In my Greek Class this week, I was translating and studying the first 6 verses of Matthew 7. Verse 3 says "Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye."
It is natural for humans to see the error in the lives of others while being blind to the error of their own ways. Matthew Henry tells us that this is due to the fact that the devil blinds us to our own faults (Henry, public domain). That tendency to see faults in others while ignoring one’s own faults can lead to a judgmental attitude. In his book on the Sermon on the Mount, D.A. Carson uses the example of the Prophet Nathan’s confrontation of King David to make this point (Carson, 109-110). David clearly saw the error in the parable that Nathan told and was angered by the injustice to the point of taking action against the offender. However, he was blind to the fact that he was the man who had done the offending. In this verse, Jesus uses hyperbole to make the same point, asking why the disciples are looking for the small speck (literally a speck of sawdust or a small splinter) in another person’s eye when there is a log (literally a plank of wood or beam) in their own eye. There may have possibly been an element of humor involved in this analogy as one imagines the ludicrous prospect of a log stuck in a person’s eye. As is generally the case with hyperbole, however, the point was painfully clear. Every person has faults, but Jesus is speaking here to the person who is “looking for” the faults of others. The Greek, "blepo", in this case is most likely referring to looking out for or paying attention to rather than simply seeing. Rather than seeking out the fault of others, Christians should be painfully aware of their own sinfulness before God. When a person’s focus is always on the faults of others, they cannot see their own sinfulness. Carson says “the more I reflect on this passage, the more I find I am self-condemned” (Carson, 111).
The prior verse, verse 2, tells us that with the measure of judgement we have towards others, we will be judged the same. The danger of being judgmental towards others is that the same measure of condemnation one has towards the world, God will apply in kind. This is very similar to the quid pro quo treatment that Jesus discussed about showing mercy in the Beatitudes of chapter 5 and about showing forgiveness to others in chapter 6. Paul echoed this sentiment in Romans 2:1, reminding us that we who judge do the very same things as those we judge. Jesus is clearly teaching that God wants his disciples to view and approach others with the same level of love, affection, and concern that God had with them when they were still sinners – not in justifying or facilitating their sinfulness, but in showing them that God has provided forgiveness. Rather than judge the world in its sinful state, God chose to send his Son Jesus to provide a means of grace and mercy (Romans 5:8). Jesus’ disciples are to have the same attitude. As Carson points out, this does not mean that Christians are to pretend as if sin does not exist (Carson, 108). Indeed, Verse 5 demonstrates that the opposite is true - but only after we have dealt with our own sin. There are times where Christians are to take notice of and, under certain conditions, act when confronted with sin. Eventually, God himself will judge the world for its sinfulness, but his desire is that all men everywhere repent - and be reconciled. The disciple’s responsibility is to encourage others towards repentance, which cannot be done with a self-righteous, judgmental attitude.
No comments:
Post a Comment