“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 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? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. (Matthew 7)
This passage is often used to beat up on believers for their judgmental spirit. Possibly rightfully so. Though we are to stand up for God's standards of holiness, He is more concerned with our righteousness than theirs. Since we are not totally sanctified in this life, we already give an unbelieving world plenty of ammunition to accuse us of hypocrisy; we don't need to give them any more. Somehow, that little splinter grows into a bat or a two by four, or even a log, to knock us up side of the head. May we, as Paul reminds us, humbly challenge and encourage one another to holy living, and live the life before a watching world.
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