Did you ever get a speck of something in your eye?  It really hurts.  And, if you’re not able to wash it out with tears or eyedrops, it can cause an abrasion or scratch on your cornea.  Now try to picture a log in your eye.  I can’t do it, can you?  It’s too big; it just doesn’t happen.

Well then, whatever was Matthew talking about in chapter 7:3-4?  “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? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye?”

Oh, we’re so quick to judge others.  We see their faults, the apparent error in their ways or words.  If only they would let us change them, to be more like us, to see things the way we see them.  Ah yes, we just feel obliged to remove that speck from their eyes.

Oops, Matthew did mention that there is a log in our own eye.  But surely that cannot be.  We’re careful in our thinking and believing.  We trust in the Lord, we pray for his guidance.  We are generous and caring.  But . . . just maybe, do we take pride in that?  Do we judge others and attempt to remove “that speck”, as a way of justifying ourselves and our actions?

In the parable of the “speck and the log” Jesus tells us to focus on our own faults before criticizing others.   Sounds like a bit of humility is called for here.  Time for prayer Lord.  We can ask how, when or if he wants us to deal with the speck in our brother’s eye?  And maybe more importantly, ask for forgiveness for that “log” in our own eye, the pride in our own judgements, the certainty that we always have the right answers. 

“Speck or log,” God loves us unconditionally.  Let’s walk humbly and let him be the judge, before we hasten to judge others.

Judy