Remove the Log:Matthew 7:1-6

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye” (Matthew 7:3, NASB)?

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye” (Matthew 7:3, NIV)?

The recent elections had unexpected results. Based on history, it was thought that there would be a “Red Wave,” A “Red Tsunami.” The Republican Party would gain control of the United States House of Representatives by a large margin. They would gain control of the United States Senate. This did not happen. Many people; and especially the experts have their opinion about the results. Others are still trying to figure things out. I made mention of this to a friend at the fitness center. I suggested to him that a good answer might be found in Isaiah 55:8. The prophet Isaiah wrote these words of the Lord to the Israelite captives in Babylon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD” NASB). People do not think like God. People do not do things the same way that God does. God has a purpose and a plan that generally speaking, people do not know, and people do not even consider that God is acting in ways that we are unaware of.

My friend repeated the verse, but he did not pounder what the verse means. Instead, my republican friend began to state his opinion about what would happen if the democrats did this or did that. His response at this time was typical for him. Mike sees bad things happening if the democrats have their way. The democrats never do anything right. I cannot remember him ever saying anything negative about the republicans. I wanted my friend to look at things from God’s point of view. He could only judge the situation from a human point of view. This article addresses this attitude from the words of Jesus spoken in the Sermon on the Mountain found in Matthew 5-7.

Before we get into our text, let us clarify some things about the Sermon on the Mountain. Matthew recorded the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17. He was tempted by the devil (4:1-11). Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been taken into custody. He withdrew into Galilee fulfilling the words of the prophet spoken through Isaiah (4:12-16). Matthew records the beginning of the ministry of Jesus in Galilee. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (4:17, NASB). Jesus begins to call disciples (4:18-22). “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people” (4:23). “Large crowds followed Him. “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and He sat down, His disciples came to Him” (5:1, NASB).

The Sermon on the Mountain contains teachings of Jesus about the kingdom of heaven, not the world. The word “kingdom” implies that there is a ruler, a king. In the kingdom of heaven Jesus is the king. He is Lord of another kingdom. Matthew wrote to a Christian community to tell them about their king—Jesus. The purpose was that they would know that the kingdom ruled by Jesus operates according to the thoughts and way of God instead of the thoughts and ways of men. His laws were different from that of the religious leaders of Judaism-the scribes and the Pharisees. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (5:20, NASB). One of the ways that the Pharisees and Jesus differed was that of how one person should judge another person.

Jesus did not condemn judging. We all judge. In some instances we are required to judge. Jesus said that the same way that we judge others is the same way that we will be judged. If I say that you are wrong based on your political ideology, I can expect to be judged based on my political ideology. Do I think that those whose political views that are different from mine make them a bad person, or a person with misinformed and bad intentions? If I do, I can expect that others will judge me based on my own political views.

Jesus warned that I should judge myself before I seek to judge someone else. Jesus used the metaphor of “speck and log” (NASB). The King James Version uses the words “mote” and “beam.” I like the New International Version that uses the words “sawdust” and “plank” because these words best describes my own personal experiences. Regardless, the point that Jesus made was that one should not try to remove a small object from the eye of another person if they have a larger object covering their own eye. However, Jesus was not talking about physical objects. Rather, Jesus was talking about mental attitudes and conclusions. Our conclusions about others are likely to be inaccurate if we have not taken an honest assessment of ourselves.

Jesus was teaching His disciples that they should first judge themselves according to the laws that govern the kingdom of heaven. This would mean that they would have to know the words of Jesus. They already knew what the scribes and Pharisees taught. Those that live in the kingdom of heaven hold to His teachings becoming true disciples of His (see John 8:31-32). When we judge ourselves based on the words of Jesus we get a different perspective of ourselves. When we see ourselves differently, we can see other people differently. When I discover that my political views do not agree with the ways of the Lord, I am able to empathize with those whose political views do not agree with the ways of the Lord. I learn that in essence that we are both wrong.

Political views are not the only way that we wrongly judge others. In America today African Americans often attribute the actions of white people to racism. I think that the word is often used because the supposedly victim does not know any other explanation for other people’s words and actions. White people refuse to look at themselves honestly and Black people refuse to look at themselves honestly. The only honest way for a Christian to look at them is to pray that the Holy Spirit will lead them and guide them into the truth. Biblically speaking, there is only one truth. Truth is not relative. Truth is found in Jesus alone.

A third way that we judge others is through our religious beliefs. We tend to believe that our own religious beliefs are the right beliefs. This is especially true when it comes to what we believe about hot button subjects such as abortion, right to life, control of one’s body, and surgical gender changes. Jesus taught that public opinions about moral and ethical issues are often seen through the eyes of men. The word of God on such matters is often unknown, misinterpreted, and even denied its authenticity and authority. Jesus taught that before we judge others, we had better be sure that we have judged ourselves.

Finally, in verse six Jesus warned that we should not spend time and energy on those that refuse to hear the word of God and live by it. He describes two categories of people using dogs and swine (pigs) to illustrate His point. Dogs become vicious and seek to destroy anything that offends them. Swine will not eat that which is good. They will ignore it and trample it under their feet. Thus, Christian must accept that there are some people that will not listen to what is said to them. They find no value in the holy words of Jesus.

In conclusion, Christians should concentrate on examining themselves so that they can know the truth about themselves. This is necessary if we are to rightly judge others. The teaching of Jesus is our standard and guide. We must learn to accept that there are people that will not accept the thoughts and ways of God.