Beam in the Eye

Matthew 7:1–5 CSB

1 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use. 3 Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.

Can we judge?

it is not wrong to judge. This scripture has been so blown out of context that it isn’t funny. We have weaponized this against righteous judgement so that we can protect ourselves from being judged. You’re not always the person with the speck, the scripture is not designed to give us an attack against criticism. But rather a command to criticize ourselves more than we criticize others. You are not always innocent. And sometimes the criticism is needed. We have to stop always making ourselves the righteous party in all of the scriptures. This scripture isn’t even about receiving criticism or correction it’s about giving it.

Removing the beam in your eye first before removing the spec in someone else’s, is a reminder that maybe we should evaluate to make sure it’s not an us problem before we give someone else to blame. You can’t see correctly to offer correction when you have your own issues. Your issues will cause you to view the situation of someone else according to how you are dealing with your own stuff.

It also points a finger at those who just love to point out other peoples issues. Some people get way to much enjoyment out of offering criticism to others because it makes them feel better about themselves. So many times that beam Jesus is referring to is pride. In a way Jesus is saying “don’t correct from a place of pride” we should always correct from a place of humility and grace.

John 8:2–11 CSB

2 At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”]