1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 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.”
3 “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? 4 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.”
In our verses for today Jesus warns against the hypocritical judging of another. Our Lord’s Word shuns a pious sanctimonious attitude that tears others down rather than seeks to help build them up. We are to strictly judge and scrutinize ourselves and our own actions (which should keep us quite busy!) yet we are not to judge our brothers. The traits we often dislike in others are so often the habits we dislike in ourselves �� our unbridled and untamed passions and habits are the very ones we seem to want to change in those around us. We are to judge ourselves first so that we will be fit to help those in our spheres. An empty cup has nothing to give.
“How should divine justice spare the sinner, who knows the right, approves it, and professes to follow it, and all the while loves the evil, and gives it dominion in his heart?” Charles H. Spurgeon
The Bible teaches us to both think rightly and to live rightly which enables us to live a life of value both to ourselves and to others. When we presume to judge those in our spheres, God states He will use on us the same measurement of judgment we have used (ouch!). FYI we are not to indulge in wrong thinking either – whether we speak the words or not (ouch, ouch!). Scripture does tell us, however, that we are called to counsel and reprove one another but we are not to judge. This requires of us to have a proper attitude of humility and love – seeking what’s best for the one we counsel. This is a great duty and may very well be a means of saving a soul from death. We are to deal with others the same way the Lord Jesus has dealt with us – full of mercy and love. We must constantly beware that we are not guilty of the same shameful faults. Those struggling often need our encouragement and not our criticism – to be built up rather than to be torn to shreds. That is exactly what Jude states:
22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 1:22-23 (NIV)
“Oh! that I had a trumpet voice to warn you. Oh! while you are dying, while you are sinking into perdition, may I not cry to you; may not these eyes weep for you! Take to heart, I beseech you, the realities of eternity. Oh, turn, turn! Why will you die? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and ye shall be saved.” Charles H. Spurgeon at Exeter Hall on Sunday morning, February 26, 1869
God is the only One Who is able to correctly discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart and actions therefore we are not to be uncharitable or unmerciful, judging with spirits of revenge, hypocrisy, pride or of harm. Duplicity is abominable to God and His soul hates hypocrisy. These are but planks in our own eyes causing us not to be able to help our brothers. Anytime we are severe on the faults of others while indulging in like behavior we are nothing more than hypocrites. I must first reform myself in order that I may help to reform my brother qualifying myself to reprove him. We must remember Scripture tells us that mercy ever triumphs over judgment. James writes:
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:12-14 (NIV)
“The pearl of justice is found in the heart of mercy.” Catherine of Siena
“Nothing graces the Christian soul as much as mercy.” Ambrose
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 (NIV)