“‘Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.’” (Matthew 7:1-2)

It’s easy to condemn sin in others and ignore our own, but Jesus is clear here: we will be judged as we judge others. We should strive not to be hypocritical in our judgments or hold others to a higher standard than we hold ourselves. Ignoring your own sin struggles, or attacks Satan may try on you, and instead focusing on the sins of others is exactly what Jesus is talking about here. It is hypocritical for one person to ignore the sin they continue to struggle with, only to focus on the sin of others.

“‘And 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 isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” (1 Corinthians 5:12)

Ignoring our sin clouds our judgment and can skew our perspective on the struggles of others. You can call someone down on their sin while the log in your own eye is obscuring your view. We will be very ineffective at helping our brothers and sisters in the faith with their sin struggles if we ignore our own. If you want to help your friend in their struggle, then you must have your eyes cleared first.

“Never stop praying.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

“Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalms 139:24)

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,” (Acts 3:19)

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Always be in prayer with the Lord and ask Him to point out anything in you that needs to go. This is the key to getting rid of the log in your own eye. We cannot hope to help others if we are walking around with planks in our eyes. Ask God daily to point out anything in you that offends Him. We will never be perfect in this life, which is why the Psalmist wrote those words. We can’t do it on our own; we need the Lord to show us what it is in us that offends Him, and we need Him to lead us along the path of everlasting life. It is because we will stumble and turn our heads to other paths that we need to ask this of God each day.

“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:23)

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9)

God offers forgiveness when we confess and repent of our sins. His mercies are new every day and He is faithful and just to forgives us. If we want to help our brothers and sisters along in this journey with Christ, we need to be constantly asking the Lord to point out the logs in our own eyes, so that we can then help others with the specks in theirs.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed