In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus advises us in unambiguous terms not to judge others:
This advice isn’t always easy to follow, but it’s one of Jesus’ more strongly worded commandments. And as I reread this familiar passage, I gave some thought to the “wooden beam” in the eye of the person who judges. I’d always thought of that wooden beam as being any of a number of sins that we commit. It could be lying or coveting, committing adultery or stealing, etc.
But perhaps the wooden beam is the act of judging others, and our vision is blocked by the beam because we can no longer focus on the things we need to be working on. Perhaps we allow ourselves to be blinded by deliberately obscuring our vision as we look at the faults of others.
What do you think?
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye.”
This advice isn’t always easy to follow, but it’s one of Jesus’ more strongly worded commandments. And as I reread this familiar passage, I gave some thought to the “wooden beam” in the eye of the person who judges. I’d always thought of that wooden beam as being any of a number of sins that we commit. It could be lying or coveting, committing adultery or stealing, etc.
But perhaps the wooden beam is the act of judging others, and our vision is blocked by the beam because we can no longer focus on the things we need to be working on. Perhaps we allow ourselves to be blinded by deliberately obscuring our vision as we look at the faults of others.
What do you think?
Love your blog! I am following!
ReplyDeleteMonique xx
misszuman.blogspot.com
Great post....it IS hard to do most of the time, but something very important that we need to work on!
ReplyDeleteNo apology needed! My party is for ALL hodgepodge and your post is great! Something we all need to hear. Thank you for joining in!
ReplyDelete~Gay~
itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com
Interesting thought! Its amazing how God will show you things in a different light of what you had already read before...to me it is His bits of gold nuggets that He gives us...because we are His treasure! Great thought provoking post!
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