the log in your own eye then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

Observation

We are not to leap to judgement about others because we will reap what we sow. The standard we use in judging others is the standard God will use against us.

We must not worry about the speck in our friend’s eye when we have a log in our own eye. We must get rid of the log in our own eye to help the friend with their speck.

We should not waste holy teaching and wisdom on people who don’t want to receive it. They will trample the teaching and then use it to attack us.

Application

We are under constant temptation to judge other people – our co-workers, family members, celebrities, and politicians.

Jesus tells us to stop doing this. The word judge means to condemn or pass sentence. We find people guilty and condemn them without taking the time to find out why they do things.

We find fault with other people and offer to help them, even when we are guilty of far greater sins or even the same sins.

Jesus doesn’t tell us, we shouldn’t help people become better people or stronger believers. We do have to deal with our own sins first so that we can be genuinely helpful.

This takes a measure of humility in which we acknowledge that we are as guilty as anyone else. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans. 3:23)

To be able to help another person. I must first acknowledge my own weakness. I confess my “logs” to God and ask Him to remove him so that I can be useful to others.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you that you are removing the logs in my eyes. Please keep me free from the sins of self-righteousness and pride. Amen.