Photo by Emmanuel Wambugu on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3
Jesus is not afraid to ask the tough questions. His intention is for us to reflect on our heart’s condition so we may grow in Him. With these questions He prunes away our bad habits, our sinful nature, and any wrongful judgmental attitudes. With this question Jesus probes our heart for balance between judgment and reproof.
This question isn’t telling us not to judge. It is not telling us to turn a blind eye to sin and join in. Nor does it require we be accepting of sin in our lives or the lives of our Christian brothers and sisters. Jesus’ question probes how our sin measures up to the sin we condemn in someone else. Jesus is telling us to take care of our mess before we judgmentally condemn another.
Our model is Jesus. We are told to be like Him. When He was confronted by the woman caught in adultery, He first asked her condemners if they were sinless, and if so, they could throw the first stone. None were, and they left her alone with Jesus. Jesus spoke to the woman.
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11
Jesus didn’t condemn her because He had come to save the lost. If she obeyed His command, and accepted Jesus as her Savior, we will see her in Heaven.
Condemnation of the lost wasn’t something Jesus ever did, and we aren’t to do it either. Jesus cried over the lost sheep of Israel. He warned the scribes and pharisees of their judgmental and haughty attitude. He scolded them for making rules and laws that weren’t Biblical, that they didn’t even follow but expected of others. Hypocrisy is the point of Jesus question.
Jesus commanded us to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. He commanded we have compassion as He had compassion. We should lovingly tell other how to live a life free from sin in the power of the Holy Spirit and invite them to accept Jesus as their Savior. Some non-Christians call us judgmental for the attempt. If our asking them to look at their life, and to turn to Christ isn’t accepted by them, they condemn themselves. We have done our job by trying to show them a better way.
Contemplation: Am I witnessing to the lost or judging them unfairly? Do I have unrepented sin in my life that I need to deal with?
