Matthew 7:1-6

Matthew 7:1-6
This text is one of the most misused in the Bible. It is said that Jesus is forbidding His disciples from ever correcting a person who is in error or who has a sin in his life. If this interpretation is true, then Jesus repeatedly violated His own rule and the apostles were equally bad offenders. Even in this text (vs. 5), Jesus commanded that we remove a speck from a brother’s eye once the log has been removed from our own eye. In verse 6, Jesus warned against giving that which is holy to dogs or pearls to swine. In order to obey that command, we must judge as to whether a person falls into the category of a hog or a dog. In John 7:24, Jesus commanded His disciples to “judge righteous judgment” but not to “judge according to appearance.”What then is the meaning of Jesus’ words? Jesus is warning against harsh, nitpicking, speck-finding judgment. Imagine the lack of care that would be taken by a person trying to remove a speck while a log was in his own eye. Those who are always trying to examine every detail of another person’s life are not spending adequate time looking into their own lives. Only the person who is acutely aware of his own shortcomings and who diligently works to correct his sins, is qualified to help a brother with his faults. Thus, Jesus is warning against hypocritical judgment. Some pick on the tiniest flaw in another, but disregard major issues in themselves. Such judgmental people will end up getting the same kind of treatment in return, both in this life and the one to come.

But who might be a “hog” and a “dog?” These are people who show no regard for that which is holy and good. We cannot determine this until we have actually presented the gospel to a person. When their reaction is to despise what has been offered, go to others and leave these alone. Further efforts with people like this will only end violence and trouble.
Berry Kercheville