(Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 6:37-38, 41-42)

 

1 “Do not judge[1], or you too will be judged.
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 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?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite[2], first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

THE DANGER OF BEING JUDGMENTAL

In this parable of the “speck of sawdust” (or splinter) and the “plank” (or log) Jesus condemned a negative faultfinding attitude towards others that breaks the law of love.  It is an example of hyperbole or exaggeration.  The “speck” represents a small fault while the “plank” represents a larger fault that we overlook in ourselves.  The contrast is meant to be ridiculous.  It is easy for us to enlarge the failings of others (focusing on tiny specks) and pay no attention to our own failings (forgetting large planks).  The plank that is in the eye of most people is a lack of love.  The parable teaches that it is better to correct one’s own faults than the faults of others.  We should not judge others by a different standard from that which we judge ourselves.

A key word in the context of this parable is translated “judge” (NIV; AV) or “criticize and condemn” (Amplified Bible).  Possible translations are “Don’t pass judgment on people,” “Don’t decide other people are guilty,” or “Don’t condemn people.” (UBS Handbook).  “Judge” here means to pass sentence upon someone in the sense of condemning that person.  Jesus is concerned with the unfair, harsh, and unloving attitude out of which this negative judgment comes.

WE REAP WHAT WE SOW

Jesus warned that the standard that we expect of others in this life will be the one of the standards that God will use to evaluate us in the next life: “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  When we sit in judgment on others we are inclined to forget that others judge us, including God.  A judgmental person plays at being God but God alone is the ultimate Judge: “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.  But you - who are you to judge your neighbour?” (James 4:12)  Harsh judgment is also punished in this life as people avoid contact with those who are critical of others as they conclude that they themselves may be the next victims of it.

Jesus did not teach that “specks” should not be removed: “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.  If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” (Matthew 18:15)  But only those who have removed the difficult planks from their own lives should attempt to remove the smaller specks from the lives of others “in a spirit of gentleness.” (Galatians 6:1 NKJV).  Without humility, it is presumptuous of us to attempt to reform others. 

HUMAN ACCOUNTABILITY

Every Christian is ultimately accountable to God: “Why do you judge your brother?  Or why do you look down on your brother?  For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10)  In this respect one believer is not above another; all believers are morally responsible and shall “render account” (Barclay) to the judgment of Christ.  The alternative to God’s judgment is self-judgment and self-discipline: “But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.” (1 Corinthians 11:31).

On the Day of Judgment we are answerable for ourselves and not for how other people chose to live.  We trust God to be the final Judge: “Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes.  He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts.” (1 Corinthians 4:5).  Only God can judge a person’s motives.

JUDGMENTALISM IS HYPOCRISY

When King David was angry at the comparatively small fault of the rich man in taking the poor man’s lamb, he was unconscious of the more serious crime in which he had taken the same role (2 Samuel 12).  The self-righteous Pharisee criticized others to improve his own image: “The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself:  God, I thank you that I am not like other men - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector.” (Luke 18:11)  The Pharisee saw the sins of others but not his own sins.  The hypocrite ignores the major failures in his own life while focusing on the minor failures of others, which breaks the law of love.

A “hypocrite” originally referred to a person who wore a mask at a Greek play, i.e. he pretended to be someone that he was not.  A hypocrite appears to be righteous when he is not.  Religious people are inclined to be over-concerned with relatively unimportant faults in others, while spiritually blind to their own defects.  When we presumptuously make an unloving judgment on another, we forget that we are also fallible and imperfect sinners “saved by grace”, who are prejudiced and usually unaware of all the facts.  Therefore it is “hypocrisy”, Jesus said, to unfairly criticize the faults of others without noticing my own, or being willing to correct my own faults.  Since our relationship to God is based on his free grace, we are in no position to feel superior to others.  We are totally dependent upon the grace of God.

Jesus taught that it is possible to have a “plank” that blocks one’s vision and be unaware of it.  We look for faults in others to hide our own faults or unconsciously we recognize our own faults in others.  Dogmatic and authoritarian people can easily become judgmental.  Psychologists tell us that taking an unhealthy interest in the shortcomings of other people is a mechanism by which the ego denies its own unacknowledged failings and avoids the painful truth of facing them.  Self-love makes us blind to ourselves.  A judgmental person often struggles with a sense of guilt and unresolved inner problems.  He risks the sins of condemning the innocent, condemning the guilty more than he deserves, and condemning where there is insufficient evidence.

Jesus condemns any efforts to make other people conform to another’s standards of Christian “perfection” from a position of assumed superiority.  A legalistic religion that is based on keeping man-made rules and outward formalities encourages a harsh and unloving appraisal of others, and their praise or condemnation.  Legalism is a judgmental form of Christianity.  The legalist forgets that as sinners we live by grace and God’s lovingkindness: “Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:13)  The cure for judgmentalism and legalism is an understanding of one’s own sinful nature and the wonder of God’s grace that accepts us despite the “plank” in our eye.

THE DANGER OF BEING UNDISCERNING

Jesus’ principle, ““Do not judge, or you too will be judged” does not mean that we accept without question any teaching, or any kind of behaviour.  God expects Christians to judge right from wrong.  We need to discern spiritual matters and moral issues.  Verse 6 indicates that Jesus himself called some people “dogs” and “pigs” which was a judgment on their attitude to spiritual truth.  People who are not discerning easily become naïve and gullible and fall prey to false teaching.  Jesus warned against false prophets.  He would not have his disciples to be simpletons who do not exercise proper judgment.  Nor does this parable forbid the giving of evidence in a court of law.

The New Testament requires believers to exercise discernment including the spiritual gift of “distinguishing between spirits” (1 Corinthians 12:10).  Jesus said, “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment” (John 7:24).  John warned believers to recognize the “Spirit of God” from other “spirits” or false prophets: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)  Each Christian has a responsibility to “put all things to the test for the purpose of approving them.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) [3]  All teaching should be compared with Scripture and evaluated by it.

“GIVE AND FORGIVE” (Luke 6:37-38)

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you.”

In Luke’s account of this parable there are two negative instructions (“Do not judge” and “Do not condemn”) placed beside two positive instructions (“Forgive” and “Give”) that are part of the law of love.  Jesus taught that what we do in this life influences the way God deals with us.  We must “forgive” if we wish to be forgiven.  God’s gifts come to those who “give” to others.  Those who take responsibility for their own sins and actions usually have little time to look for faults in others.

CONCLUSION

Charles J. Ellicott the nineteenth century Anglican Bishop of Gloucester comments:

“Our Lord embodies the principle in a rule which, because it cannot be kept in the letter, forces us back upon the spirit.  What is forbidden is the censorious [fault-finding] judging temper, eager to find faults and condemn men for them.  Briefly, we may say: judge no man unless it be a duty to do so; as far as may be, judge the offense and not the offender; confine judgment to the earthly side of faults, and leave their relation to God, to Him who sees the heart; never judge at all without remembering one’s own sinfulness, and the ignorance and infirmities [weaknesses] which may extenuate [make less blameworthy] the sinfulness of others.”[4]

FOR REFLECTION

• How judgmental am I in my relationship with others?
• How can I avoid becoming judgmental?
• Do I have a standard for other people that I do not have for myself?
• How would you help a person with a critical, judgmental and unloving attitude?
• Before you criticize someone judge yourself first, and check whether you deserve the same criticism.
• Whenever it is claimed that the gifts of the Spirit are in evidence, more consideration should be given to the gift of discernment.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, open my eyes to any “plank” that blocks my vision.  Help me to judge others prayerfully and truthfully in love.  Amen.

Jim Peacock M. A. (Hons), Diploma of Education.