Friday 13th September
Read 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? 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.” (NIVUK)
One of the key reason’s Jesus warns His followers to not be judgmental is outlined here. If the first is to remember that we ourselves will be judged (v1), and the second is that we will be judged according to our own attitudes, and fail (v2), then the third is that we are simply not equipped to judge at all.
We are simply not rigorous enough in applying the standards we apply to others to ourselves. We are figuratively and literally blind to our own unrighteousness. Our desire for truth and righteousness in all things, namely those around us, is belied by our unwillingness to root out the unrighteousness within our own hearts.
Those with a full knowledge of their own ‘planks’ are humble enough not to seek specks in others. It really is amazing that despite this Jesus still chose to die for us.
