Matthew 7:3-5 - Should have gone to Planksavers!

7:3,4

“Why do you look at the spec of dust ...” The dust and plank analogy is a deliberate exaggeration. If we look back at the root of the issue, seeking to judge a person on the basis of a particular action, we get more of what Jesus is talking about. The person is basing his assessment of a person on a single action, but if any of us look at ourselves honestly and fully we will see a whole nest of sins and sinfulness. Maybe a plank isn’t an exaggeration after all! Moreover, you cannot base an assessment of a person on any one action. All of the heroes of the Bible had serious faults, look at David! So unless we are aware of the sinfulness in ourselves we are in no position to help the other person, nor are we if we are full of the notion that we are better than them.

7:5

Now look at this carefully. “You hypocrite ...”, so outright criticism. But then “first take ...” Jesus is NOT saying we should never seek to correct each other, but if it is done from a position of judgementalism then we are badly mistaken. If, instead, it is done from a position of humility and genuine care for the other person then we may indeed do some good.