Jul 25th, 2023:
Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye… you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matt. 7:5
Using these words of harsh retribution, Jesus asks us to repent of our judgmental ways. As humans we are quick to judge and point our fingers. Indeed, it comes from our forefathers, the first human Adam who pointed fingers both at Eve and God when God confronts him about the original sin. We have gone on from being judgmental about sins to correcting someone’s morals to criticizing someone’s faith (even faith in Christ).
Sometimes we assume the place of God, and decide whether God can be merciful, or show his grace to any. God forbid, we even pray such prayers. We even label some as ‘undeserving’ in our hearts. Romans 2:4 informs us that as sinners we ‘despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering’. We want God to be as quick as us in judgement.
Jesus uses the word- ‘Hypocrite’ to us who have a similar mindset. When we were enemies of God- he was kind, gracious, and patient towards us. His goodness brings us to repentance and confessing of our sins daily. He asks us to remove the plank out of our own eyes, asking us to examine and cleanse ourselves from all our sins.
He does not end it saying we will be doomed to destruction, but promises us a clear vision, and spiritual eyes. He promises that he will use us to correct people, but in Christ’s way of correction. Not in the judgmental (and sinful) way that we thought those people deserve correction, but in a gentle and loving way that Christ expects from us as his image-bearers.
Prayer: Father God, help me not to be a hypocrite by judging others, but cleanse me from my own unrighteousness and sin. Give me your spiritual sight, so that I can see your way of love and correction. In Jesus name, Amen.