It appears that amongst us as believers, we are quick to make critical judgment of our brothers who are unlike us or who worship in a different manner than we are accustomed to. At times we mask our judging as godly concern and request prayer for a fellow brother while making judgment of his character, his behavior, or his way of life.
Jesus strongly condemns the one who judges another. He makes the contrast between the speck and the log. The speck is a tiny sliver in the eye of the one who is being judged whereas the log, a massive piece of wood that is used to support a large structure, is in the eye of the one who is making the judgment. The log that Jesus is speaking about is the worst of sins, that of judging another (because in pride, we elevate ourselves to the level of God, who alone is judge). "Hypocrite" is the name he gives to the one who judges another.
What is more, the log in my eye obstructs my perception, because it conceals the truth about myself and severely distorts my image of Jesus. It also limits the way I see my fellow brother, because I cannot see him through the eyes of Jesus. In judging my brother I put myself into bondage since I resist the truth about myself. Knowing the truth about what I really am will set me free.
I need to wrench out of own eye the log, the thing that constantly causes me to stumble, that blinds me from seeing things as they really are. This can be a painful act as I acknowledge myself to be the greatest of all sinners, as Paul the apostle did. But only when such a transformation takes place in me will I be free to live as Jesus meant. Then I leave the judging of others to the righteous judge who is God alone.
"So then, let us stop judging one another. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make others stumble or fall into sin." (Romans 14:13)
- 17 MARCH -