What's That in Your Eye?

I’m always amused when one of the kids I babysit tells another one not to do something, especially when they usually do that same thing themselves. It’s like they can see that the other kid isn’t supposed to snatch a toy, or stand on a toy truck or whatever it is, but when they want to do it they’re oblivious to the fact that it’s not allowed. Unfortunately, we adults aren’t immune to that obliviousness, either. Somehow it’s really easy to see when another person is doing something they shouldn’t or has a character trait that needs some work, but almost impossible to see when we are doing the same thing or have that same unpleasant trait.

Jesus said, “Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).

It’s kind of funny to imagine a person with a 2x4 sticking out of their eye as they attempt to help a friend with a speck of dust in their eye, isn’t it? Jesus probably made it so exaggerated on purpose, so it would really make His point. We can’t help others with their sins if we’re not willing to deal with our own first.

I love that Jesus ends by telling us to remove the log in our own eye, which will then enable us to help others. I can’t get rid of my sin through my own power, but when I trust in Jesus I am cleansed of my sin. Then I can help others to find their way to Him, too, so the speck of dust in their eye can be removed.