Matthew 7:1-2
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
Matthew 7:3-5
"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Jesus uses a vivid and even humorous picture: imagine someone with a huge wooden beam sticking out of their eye trying to remove a tiny speck of dust from someone else's eye! This is what it looks like when we harshly criticize others while ignoring our own faults. Jesus is not saying we should never help others see their mistakes. He is saying we must start with ourselves first. Before we point out the small sin in someone else's life, we must honestly examine our own hearts and deal with our own, often much bigger, sins. A humble, self-aware person is in a much better position to lovingly help others. A judgmental, proud person only causes damage.
This week, when you are tempted to criticize or judge someone, stop and look at your own heart first. Ask God: "Is there something in my own life that I need to deal with?" Practice self-examination before correction. When you do need to address something with another person, do it with humility and love, not with pride or harshness.
Why is it so easy to see the faults of others but miss our own?
What is the "beam" in your own eye that you need to deal with?
How can you correct someone lovingly without being judgmental?