the scripture does say in some places that we are to judge certain things. we're to judge ourselves and we're to judge certain matters. but there are other times it says, don't do this.
romans 2.1-3 (ms), those people are on a dark spiral downward. but if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. it takes one to know one. judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. but GOD isn't so easily diverted. HE sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you've done. you didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract GOD from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?
listen, i don't have any right to speak up, to judge you, to criticize you, if i lack the personal integrity where i'm guilty too.
do you remember the woman caught in adultery? what did JESUS say to the pharisees? he who is without sin cast the first stone. and they all walked away.
that's what GOD is saying here. i don't have any right to judge anyone else if i'm guilty of the same thing. we need to be consistent.
matthew 7.3-5 (niv), 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 there is a plank in your own eye? you hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye and then you can see clearly to remove the speck in your brother's eye.
now JESUS is talking here in HIS famous sermon on the mount. and this is a good example of the fact that JESUS told jokes. hebrew humor is humor by exaggeration. HE said this in exaggeration and i'm sure the disciples got a big laugh.
now just imagine two guys: one guy has got some sawdust in his eye and the other has a telephone pole hanging out his eye. JESUS is making a point here with humor. HE is saying it is wrong to judge when it blinds me to my own faults. if judging you causes me to not look at myself realistically, then it's wrong. we are great speck analyzers, nitpicking specks, when we have a logjam in our own eye.
the message paraphrase of matthew 7.1-5 says, don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. that critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. it's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. do you have the nerve to say, "let me wash your face for you," when your own face is distorted by contempt? it's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
listen, if you tell people that you are a follower of CHRIST then you need to act like HIM and then you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
we are so confused many times at what CHRIST really wants from us.
just some thoughts from the front porch...
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