The Log, the Speck, and the Heart of Humility

By Dean Collins

Have you ever had a stick in your eye? It is an embarrassing story, but I have!

Once, while playing a late-afternoon round of golf with a friend, I pulled my iron shot on a par 3, and it landed on the edge of the woods. We were a little rushed to finish the nine holes, so I hurriedly went to find my ball. Since it was almost dark, I didn’t see my surroundings clearly. When I reached for my ball, I felt something sharp in my eye.

I walked onto the green and asked my friend if there was anything in my eye. He replied, “Yes, a stick!” It was small, so he reached over and pulled it out. Fortunately, after going to the eye doctor, I learned there was no permanent damage!

I think about this incident every time I read the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

In this case, it was me and not my friend who had something that needed to be removed.

This familiar line, along with the preceding words of Jesus, “Judge not, lest you be judged,” may be among the most quoted verses in the Bible. Often, when someone responds with this comment, they mean, “Mind your own business.” But in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, I don’t think that was Jesus’ intention.

Jesus is not suggesting that we use no judgment or discernment when evaluating our relationships or behaviors. Rather, he is telling us to resist arrogance and pride and not think that we are better than another person.

When Jesus gave his exaggerated and humorous illustration about taking the log out of our own eye, his point was similar to an earlier one he made about sounding a trumpet so everyone can see our good deeds or big donations. Pride causes us to look down on other people.

The concept of treating others the way we want to be treated is a repeated theme in Jesus’ teaching. When he taught the disciples to pray, he said, “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Later in this same sermon, Jesus told us to treat others the way we want to be treated.

When my friend removed the stick from my eye, I am pretty sure he would have wanted me to do the same for him if he were the one in pain. There are times when I need someone to point out my error and help me correct or improve an area of my heart that is not aligned with Jesus. And, like you, I usually respond better when I am approached with humility than when someone simply points a finger at me and acts as though I should have known better.

Practicing the teachings of Jesus and living as people of his kingdom requires the humility to see ourselves clearly. It requires us to recognize that, like everyone else, we desperately need the love and mercy of Jesus.

Father, we are overwhelmed by your great love for us! Thank you for Jesus, who gave his life in payment for our sins. Thank you for transforming us into your new creation. Align our wills with yours so that we might be your ambassadors today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Matthew 7: 1-5  ESV

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