“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” (Matthew 7:5). What does Jesus mean by these words? Is he telling us that we must be perfect before we can correct others? If that’s the point, are we ever right to point out sin? Can rebuking sin ever amount to anything more than hypocritical judging?
Let Judgment Be Slow, Self-Aware
This verse, which is part of a larger exhortation (Matthew 7:1-6), doesn’t prohibit judging others. However, it does call believers away from judging in the same way that the world does. We are to judge with discernment and according to a standard.
Jesus calls believers away from judging in the same way that the world does.
Discernment is the ability to tell right from wrong in our hearts as well in as others. Discernment is possible with Lord’s help. He provides godly wisdom and the Spirit’s help.
The Lord has also given us a particular standard to use: the measure of grace that the Lord has granted to us in Christ. Similarly, we are also to use the measure of love that our Lord Jesus Christ modelled (1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Romans 5:6-11; 1 John 4:7-13).
Deepen Community for Better Correction
In the past few months, God has graciously drawn me further in, towards deeper and more meaningful relationships with brothers and sisters in the faith. And I have come to find that the more I invest in fellowship and relationships, the closer I get to others. I have come to experience and learn so much more than one does in superficial fellowship and shallow relationships.
I have come to experience and learn so much more than one does in shallow relationships.
This experience has shown me the lovely things as well as not-so-lovely things about both myself and others. Being in such fellowship has been a beautiful space to encourage in each other the qualities and way of life that make us more like Christ. It is a great opportunity to call out and discourage that which is a hindrance and that which threatens fruitfulness in the Christian walk. This works so well in the context of relationships and community.
Recently I came across a quote from Henry Cloud’s book, Boundaries. He writes: “As iron sharpens iron, we need confrontation and truth from others to grow.” Cloud goes on to say: “No one likes to hear negative things about him or herself. But in the long run, it may be good for us. The Bible says that if we are wise we are to learn from it. The admonition from a friend, while it can hurt, can also help.”
Jesus Expects Us to Call Out Sin
Jesus says that it is right to call out sin that we see in our brother or sister. To do so is an act of love. Calling out sin might save a brother or sister from condemnation, away from eternity without God. To call out sin is to point your brother back to the life-giving truth of the gospel. Our brothers and sisters need us to love them in this way and so do we. God is able to use the community and the fellowship of saints as a means of grace to sanctify his people towards Christlikeness.
To call out sin is to point your brother back to the life-giving truth of the gospel.
As Jesus says, calling out sin isn’t wrong. It’s the right thing to do. But how we do it matters. Additionally, Jesus doesn’t say that we must be perfect before we can correct others, but rather we are to correct from a place of genuineness and transparency. Jesus strongly opposes hypocrisy: “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” (Matthew 7:5)
Jesus Warns Against Hypocritical Judging
Hypocrisy is the practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case. In the context of Matthew 7, to be a hypocrite means at least two things:
- To judge the other person according to man-made standards instead of God’s standard for it is God who is Lord and judge.
- To call out sin in another person without first reflecting in your own heart (Matthew 7:3-4).
The Lord shows us that if we are to call out sin in others we are to first deal with the log that is in our own eye. By all means, we should help others extract splinters, but we should be slow to do that when there are beams lodged in our own eyes. If we take care of the splinter in our brother’s eye first, before dealing with the log in our own eye, we are likely to hurt our brother or have standards that condemn rather than standards borne out of God’s grace.
A Rough Guide for Calling Out Sin
1. Pray About It
Prayer requires us to admit our own shortfalls and appeal to the grace of God.
Before we call out sin in others, the first thing we need to do is to pray about the conversation. We need the Lord’s help, if it’s to bear fruit. Praying for our brother or sister often unwittingly involves identifying the logs or beams in our own eyes. It requires us to admit our own shortfalls and appeal to the grace of God. Prayer is always an exercise in receiving the grace and forgiveness granted us in Jesus, which is the best posture for calling out sin.
This means that in that way we will see things more clearly and do less harm. Pray for wisdom and discernment.
2. Weigh the Seriousness of the Sin
Work out if you are spiritually prepared to have the conversation. Will you speak in a way that doesn’t feel condemning? Can you deliver the rebuke without a sense of pride? Aim to establish relationship. Aim to win them over. Create a space for the grace of God to work, always remembering that they—like you—are loved and accepted in Christ. Over time, it is worth being lovingly firm, if change isn’t occurring. But give time after the initial conversation. And use some of it for more prayer.
3. Avoid Fruitless Strife
This brings us to the final verse of the section under consideration. Jesus says: “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 7:6). This verse has been the reason for many heated debates. What does Jesus mean?
No one ever really knows what the outcomes of such conversations will be.
Well, if your conversation doesn’t go as hoped, and instead of heartfelt change or repentance, you’re met with hostility, defensiveness, or denial, it’s wise to end the conversation and refrain from continually pouring out holy, precious truth.
No one ever really knows what the outcomes of such conversations will be. Yet they are hugely important for God’s people. It greatly benefits the church when we confront each other’s sin, regularly check our own hearts, and repeatedly remind each other of God’s wondrous grace. In the end, the task isn’t to call each other out; it’s to walk alongside one another in pursuit of becoming more like Christ.
