Mt. 7:5
“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Why is it so easy for us to see fault in others while something glaringly is wrong in our own lives?
When we feel compelled to render an unfair/harsh judgement and/or an unkind word to our brethren there is a problem with our own heart.
Such behavior promotes strife and contention among Christians. I Tim. 6:4, Gal. 5:19-21
The Pharisees were notorious for this and we too can become entangled in this sinful attitude and behavior.
These type of judgments often come in the following ways:
· Overly critical of our brother & sisters in Christ. This person seemly can not contain the criticism…they must vent it.
The harsh criticism is often disguised by saying it in a joking manner and/or with a smile. This is often referred to as a “Zinger” or a subtle jab.
It’s the kind of comment that makes you smile and frown at the same time. You are not sure what you just heard.
I compare it to someone who is in an automobile accident and they don’t feel the full extent of the pain until hours later.
A well phrased “Zinger” has the same effect....You wake up in the middle of the night and realize that you were insulted!
· Jealousy – A critical tongue is often found in one who is envious of what others have and/or relationships that they enjoy. See Rom. 1:29-32; Titus 3:3: Prov. 14:30
· Arrogance – Some people think more highly of themselves than they should. Rom. 12:3
· As a result of vengeance – Someone has offended us so we feel justified in “Punishing” them for it. There is no such liberty in Christ Rom. 12:19.
Why would a Christian engage in this type of behavior? It is certainly not to encourage them or to build them up!
Gal. 5 addresses the root-cause of this problem. It is the lust of the flesh.
Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”.
We need to consider the beam in our own eye first. By doing so it will consume our time and prevent us from being overly critical of others.
Gal. 5:16:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh”.
What a blessing it is to have encouragement verses a sharp and unjust judgment made against us.
Mt. 7:5
“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Why is it so easy for us to see fault in others while something glaringly is wrong in our own lives?
When we feel compelled to render an unfair/harsh judgement and/or an unkind word to our brethren there is a problem with our own heart.
Such behavior promotes strife and contention among Christians. I Tim. 6:4, Gal. 5:19-21
The Pharisees were notorious for this and we too can become entangled in this sinful attitude and behavior.
These type of judgments often come in the following ways:
· Overly critical of our brother & sisters in Christ. This person seemly can not contain the criticism…they must vent it.
The harsh criticism is often disguised by saying it in a joking manner and/or with a smile. This is often referred to as a “Zinger” or a subtle jab.
It’s the kind of comment that makes you smile and frown at the same time. You are not sure what you just heard.
I compare it to someone who is in an automobile accident and they don’t feel the full extent of the pain until hours later.
A well phrased “Zinger” has the same effect....You wake up in the middle of the night and realize that you were insulted!
