Seeds for 06/22/2023 - Matthew 7:3-6
Scripture: 1 “Do not judge, 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, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Observation: Who says there’s no humor in the Bible?
Jesus leans into the absurd. Dogs can be a wonderful companions, but a steward of the sacred they are not. A pig may be a smart animal, but nothing worthwhile comes of handing it a string of pearls.
As for judgment, Jesus has warned us about the dangers of judging—we’ll be judged in like manner and measure as we judge others. If we’re honest about how we go about that, it’s not a pretty picture.
Now Jesus moves from the serious to the silly to illustrate His point. Judging others is an activity we are uniquely unqualified for. “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?”
First, we note the contrast in scale—a speck of sawdust versus a wooden plank. A notch or two above a piece of dust versus a six foot two-by-four!
Next we ought to picture the scene: Someone with a large plank of wood protruding from his eye strolls into the restaurant as people stare momentarily before frantically dodging him. The hostess ducks quickly as he surveys the dining room and finds a seat. He lifts the menu and leans to one side, sizing up the entrees with his unobstructed eye. The waiter arrives and gets his attention too quickly. He lifts his gaze from the menu to turn and look at him, smashing the water glasses and table centerpiece to bits as he faces the nervous waiter stammering out a question concerning what he might like to order.
Two tables over, someone is leaving her seat to slip into the restroom and flush her eye. Something’s been irritating it for the past half-hour or so and she’s ready to be done with it. It’s an annoyance and making her vision blurry in that eye. Thankfully, it will only take a moment or two to remedy.
Jesus paints a picture for us that screams, “Are you kidding me?!?” to our presumption that we have enough perspective and clarity to pass judgment on someone else. It’s exaggerated for effect… or is it? Yes, it’s funny. But the more I think about it, the less certain I am that it’s exaggerated all that much.
Application:
When have you realized your lack of perspective and misjudgment of some person or group?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, help me recognize when I’m full of nonsense. Humble me that I might grow in wisdom. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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