Plank Eye

Matthew 7:1 - "Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

Why is it that in our lives we always want to place judgment on every one else? We seem so quick to judge, yet fail to see our own shortcomings. I mean, how many times have you played the blame game? I remember when I was growing up as a teenager; I was so quick to point my finger at others. If not verbally, I was sure to point out their faults in my head. One time specifically, I can remember telling my brother that something he was doing was wrong. He turned to me and said, “You only use God and the Bible when it’s convenient for you, and you’re not perfect”. He continued on to show me how blind I was to my own sinful way.

Christ tells us very descriptively the ramifications of casting judgment. Matthew 7:2 “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” But what exactly does that mean? I believe that 1 Corinthians 11:28 and 11:31-32 explains it very clearly. 1 Corinthians 11:28 “But let a man examine himself…” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 “(31) But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord…” If we judge others while in the power of the flesh and fail to "examine ourselves", then we invite discipline from the Lord. If we feel the need to reprove others, we must first “judge ourselves rightly” (walking by the filling ministry of the Holy Spirit), lest we open ourselves up for Divine Discipline.

Even though we read the Words of Jesus regarding “judging”, we are still so quick to pass judgment. You see in my example above I didn’t even hesitate to judge my brother. Pointing fingers is always such an easy thing to do as long as those fingers are pointed at someone else. But it becomes very difficult to point those same fingers at ourselves. Matthew 7:3-4 “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?

The problem is that we want to place ourselves on a higher pedestal than the liar, the thief, the adulterer, the murderer, or the drug dealer. The world feeds our own self-righteousness by telling us that we have a more valuable “status” or “reputation”, than these individuals. We "appear' to be a “better person”,don't we? Christ, however, knows better. He knows our heart. The sins we commit in our closet are not any less of a sin just because no one see them. Neither are they any less of a sin, because we feel that they are “sins of a lesser degree”.

Does this mean that we should never tell other believers that what they are doing is wrong? Of course not, we still need to hold others accountable, but only after we hold ourselves accountable. Matthew 7:5 “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.” We must first “examine ourselves” and be filled by means of the Spirit before we try to “examine” others. If we approach a believer while walking by the Spirit, then it is not pointing fingers, but seen as more of a counseling opportunity. Let’s remember before casting judgment on others, we should ask ourselves. “Am I in the power of the flesh and just pointing fingers, or is this conversation led by the Spirit? " This will make the all the difference between pointing the finger of judgment, and lending a hand to help.