THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT - Matthew 7:1-5

When people develop their own standard of religion and morality, they inevitably judge by their own standards. The scribes and Pharisees had done just that. Over time they gradually modified God's Word to fit their own way of life. By the time Jesus came on the scene, their traditions had taken such a hold on Judaism that it replaced Scripture. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy by pointing to a higher standard for judging. He uses the present imperative in verse 1, "stop at once judging." That word "to judge" means "to separate, choose, select, or distinguish." In John 17:24, Jesus warns, "stop judging by mere appearance; judge righteous judgment."

What was He trying to teach us? Simply that we don't know a person's motives and therefore, we judge from a prejudicial point-of view. When we do that, we tend to "separate, select, or decide" based on external forms. Think of the times you may have passed judgment on another person: by the way they look or looked at you; the snide remark made; their past or present performances; their background or ethnicity. Paul warns in Romans 14:13, "stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."

The illustration in verses 3-5 is metaphorically graphic! "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." We can easily identify with part of that picture, can't we? Drive down a dusty road with the window down and suddenly a speck of dust gets in your eye, momentarily blinding you. Thankfully tears helped to wash it out. But "a plank!" What is the point? Too often we judge others because we are hiding behind hypocrisy and by judging others we get the spotlight off of us. That is what the Pharisees were doing! The outside looked good but inwardly they were corrupt. It was a glaring case of inconsistency. Jesus' warning in verse 5 is poignant: "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." Before we qualify to help others, we need to make sure we examine our own hearts through honest transparency (2 Cor.3:18) and confession (I John 1:9). Otherwise in judging others we "divide, select,or choose" based on our prejudices and not the Word of God. Galatians 6:1 reminds us that "if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual restore him gently." God is in the business of restoration , uniting, and healing. He taught by example! Should our lives be any different?