Why Do You Call Attention To Splinters In Your Brother’s Eye?Matthew 7:3-5, “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Sometimes we direct this reprimand of Christ toward the Pharisees, but this particular reproof was a general one. Let us accept the question as though it was directed to us. We have no good answer to His question. We cannot even claim concern for our neighbor as motivation for this behavior. He constructs an idea with this question that makes the operation of “mote removal” a dangerous one. His metaphor implies that we are performing eye surgery while blinded.This question begins with the statement, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1) Whenever I hear this verse quoted by the ungodly I envision one of those little “promise boxes” on their breakfast table. Every morning they open it and remove a card and read the verse for today, only, in their box, it is the same Scripture everyday. For people who live their own way, it is the Scripture of choice! It is tirelessly quoted by everyone from the heroine addict in the alley to the deacon called before the church board, but is it truly understood by any of us? Are we really never to call into question the behavior of anyone? Are we never to voice God’s displeasure about the sinful acts of anyone? How will those who never their lives in the light of righteousness understand the judgment that is upon them? How will they ever come to know forgiveness? Furthermore, if our duty is to reprove or correct one another, as the Scripture plainly teaches, how do we honor the clear command to “judge not?” As in the days of Christ, we are occasionally found in the company of those who judge us unfairly. In Luke it is written this way, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven…” (Luke 6:37) This is more complete in thought than the Matthew account. This verse teaches that we must keep in mind our own condition as we help or guide others on their way. We should judge like we want to be judged, condemn as we wish condemnation for ourselves and forgive as we desire forgiveness to be granted us. That should take the edge off of our high and mighty tone.  It Is Love That Is LackingIn harsh judgment, it is the love that is lacking. The purity of empathetic love can enable a counselor to say, without reprisal, things that no one else would dare even approach. When I was involved in the children’s home ministry, I instructed my teachers and staff in this concept: a child is only to be disciplined or corrected if he is absolutely sure that he is loved by the one who disciplines him. A great test for loving involvement in the child’s life was questions like, “Do you know the child’s middle name? Do you know his best friend? Do they have brothers and sisters?” If they are sure you love them, you can say nearly anything, but if they doubt your love at all, you can offend with the most delicate of correction. Love is not the only thing missing in counsel to our brethren; it should also be noted that the standard by which we judge is deficient. We can only speak from our own perspective. As much as we would like to be the holders of all truth, we are not. Things change, people change, and situations are viewed assorted ways by different people at various times. We cannot know all, to finally and completely judge anyone. After all, are you the same person today you were 10 years ago? Did you have an opinion then? Did you offer it to others? Did you not demand that you were right? Are there things you understand today that you didn’t understand then? All these things should be considered...

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