PARABLES OF JESUS - THE SPECK AND THE LOG

THE HEART OF JUDGMENT - SPECK AND LOG MATTHEW 7:1-6

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Before the holiday Mike spoke on Esther and Mordaci and last week Dr Craft spoke on Revelation 3:7-13 and the church in Philadephia.

The week before I spoke on the parable of the Good Shepherd and how Jesus as our Good Shepherd Guides, Protects, and Saves.

This week our final parable is that of the Speck and the Log or Mote and Beam in the KJV.

Let us Pray!

Matthew 7:1-5: "The Heart of Judgment"

Matthew 7:1-5 – “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.

Main Theme: Jesus teaches about the dangers of judgment, the importance of self-examination, and the call to show mercy and humility in our interactions with others.

I. The Command: "Do Not Judge" (Matthew 7:1-2) – “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.

A. Explanation of the Command

Jesus warns against judgmental attitudes – not to judge the motives or conscience of other believers, (jumping to conclusions), analyzing and evaluating others, urging believers not to condemn others or avenge –

James 4:12 – There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Judgment here refers to the critical, condemning spirit that assumes the worst of others and elevates one’s own perspective above others.

Jesus is not forbidding discernment (as seen in Matthew 7:15-20, where we are called to discern false prophets), but prohibiting harsh, unmerciful judgment.

Matthew 18:15 – “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

B. Illustration: The Mirror and the Lens

Imagine looking through a magnifying lens at someone else's fault—a speck in their eye. While focusing on it, the mirror on your own face (your sin, your shortcomings) remains ignored.

Jesus calls us out on the hypocrisy we tend to fall into

How can see call out someone else for something so small when we have major issues in our lives?

C. Application

Before passing judgment, ask: "Am I looking through a lens of grace, or a lens of condemnation?"

Speak truth in love – that is where grace comes in

Ephesians 4:15 – Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, bb

The way we judge others will be the standard by which we will be judged (v. 2). Are we extending mercy and grace or harshness and criticism?

Jesus reminds us many times how we treat others we will be treated the same

Matthew 6:12 – and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

II. The Hypocrisy of Judgment (Matthew 7:3-4) – 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?

A. The Parable of the Speck and the Log

Jesus in the middle of the sermon on the mount warns of hypocrisy – make people take notice when they help the poor, praying loudly on the street or wearing sackcloth and ashes as they fast (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16)

Jesus uses a hyperbole which is a humorous and purposeful exaggeration; If I told you once I told you a million times

This hyperbole is an exaggerated image of someone trying to remove a speck from another person’s eye while having a log in their own. This is a metaphor for the hypocrisy that often underlies judgmental attitudes.

The "log" represents the sin or fault in our own life, while the "speck" represents the small fault in another's life.

We tend to ignore our shortcomings, missteps, mistakes and sins while not only noticing but pointing out to other believers their own.

Romans 14:4a - Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?

Psalm 34:13 – Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Consecrate self— David’s prayer here should be ours, also. Psalm 139:23–24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

B. Illustration: The "Giant Thumb"

Imagine trying to help a friend with a splinter in their finger, but you're wearing a giant foam thumb. You can’t effectively help them because the giant thumb (representing your own flaws) is in the way. Your judgmental actions are ineffective and obstructive when you haven’t dealt with your own issues first.

C. Application

Jesus is not saying that we should ignore the faults of others, but rather that we should first address our own spiritual failures and shortcomings. Only after we've humbly dealt with our own sin can we help others.

Help not judge

Are we more focused on pointing out the flaws in others while overlooking our own?

III. The Call to Self-Examination and Restoration (Matthew 7:5-6)

A. Self-Examination

Jesus commands: "First take the plank out of your own eye," implying the need for introspection, repentance, and humility before offering help to others.

The key to loving and helping others is not in self-righteous criticism but in self-reflection, humility, and a heart of compassion.

It is easier to judge others than to make changes in our lives

But also don’t go to the other far extreme and give spiritual matters to those who do not believe – who battle against God – do not allow them to speak into your life or give you direction

B. Illustration: The Surgeon and the Patient

A surgeon who seeks to help a patient remove a tumor must first ensure that their own hands are clean, steady, and equipped. Likewise, before addressing another's spiritual "tumor," we need to tend to our own heart, ensuring that we are right with God and motivated by love.

James 4:7-8 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Before we can help others, we must be right with God. One cannot live hypocritically and be able to help others spiritually

What we are to judge is who we should allow to speak into our lives and share spiritual truth and insight with – do share God’s gifts with those who will abuse or mock God with them

C. Application

Spiritual maturity involves growing in humility and in the ability to offer restoration rather than condemnation.

We can only help restore when we are not weighed down by our own sin and we have strategies

Before pointing out someone's faults, ask: "How can I approach this with grace? Am I motivated by love and restoration or by judgment and pride?"

Am I trying to build them up or am I tearing them down?

Closing – We Are Called to be Humble and Merciful in Judgment

Jesus calls us to a radical way of interacting with others—one marked by humility, self-awareness, and mercy.

As we grow in Christ, let us learn to "judge" not by the standards of the world (critical, condemning, and self-righteous) but by the standards of grace and humility that Christ demonstrated.

Remember, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7).

Closing Illustration: The Forgiving Father

Do not judge as you will be judged by the measurement you judge others – be aware of possible hypocrisy in your dealings with others, remember to self-examine and make sure to fix your shortcomings before helping someone with theirs in the same area, and

Remember the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The father doesn't judge his son harshly for his mistakes, but he runs to embrace him. In the same way, we are called to restore, not to condemn, others—with the same mercy that God has shown us.

Like the prodigal son – there are still consequences for the son’s decisions but grace, mercy, forgiveness and restoration we bestowed on him.

If you feel judgmental comments coming to mind – change them – what is it in your own life that you need to change first in order to help the person?

Let Us Pray!