What's In Your Eye
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Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
We see how quick people were to judge Paul.
First they said he was a murderer, later that he was a god.
The Bible strongly opposes the judging of one another. Judging is a dangerous practice—it defiles and destroys.
Only God is qualified to judge.
He wants us to love … leave the judging to him!
(Black Panther suffered from cancer during is filming, did you know).
I. Criticism and Judging
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
“Don’t criticize, and then you won’t be criticized! For others will treat you as you treat them”—LB.
A. Criticism shows a lack of Christianity
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
B. Criticism shows a lack of control.
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
God’s people must learn to be Christ-controlled.
C. Criticism shows a lack of consecration. Christians are to be kind and forgiving.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
II. Concern and Judging
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Seeing the mote (small wood splinter) in a brother’s eye, but not seeing the beam (log) in one’s own eye:
A. Seeing another’s sin: Paul told Timothy to “keep thyself pure”.
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
See your own sins first; then another’s shortcomings will fade.
Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
You are not qualified to judge others!
B. Seeing another’s slackness.
The Bible says that God is the judge.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
He will judge perfectly.
III. Condemnation and Judging
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
“Should you say, ‘Friend, let me help you get that speck out of your eye,’ when you can’t even see because of the board in your own”—LB.
A. Cleanse self
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
This is a daily cleansing.
B. Control self
Keep thy tongue from evil,
And thy lips from speaking guile.
Keep your lips from evil. Control of the tongue often prevents trouble.
C. Consecrate self—Ps. 139:23–24.
Search me, O God, and know my heart:
Try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
David’s prayer here should be ours, also.
IV. Cleansing from Judging
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
A. Personal—“Thou hypocrite.” You must cleanse your own life before you can help others.
B. Purging—“First cast out the beam in thine own eye.”
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
C. Plan—“And then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Note James 4:8.
Before we can help others, we must be right with God. One cannot live hypocritically and be able to help others spiritually.
Often those who judge others’ misconduct are guilty of the same sin, and criticizing another is an attempt to cover their own wrongdoing.
Those who judge others are not living close to God, nor are they living successful Christian lives.
Remember: we are to love people—let God judge them!
