“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment 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 your eye,’ when there is the 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. “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. (Matthew 7:1-6 ESV)
1. You will be Judged by the Same Standard you use with others (7:2)
It is easier to apply a stricter set of rules and regulations to others that it is to ourselves sometimes. We see others faults much more clearly than our own. We can be pretty harsh critics and most of us can be pretty good at fault-finding. Think about this though, we should be expected to be judged for our faults to the same degree that we judge others. I don’t know about you, but this makes me back off the need to be a harsh critic sometimes.
2. Sometimes the sin you see the most in others is the same sin you struggle with (7:4).
Ever notice how both the speck and the log were in the eye. It’s easy to call out people who have sin in the same areas that we struggle. This past week I have heard so many people condemn a girl about getting pregnant outside of marriage (don’t get me wrong… sex outside of marriage is a sin). Though she is repentant she will feel shame for a while, her sin has become obvious to the world and is no longer private. However, some of the people who seemed to take a perverse pleasure in her dilemma had requested help earlier for their struggle with pornography. It’s easy to see in others the sin we struggle with.
3. It is difficult to do the right thing with the right motives (7:5).
It might be the right thing to lovingly confront a brother about his sin. ( I would want to be confronted about mine.) However it can be difficult to do it in a way that glorifies God and does not promote your own ego.
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People try to be righteous (right before God) in three different ways.
- Some try to do as much good as they can hoping God will overlook the bad things they have done.
- Some point out the flaws of others around them and say that since they are not as bad as others they must be okay.
- Some come to God knowing that there is nothing that they can do on their own and so they humbly trust in what Jesus Christ has done for them to save them.
The first group points to their deeds, the second points to their lack of bad deeds, the third points to Jesus Christ as a their source of Righteousness. Which group do you think is actually right before God?
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