Seeing Clearly

“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 7:5 ESV

Being able to see clearly is essential for us to have a good quality of life. Other physical and mental God given abilities also enrich our well-being. In many ways they complement each other and those who suffer physical blindness have leaned heavily on other abilities. Being able to compensate for a deficiency physically such as not seeing clearly unfortunately doesn’t carry over in a spiritual sense. Sadly, those who do not see clearly spiritually do not even realize that they are blind, blind to their own sin. They live their lives in a self-righteous state ignoring the possibility that they also are in need of some correction.

One of the most quoted sayings of Jesus is, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Mt 7:1 esv) Many repeat these words with the false intent to criticize anyone who would make a judgment against another. The premise being Jesus’ words, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” But Jesus goes on to say, “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Mt.7:2 esv) Jesus is not saying that we are never to judge, but to not be condemning, hypocritical, or with a self-righteous attitude. In order to accomplish this within God’s standards we need to remove any false righteousness that has a hold on us blocking our vision to our inner selves.

Jesus’ used of comparisons has a way of undeniably coming to the point with precise clarity. He tells His listening disciples, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Mt.7:3 esv) A ‘speck’ is a dry stalk, a twig, or a straw, in comparison to a ‘log’ which is a support beam. Obviously there is no comparison. With a strong support beam in front of you it is impossible to see a tiny wind-blown twig with any accuracy. Therefore you sense some fault and rush to condemning judgment without acknowledging your own faults. In a sense, you see right through your sin as if it didn’t exist.

As Christians, we have an opportunity to help a brother or sister in the Lord with the speck in their eye. However, we are unable to do so if we harbor sin in our lives. Let us confess our sins and rid ourselves of the log barriers affecting our vision and be able to help those in need resulting in all of us to ‘see clearly.’