Matthew 7.1-6
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “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.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Personal Reflections Jesus first teaches that we should not judge (Mt 7.1). In fact, he teaches that we should dispense our advice to others sparingly and selectively lest they scorn it and attack us (Mt 7.6). Yet, he also tells us that we need to see clearly before we remove the speck from our brother’s eye. It seems then that “do not judge” is different from do not point out your brother’s or sister’s fault. The former, we are forbidden to do; but the latter, we are told to do.
So how and when do we point out your brother’s or sister’s fault? We do so by first removing the plank (faults and sins that are even greater) out of our own eyes. But how do we do that, since the plank itself would obscure our own sight? Do you first desire to have God remove your own faults and sins? Do you have a community of trusted friends whom you can invite to point out your blind spots to you, lovingly and truthfully?
Comments