Plank-Eyed Speck Removers
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, '“Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:3-5
The gospels record how, on multiple occasions, Jesus healed those who could not see. He recognized that physical blindness carried all sorts of negative implications.
The thing is, Jesus was no less concerned about a parallel, yet no less costly, sort of blindness. That of a spiritual nature.
The Savior saw how this occurred time and again as people criticized other people’s minor flaws while remaining blind to their own major flaws. Thus, He observed with painful candor, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
Jesus recognized that He was surrounded by speck-removers who didn’t know that they were plank-eyed.
Biblical Plank-eyes
Take, for example, the occasion when Martha complained to the Lord that she was doing all the work while her sister just sat around listening to Him. “Martha, Martha (note that He used her name twice to underscore how important what He had to say was), you are worried and upset about many things. Mary has chosen what is better…”
Why did He say this? Because Martha was blind to the fact that in her flustered anxiety, she was plank-eyed. Hers was the greater folly.
Likewise, when a man tried to get Jesus involved in a dispute over a family inheritance, Jesus responded (and my hunch is that His eyes were focused on the accuser when He did), “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed.”
The Savior recognized that this man who longed for justice was plank-eyed to the greed in his heart.
The Problem of Self-Deception
Our capacity for self-deception knows no bounds, and it’s a serious problem – not only as it relates to relational integrity, but as it relates to spiritual maturity.
Here’s what King David said about the difficulty of self-awareness: “Who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.” (Psalm 19:12)
That’s one of the most insidious things about sin. I’m very aware of your shortcomings (and don’t hesitate to point them out), yet I’m rarely as aware of my own shortcomings (and don’t want them pointed out).
One of the most insidious things about sin is I’m very aware of your shortcomings (and don’t hesitate to point them out), yet I’m rarely as aware of my own shortcomings (and don’t want them pointed out).
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
If you’re wondering who Jesus intended these words for, take a look in the mirror.
PRAYER
Lord, all too often I fancy myself as a speck-remover. I quickly point out others’ failures and shake my head at their immaturity or frailty. Help me to recognize that many times, utterly plank-eyed, I’m oblivious to my own shortcomings. May I be less quick to correct and more ready to repent.
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