As we enter Matthew chapter seven, Jesus turns from shaping the inner life to addressing how it expresses itself outwardly in relationships. In chapters five and six, He examined our motives, our pursuit of righteousness, and our trust in God’s provision. Now He turns our focus to the way we see and treat others.
Jesus ends chapter six by urging His disciples not to be anxious about material needs. When we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, we are promised sufficiency—not prosperity. Every believer’s journey is uniquely shaped by God’s providence. We must resist comparing callings or projecting our experiences onto others. God invites us to discern where we are meant to serve and invest, lest we be overwhelmed by the sea of needs around us.
In Matthew 7:1–2, Jesus warns against judging others: “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”
This is one of the most quoted—and misunderstood—verses in Scripture. Jesus is not forbidding moral discernment. Rather, He warns against a spirit of condemnation, fueled by self-righteousness. We are quick to criticize others from a position of perceived moral superiority, while ignoring our own need for grace.
Jesus then uses a vivid, almost comical image: “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?” (v. 3)
We magnify the faults of others while minimizing our own. This kind of hypocrisy is not only foolish—it’s spiritually dangerous. Jesus calls us to a humility that begins with honest self-examination: “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” (v. 5).
The point is not to avoid helping others grow, but to ensure our help flows from a heart that has first submitted to God’s correction. Without that posture of humility, our vision is distorted, and our attempts to help become harmful. Spiritual clarity begins with self-awareness, not self-promotion.
This call to humility echoes powerfully in Luke 18:9–14, the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee boasts of his religious devotion and moral superiority. He prays “to himself,” recounting his pious deeds while looking down on others. The tax collector, by contrast, won’t even lift his eyes. He beats his chest in repentance, crying, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner.”
The Greek word he uses for “mercy” is rich in meaning—it refers to propitiation, the covering of sin by a substitute. It’s the same word used for the “mercy seat” on the Ark of the Covenant, where the high priest would apply the blood of the atonement sacrifice. The tax collector asks not for leniency, but for forgiveness through a substitute. And Jesus tells us that it was this man—not the Pharisee—who went home justified.
This humility is at the heart of the spiritual life. We are not justified by performance, but by grace. The discipline of self-examination—what Christian tradition calls examen—helps us reflect on our lives in God’s presence. Not to wallow in guilt, but to walk in the light. We remember that the One who knows us best also loves us most. That knowledge frees us to be honest before Him.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 are often misused to defend moral indifference. But He is not telling us to avoid correcting others. He is telling us to begin with ourselves. True spiritual insight begins with repentance. Only then can we help others with wisdom and grace.
Helping others also requires courage. In Matthew 18:15, Jesus instructs, “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private.” This is redemptive confrontation, not public shaming. Yet in practice, we often avoid this. We talk to others about someone instead of speaking directly to them. But love compels honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable.
C.S. Lewis observed that those who have experienced grace are best equipped to extend it. Not because they are better, but because they know their own weakness. True spiritual counsel flows from empathy, not superiority.
This creates a culture of grace in community. We become agents of God’s mercy, pointing one another back to the cross. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” Proverbs tells us (27:6). A true friend will speak the truth when needed, even at a cost.
But for this kind of community to flourish, we must hold ourselves to the same standard we expect of others. We often downplay our own sins—especially those we tolerate—and inflate the seriousness of others’ failings. We may scorn outward sins like sexual immorality, while indulging in pride, gossip, or resentment.
Yet Scripture reminds us that sins of the spirit—like pride and judgment—are just as dangerous, and often more subtle. Tragically, pride is sometimes rewarded in Christian circles. It can hide behind giftedness, leadership, or zeal. But God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.
The more we draw near to God, the more clearly we see ourselves. Like Isaiah, who cried out “Woe is me, I am undone!” when he beheld the Lord (Isaiah 6:5), we recognize our need for cleansing. Thankfully, God does not reveal all our sin at once. He is gentle. He reveals what we’re ready to see and invites us to walk in light, one step at a time.
This is the way of freedom. Not through perfection, but through truth. Not by hiding, but by humbly allowing God to transform us. Only then can we see clearly—and love wisely—in a world that so desperately needs both.
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Questions for Reflection
- In what ways have I been quicker to notice the “specks” in others than the “logs” in my own life? Consider how Jesus’ call to self-examination might change the way you view your relationships and your judgments of others. What does it look like for you to “see clearly” by first tending to your own heart?
- Am I seeking to impress others with outward displays of spirituality, or am I cultivating a quiet, inward life before God? Reflect on whether your spiritual practices—such as prayer, giving, or service—are rooted in a desire for intimacy with God or a desire for human approval. What shifts might be needed to reorient your audience from people to God?
- Where is the Holy Spirit currently inviting me to take a deeper look at myself? Ask the Lord to reveal one specific area of your life—an attitude, a habit, or a relationship—that He wants to bring into the light. How might practicing the ancient discipline of examen lead you toward repentance and renewal?
- Do I confront others with grace and humility, or do I avoid difficult conversations altogether? When correction is necessary, do you speak truth in love or stay silent to preserve comfort? Are you willing to risk discomfort for the sake of someone else’s growth—and your own?
