Plank In The Eye Syndrome

"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 NIV)

How many times have you heard a message preached about the plank? I hear them all the time. I just read one in a book last night. “Judge not least you be judged” (Matthew 7:1)… “Turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39)… “Give up your cloak as well” (Matthew 5:40)… Too often there is a deceiving spirit in these messages, that misquotes the words of Jesus in order to condemn us for wanting to confront a brother who is doing wrong.

JESUS NEVER SAID, “Everyone who sees a spec in their brother’s eye has a plank in their own eye.” Jesus was telling us to not be judgemental, not to ignore error.

Jesus never ignored error when He encountered it. There are many scriptures where He confronted the Pharisees for their hypocrisy (Matthew 23), He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith (Matthew 17:20), or He drove the money changers out of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13). When He did this, do you think Jesus had a plank in His eye? Of course not! Likewise we see this pattern continued with the apostles as they dealt with additional hypocrisy (Acts 23:3), false teachings (1Timothy 1:3-7), and people who thought they could get away with lying to God (Acts 5:1-11).

As Christians we need to make sure our message is focused in the right place, because there are too many messages telling us not to condemning things that Jesus Himself would never tolerate, and too few messages about confronting people who need to be confronted.

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20 NIV)

James :)