Who Made You The Judge?

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. “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? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1 - 5 (NASB)

What a common scenario! What a grossly misquoted and misunderstood text! Two friends have a similar problem. One has splinter in his eye and the other, a branch hanging out of his skull. Who is more likely to complain? You guessed it… Old log head. Not only will he complain about his friend’s splinter but he will come up with brilliant methods of splinter removal. We see it every day don’t we? Well I guess I should say we see it in other people everyday because we can barely see our own reflection with all the leaves hanging in our face.
The Lord was pointing out a problem that I face often. He didn’t say that I shouldn’t be willing to correct a friend with a fault. He was telling me that if I’m going to help my friend with his fault I should get rid of my own problem first. But hey if I’m the one with the bigger problem maybe I should be taking advice from him.
A carnal spirit will reject correction by saying, “Judge not that ye not be judged!” Why is that the only verse in the King James that anyone quotes correctly yet misses its meaning entirely? I guess it’s because they won’t finishing reading the verse. Jesus is saying if you’re going to judge do it right. If you’re going to help someone overcome a fault, its best that you have overcome that fault yourself and that you bring a solution in the spirit of love. Otherwise you’re a hypocrite and you’re no good to yourself or anyone else. Can’t you just picture a guy with a splinter in his eye getting help from someone with a limb full of branches and leaves sticking out of his head? That poor guy is going to get beat half to death and all scratched up. By the end He’ll be worse off than when he started.

How can we apply this to our lives?

1. Be thankful for those who love God and love us enough to confront us and help us with our faults
Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:5 - 6 (KJV)

2. Love others enough to help them be the person God wants them to be.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1 - 2 (KJV)

3. In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 (NASB)

God Bless Y’all
Bro. Log Head