Matthew 7:5

Friday, 31 January 2025   Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:5   “Hypocrite! First, you eject the beam from your eye, and then you will thoroughly see to eject the splinter from your brother’s eye” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke about someone saying he wanted to remove the chip from another’s eye while he had a beam in his own eye. Now, He continues that thought, saying, “Hypocrite! First, you eject the beam from your eye.”   The person is identified as a hypocrite because he is attempting to eject a moral defect from someone else while having his own, much greater, moral defect left unresolved. This is one of the tactics of those on the political left.   They identify some supposed fault in those they oppose but they are filled with fifty times the moral corruption than the insignificant point they have called out in their opponents. They make a mountain out of a molehill while sitting on their own heights of hypocrisy. Understanding this, Jesus continues with, “and then you will thoroughly see to eject the splinter from your brother’s eye.”   Jesus introduces the word diablepó. It is derived from dia, through, and blepó, to see. The prefix dia intensifies the thought of seeing. Thus, it is when one can see thoroughly. The meaning is that when a person has a moral defect, even if he sees a defect in others, he cannot clearly identify and root out another’s moral defect.   However, once he has cleaned up what is defective in himself, he will be able to more thoroughly review what is wrong in another. With this clarity of vision, he can then help the person remove what is defective in his own life.   Life application: The city of Chicago has gone from worse to worse in its selection of mayors. In fact, with the selection of a mayor, it seems that whoever is elected turns out to be so bad that there is no possible way the next person can be anything but a step up. Amazingly, however, once elected, it is seen that the new mayor is, in fact, worse than the one before.   How can this be when the people are so fed up with their mayor that they eject him or her from office, but then choose someone worse? The answer is that they are so morally corrupt themselves that they cannot see clearly to choose anything other than another liar whose promises woo them into believing they will be showered with abundance if they only elect him.   The problem is with those who choose the candidate. The candidate is simply taking advantage of the selfish greed of the people. Until the people themselves are willing to clear out the defect in their mode of selection, they will continue to go from one bad choice to another.   This is true at any level of politics. It is true in the selection of pastors for churches. It is true in a variety of ways in life. Critical thinking is not taught in schools. People are also unwilling to stop and evaluate the root of their problems, and so bad decisions continue to flow in their lives.   The only way to truly stem the tide of moral degradation in one’s life is to have a standard that is beyond oneself as a guide for right living. This is true with societies as well. However, for the person or society to be truly godly, that standard must be God.   There are many teachings that claim God as their source, but God is not fickle. He will not present Himself in one way to one group and in another way to others. Rather, He has presented Himself in one historically long and yet readily discernible way, which is through the pages of Scripture.   His presenting the law to Israel and then grace at the coming of Jesus are not two different presentations of Himself. Rather, it is one continuous instructional tool, each dispensation building on the others so that we can fully understand and appreciate His full plan of redemption.   Therefore, if a person or society wants to clear out immoral baggage, following the Bible is the only true way to do so. The further a society moves from the teachings of Scripture, the more morally corrupt it will be. The types of corruption may be different, but they will all be a presentation of morality that is incapable of true and lasting reformation.   God has given us the standard by which we can thoroughly see where our defects lie. It is up to us to accept or reject that truth. May we make the right decision and look to Jesus, the ultimate Standard of God’s proper moral way, as our guide. In doing so, things will go well for us.   Lord God, man is capable of great achievements and productivity, both individually and in societies. But without following Your guiding hand as it is presented in Scripture, there will always be defects in how we do things. Perfection will never come through our efforts. But through Jesus, we know that perfection lies ahead for Your people. Thank You, O God, for Jesus who promises us Your perfection. Amen.