The Speck and the Plank: Judging Others

Look at Your Own Eye First

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In the temple, the leaders were quick to point at someone else's sin and slow to see their own. Jesus taught about that problem in the Sermon on the Mount, and He used a picture no one could forget.

Judge not. “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Jesus did not mean that we can never say something is wrong. He meant that we must not be harsh fault-finders who look down on other people.

The same measure. “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matthew 7:2). If we are hard and unfair with others, we are asking to be treated that way ourselves.

A speck and a plank. “And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). A speck is a tiny bit of dust. A plank is a big board of wood. Picture a man with a board sticking out of his eye, trying to pick a bit of dust out of his friend's eye!

Why we do it. It is easier to see other people's sins than our own. Pointing at someone else can make us feel better about ourselves. That is pride.

Hypocrite. Jesus used a strong word: “Hypocrite!” (Matthew 7:5). A hypocrite is someone who pretends to be better than he really is.

First things first. “First remove the plank from your own eye” (7:5). Jesus tells us to deal with our own sin first. We do that by telling God the truth about our sin and asking Him to forgive us. He is always ready to forgive the person who comes to Him honestly.

Then you can help. “And then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye” (7:5). Jesus does not say to ignore a friend's problem. Once your own heart is honest before God, you can help a friend gently.

God sees the heart. “For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). We see only the outside of a person. God sees everything, including our own hidden sins.

Mercy like the Father. Luke records more of Jesus' words: “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36). God has been merciful to us, so we can be merciful to others.

What we learn. Before you point at someone else, ask God to show you your own heart. Everyone needs Jesus' forgiveness, and that includes you.

At the temple, Jesus said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (John 8:7). He had already taught the same truth on a hillside in Galilee. Matthew 7:1-5 shows how His people should think about judging others.

Krino. “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). The Greek word krino (say: KREE-noh) can mean to decide or tell the difference, or it can mean to condemn. Jesus is not forbidding careful thinking. A few verses later He tells us to watch out for false prophets: “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-16). What He forbids is the harsh, condemning spirit that sets itself above others.

The measure (7:2). “With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke records the same teaching: “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).

Speck and plank (7:3-4). The picture is meant to make us smile, and then to make us think. The man with the plank is not wrong that his brother has a speck. He is wrong to care more about the speck than about the plank in his own eye.

Hypokrites. “Hypocrite!” (7:5). The Greek hypokrites (say: hoo-poh-kree-TAYS) was a word for a stage actor, someone playing a part. A hypocrite plays the part of a good person while hiding his own sin.

The order (7:5). “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly.” Jesus does not cancel helping others. He puts it in the right order. Honest repentance comes first.

Luke's version. In Luke the man even begins with a friendly “Brother”: “Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye” (Luke 6:42), while he does not see the plank in his own. Proud judging can sound very kind.

Only God sees all. “The Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). We cannot read motives the way God can. James also reminds us that there is one Lawgiver and Judge, so we are not the final judges of our neighbors (James 4:12).

Why it matters. A Christian who judges harshly forgets the plank Jesus removed from him. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). People who know how much they have been forgiven become gentle with others.

Judging the Right Way

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Jesus did not tell the woman in the temple that her sin was fine. He said, “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). So Christians do not pretend that wrong is right. How, then, should we judge the right way?

Righteous judgment. At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus told the crowd, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Right judging does not decide by what things look like on the outside. It looks carefully, and it uses God's Word.

Calling sin what it is. God's Word tells us what is right and wrong. Loving people includes telling them the truth. Paul wrote that Christians should speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Gently. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). Restore means to help someone get back to the right way. Gentleness means we are kind and careful, not harsh.

Remember yourself. Paul says to keep “considering yourself.” The person who helps must remember that he could fall too.

Privately first. “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone” (Matthew 18:15). Jesus did not say to tell everyone. The leaders in the temple did the opposite: they put the woman in front of a crowd. If someone hurts you or something feels unsafe, always tell a parent or teacher.

We will all stand before Him. Paul asked why we judge a brother, since we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10). Each of us will answer to Jesus for our own life, so we have no reason to look down on anyone.

The real Judge. “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). Jesus is the Judge of everyone. We are not.

The Judge who died for us. The Judge took our punishment Himself. “But He was wounded for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5).

Risen and saving. Jesus “died for our sins according to the Scriptures,” He was buried, and “He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven.

What we learn. Be quick to look at yourself, slow to condemn, gentle when you help, and quick to point people to Jesus.

Jesus never treated sin lightly, and He never told His people to ignore it. In John 8 He refused to condemn the woman and also told her, “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). The New Testament shows what right judging looks like for His followers.

Righteous judgment (John 7:24). Shortly before, at the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Some judging is commanded. It must be fair, based on the truth and measured by God's Word, not by appearances or feelings.

Truth with love. Paul tells believers to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Truth without love becomes a stone in the hand. Love without truth leaves people in danger.

Restore (Galatians 6:1). “You who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” The goal is restoring: helping the person back to the right way, not getting rid of him or shaming him.

Burdens (6:2). “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” A brother who has fallen needs someone to help carry the load, not someone to add to it.

The private step (Matthew 18:15). “Go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” The aim is gaining a brother. The accusers in the temple made sin a public show; Jesus taught His people to begin quietly. If someone hurts you or something feels unsafe, always tell a parent or teacher.

The judgment seat (Romans 14:10). Paul asked why we judge a brother or look down on him, since we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Every believer answers to the Lord for his own life. That truth humbles the one who is quick to judge.

One Judge. “The Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). The final verdict on every person belongs to Jesus, the Judge who was wounded for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5), died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Why it matters. When we judge others, we stand before the One who took our judgment. Remembering His mercy keeps us honest about sin and gentle with sinners.

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