Compassion & Humility

Matthew 7:1-11

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 7:1-11 describes the right way to relate to neighbors and to God. Jesus’ words about judging may be the most often misquoted text from the Bible. People frequently apply it as if it were a flat command against all moral judgment. In fact, people use it to judge what they consider a judgmental attitude on the part of another. The scripture, though, is much deeper than the topic of judgment. Jesus delivers a powerful teaching on the importance of compassion and humility. This passage challenges us to look inward. It calls us to approach each situation with a heart full of compassion and a spirit of humility.

Compassion compels us to see beyond the surface of a person’s actions, to consider their struggles, and to respond with kindness rather than condemnation. Humility, on the other hand, keeps us grounded, reminding us of our own imperfections and our need for forgiveness. Together, these virtues create a foundation for relationships built on love, respect, and mutual support.

In a world where quick judgments and harsh criticism are often the norm, Jesus' teachings offer a countercultural approach. They invite us to slow down, reflect on our own lives, and treat others with the same gentleness and mercy that we desire. By embracing compassion and humility, we not only fulfill Jesus’ teachings but also strengthen our connections with others and deepen our relationship with God. These virtues are essential for building a more loving and just community where everyone is valued and understood.

Matthew 7:1–11 (ESV)

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

SCRIPTURAL ANALYSIS

There is an old saying when it comes to studying and interpreting the Bible: "Context is King." When studying the Bible, it is crucial to keep the text within its original context. It is imperative to understand the original meaning and message of scripture. We keep scripture in context to ensure accurate interpretation and application. The Bible is an ancient collection of texts written over centuries by various authors in different historical, cultural, and linguistic settings. Ignoring these contexts can lead to misunderstandings, misapplications, and even the distortion of its messages. Cults often pull scripture out of its context to manipulate and control people. We can better grasp the Bible’s teachings, prevent misinterpretations, and apply its timeless truths to our lives in ways that are faithful to the original intent of the authors and relevant to our contemporary situations when we keep scripture in its original and proper context. So, let's get a proper understanding of these verses, which are some of the most often misunderstood and misquoted passages in the Bible.

Verses 1-6

It is important to understand that Jesus was not making a blanket prohibition against all judgment and discernment. A good summary of his meaning is, “Do not judge others until you are prepared to be judged by the same standard. And then, when you exercise judgment toward others, do it with humility and compassion.” So how it Jesus conveying that message instead of a blanket prohibition?

It is impossible to carry out many of the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount without exercising humble judgment concerning others. It is one thing to exercise judgment, and quite another to have a judgmental attitude. A judgmental attitude is the negative character quality Jesus is prohibiting.

Jesus commands his followers not to be characterized by judgmental attitudes. Jesus knew well our human tendency to take the truth and use it to feed a new kind of hypocritical supremacy. Jesus spent considerable time condemning the religious leaders for their hypocrisy and the outward appearance of righteousness for the acclaim of the people. Now, he acknowledges that his own disciples can fall into hypocrisy.

The Greek word translated judge, condemn, discern is related to the English “critic” and “criticize.” The command at the beginning of chapter 7 is present tense and, therefore, is best rendered as “stop judging.” We are to get rid of a critical spirit but seek to be a discerning person. Jesus is instructing his followers to discern their own faults before examining the faults of others. How often do we criticize others when we have far more serious shortcomings in our own lives? Such behavior offers another example of hypocrisy.

The Greek word translated speck may refer to a small piece of straw, chaff, or wood. It is meant to signify something quite insignificant. On the other hand, the word rendered log describes a piece of lumber used in a building. This saying about the speck and the log is purposely ridiculous and is to be understood as a hyperbolic comparison. One scholar describes this as intentionally grotesque since no one can, in reality, have a log in his eye. It is intended to contrast the meager wrongs that others do to us with the enormous sins that we commit against God. So, its real purpose is to exclude all condemnation of others, not judgments. Jesus’ point was that while we all have sin in our lives (some as small as a speck, some as large as a log), we are responsible for both dealing with our own sin and then helping others. Jesus revealed an incredible understanding of human nature. How easy it is for us to overlook our own sins yet easily spot sin in others.

Verse 5 makes clear that vv. 3–4 do not absolve us of responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Once we have dealt with our own sins, through that experience, we are then in a position to gently and lovingly confront and try to restore others who have erred. The recognition and acknowledgment of our own sins and God’s grace in response should guide us in our response to others' sins.

Verse 6 seems cryptic and unconnected to the immediate context. The phrase do not throw your pearls before swine needs to be carefully analyzed before it is translated. Jesus is using instructive irony: if you view your judgments as pearls of truth that you throw to people you consider pigs and dogs, those pigs will trample your wisdom, and the dogs will turn and tear you to pieces. He’s using irony to drive home the point that Jesus’ followers continuously discern their own faults before compassionately examining the faults of others.

Verses 7-11

Jesus presupposes that his listeners will recall his teaching in the Lord’s prayer in which one insists that God’s will be done. Verses 7–11 are a simple promise that the resources of Heaven are available to the citizens of the Kingdom. The purpose of this section is to advise the believer that God has made available to them heavenly resources with which to accomplish the work of His Kingdom. Jesus told His audience that God wants to give them all they need to perform good works and bring glory to His name.

Ask, seek, and knock means an openness to God for his instruction, guidance, or gifts. All three verbs are in the present tense, conveying a clear picture of persistence in prayer. We could translate 7:7–8 as, “Keep on asking, and it will be given to you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking will continually receive, and he who keeps on seeking will continually find, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.”

The need for persistent prayer is not because God is reluctant to give but because we need to be conditioned to humbly wait and then humbly receive. Prayer requires stamina and persistence. It is those who keep on asking that receive and those who keep on seeking that find. God opens the door to those who keep on knocking. Divine delays do not indicate reluctance on God’s part. In the waiting time, we learn patience, and the intensity of our desire is put to the test. We learn humility by consistently needing to come to God and recognizing our need for Him.

God may not only be trusted to give but to give good things to those who ask him. A father will not give a stone to a son asking for a loaf, or a serpent to a son asking for a fish. God will not give us stones or serpents when we ask for bread or fish, and he will not give us a stone or a serpent even when we are so confused or wayward. Our Lord speaks of God’s children asking him for gifts. Our Lord implies that God’s gifts, like an earthly father’s to his son, are such as really and completely to satisfy the need that is expressing itself.

It should be noted that this teaching is not intended to make prayer into a magical ritual, nor is it to suggest that one can coerce God into acting. The real emphasis is upon the certainty that God will answer the prayer and that it is a prayer that everyone can pray. Only through prayer can believers stay in contact with God, know what he wants them to do, and then have the strength to do God’s will in all areas of life. God will answer humble believers who persistently ask, look, and knock. Our requests must be in harmony with God’s will, accepting his will above our desires.

TODAY’S KEY TRUTH

Compassion and humility are the bridge that connects us to one another and to God.

APPLICATION

What Jesus does here is complex: He creates self-awareness, leading to self-judgment. This leads to humility, which in turn leads to repentance and sanctification. This leads to the kind of compassion that treats other sinners with mercy. It creates a kingdom society shaped not by condemnation but by humility, love, compassion, and forgiveness.

What is Jesus forbidding here? Is he saying, “Don’t ever say to anybody, ‘You’re wrong.’ Don’t criticize anybody. Don’t say anything about their beliefs or behavior. That’s judging”? Today, that’s what a lot of people in our culture think it means. In fact, so often we’re told, “Don’t judge,” meaning, “You don’t tell people their behavior is immoral or wrong. You don’t tell people their beliefs are wrong or bad or anything. That’s judging.” We have a relativistic, individualistic culture that says you must never tell anybody they’re wrong. To tell someone they are wrong today means hate.

Is that what Jesus means? What does Jesus mean by the word judge, “Don’t evaluate? Don’t ever criticize”? No, he can’t mean that. First of all, the way Americans think of judging doesn’t work, because when you say, “You should never negatively evaluate behavior, you should never tell people they’re wrong,” at that moment, you’re telling the person that they’re wrong for judging behavior negatively, which means you’re doing the very thing you said they’re not supposed to do. You’re judging their judging. The American understanding of judging doesn’t really work.

Jesus doesn’t mean you shouldn’t criticize. What he means is you shouldn’t judge in the sense of condemning and superiority to someone. You shouldn’t judge in the sense of self-righteousness, anger, and condescension. There should be no desire to hurt them, to get them out of your life, and to write them off. Jesus says you must never treat people like that. There must be humility, there must be respect, and there must be a desire to maintain and strengthen the relationship, not to destroy it.

Look at Jesus’ metaphor. When you have some splinter or something in your eye, it destroys your ability to see out of the eye. You’re blinking. You’re watering. You can’t see. What is that a metaphor for, spiritually? When you have a sin in your soul, you have something lodged in your soul; it destroys your ability to really see. Are you beginning to realize what’s going on here? We do need people to come and tell us the truth, show us where we’re not seeing things straight, show us the things that have lodged in our souls. We need that. We need evaluation. We need people to come and talk to us, but we need people to tell us our flaws the way a person gets a speck out of their eye. How do you do that? Very carefully.

In other words, Jesus is saying, “Unless your sins loom large to you, unless you see your sins as greater than other people’s sins, you’re not going to be able to help them with theirs.” When we think about this, we know it is true. Don’t you know your own heart better than anybody else’s? I do. I know a thousand times more about what goes on in my heart than I do about anybody else’s. I know far more about what goes on in my heart and all my thoughts in my mind. I know way more about my own heart than anybody else’s. So why is it that I don’t see my own pettiness, my own self-pity, my own self-centeredness, my own sins, my own anger as a big problem? Why don’t I see my own flaws a thousand times bigger than anybody else’s? I don’t, and you don’t either. Do you know why? Because there’s something really wrong with our hearts. We want grace for ourselves, and harsh judgments for others.

When Christians develop this critical, condemning attitude as a pattern of life, they force love out of their relationships with others. A mark of mature Christians is they help others remove the “speck” of sin from each other's lives, but it must come from a humble and self-examined life that has continually worked to remove the plank of their own sin and self-righteous judgment.

Shouldn't your sins look bigger if you know your heart a thousand times better than anybody? Too often, other people’s sins loom larger, and that just shows how disordered and deceptive our own hearts can be. Jesus is saying if you want to help other people with their specks (and we need that help), you have to see your own sins as greater than other people’s. You have to be humbled by that knowledge of your sins. What’s in your eye should look huge to you. Once you realize that you’re more proud, more self-centered, more petty, and more sinful, then you’re going to be speaking the truth in love with compassion and humility.

Compassion and humility are the bridge that connects us to one another and to God.

CONCLUSION

Jesus also emphasized the importance of humility in our relationship with God, particularly in how we prayerfully seek His guidance and provision. Jesus encourages us to ask, seek, and knock, promising that God will respond to our needs. Jesus is highlighting the necessity of recognizing our own limitations and dependence on God. Jesus is making a profound statement on humility. Humility is key in this process, as it allows us to approach God with a sincere heart, acknowledging that we cannot achieve our desires or navigate life’s challenges on our own.

Jesus makes a simple promise that the resources of Heaven are available to the citizens of the Kingdom who humbly approach the King. Humility shapes our understanding of God’s nature as a loving and generous Father who desires to give good gifts to His children. By relying on God rather than our own strength, we open ourselves to His wisdom and blessings. This humble reliance fosters a deeper trust in God’s care and provision, reinforcing our relationship with Him. Ultimately, humility in seeking God reminds us that we are not self-sufficient, but rather deeply reliant on His grace, guidance, and love, which He offers abundantly to those who persistently come to Him with a humble heart.

Compassion and humility are the bridge that connects us to one another and to God.

Compassion and humility serve as vital connectors in our relationships with others and with God. These virtues enable us to understand and empathize with others, fostering deeper, more meaningful connections. Compassion allows us to see beyond our own perspectives, while humility keeps us grounded, reminding us of our shared humanity and our shared dependence on God. Together, compassion and humility form a bridge that unites us in love, mutual respect, and spiritual growth. By practicing compassion and humility, we strengthen our bonds with each other and draw closer to God. That’s when we reflect His love and grace in our daily lives.

Compassion and humility are the bridge that connects us to one another and to God.

We all need grace. We all need mercy. And we all need forgiveness. When we approach God acknowledging our sin, we are humble and seek God’s compassion. How marvelous is His compassion that He freely forgives us, time and time again? God handles us lovingly and compassionately.

After that, Jesus says, go and do likewise. We are to handle our neighbors with the same humility and compassion. Yes, there may be sin in their lives, but we know our sin, too. We connect to our neighbors with that bridge of compassion and humility, and in doing so, we connect even deeper with God.

Compassion and humility are the bridge that connects us to one another and to God.