“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7: 1-5, NKJV.
Merciful God, we come to You in he name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Please help us to keep our eyes on You as we study Your Word this day. Amen.
Today we have come to the last part of our passage of Scripture: “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” This makes sense, does it not? If there is something in my eye that is obstructing my vision, should I not remove it, before attempting to remove something that is in someone else’s eye? At the very least, if for no other reason, I should remove it to improve my vision.
Now that we have dealt with the practical part of the advise Jesus is offering, I want us to turn our attention to the word: Hupocriteis: “hypocrite, one who pretends to be other than what he [she] is” (The Greek New Testament, A CONCISE GREEK-ENGLISH DICTIONARY of the NEW TESTAMENT). Interestingly enough, in the New Testament, this word is spoken only to, and of, the religious leaders of Christ’s day, by Christ Himself!
Let us try to fit this concept of deceitfulness into our study on judging. The first question to be asked is: Why would someone judge another person? What is to be gained by judging another? There are three definitions of the word judge, and one of the word prejudge, that I consider of special interest in answering this question: “To pass sentence or condemn.” “To act or decide as a judge.” “One who makes estimates as to worth, quality, or fitness” (The Free Dictionary, by Farlex). “[P]rejudge: judge beforehand, especially without sufficient evidence” (Thesaurus, by Farlex).
In many cases, when one person judges another unfairly, and, or, wrongfully, it is usually with a desire to condemn the person. I have noticed that many people only find self-worth, in being able to feel that they are better than someone else. And the only way they can achieve this, is by judging someone else as unworthy, or by condemning them.
The second definition talks about an individual “acting” as a judge. The reason people act a part is because they are not really who they are acting as. Otherwise, it would not be an act, but the reality. We come to these decisions about others knowing fully well, that we are in no position to judge them.
To make an estimate of one’s “worth, quality, or fitness,” demands that you have an in-debt knowledge of the person. Experience has proven, that we can live with a person for many, many, years, and still not know all there is to know about that person. Life is so full of surprises! We can believe that we know someone, from what we see, and what we hear, about the person, but there will always be areas in the life of that person, that we really know nothing about.
Prejudging someone is never a good thing. The definition itself shows how faulty such behavior can be. It is arriving at a conclusion, “especially without sufficient evidence.” If having all the evidence in the world we can be wrong, imagine how dangerous, and unfair, it is to pass judgment on somebody without, the necessary evidence.
As we look at these definitions of judging and prejudging, we come face to face with the reality that only God is qualified to pass judgment. He made us. He knows us, really! He sees us at all times (even “behind closed doors!”). He has more than the necessary evidence to pass accurate judgment. He does not act as Judge, He has the right to judge, because He has all the facts. Therefore, when you and I judge others, we too, are deserving of the title of “Hypocrite!”
Because of this, the Father has gone even further. He has “committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5: 22). Even though the Father was in the Son “reconciling the world to Himself,” (2 Corinthians 5: 19), yet it was the Son, who walked in our moccasins. Therefore, God has deemed the Son, fully qualified to judge us, because He has all the facts. This Scripture is very helpful to me. I hope You find it helpful too:
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4: 16).
And the best news? He loves us unconditionally, although He knows us, better than anyone else!