[Jessica Jagerson]

MATTHEW 7 – SPECK IN YOUR EYE

³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? Matthew 7:3-4

I am surprised as to how so many people are often concerned with what everyone else is doing. For example, a family member may fail to do his or her part only to be reminded by that one family member of their shortcomings.  Or perhaps a friend forgets what may be obvious to everyone else for only an acquaintance to quickly judge them without no knowledge of the circumstance.  No matter the scenario, people tend to be quick to judge and ridicule while overlooking the obvious; the speck in their own eye!

The reality is that every single one of us possesses faults that we could resolve if we only spent more time fixing them. This is a much more profitable way to spend our time versus focusing on our Neighbor’s shortcomings.

In this verse, Jesus is quick to remind His listeners that we ought to consider the speck in our own eye before pointing out the speck in our Neighbor’s eye. Why, because until we get to heaven, we’re going to be prone to falling short, in almost every aspect of our being.

CHALLENGE

How would you personally describe yourself? Are you quick to be patient or fast to judge? Are you likely to point out people’s faults or one to overlook them graciously? Remember my friend; it’s likely that whatever speck you may point out, you may likely have a beam in your own eye. Therefore, be quick to be patient and spend your time with a personal evaluation. In doing so, it’s likely that we may see others’ actions in a more positive light.

[Eugene Estes]

This week’s devotional is from Matthew chapter 7, verses 3-4, where Jesus asks why we are quick to notice the speck in another’s eye while ignoring the log in our own. This passage is a metaphor: the speck represents a small fault and the log a greater one. Jesus warns us against focusing on minor faults in others while overlooking our larger shortcomings. This week’s devotional reminds us to extend grace and love to others rather than judge them.
In the Bible, God cautions us in several passages about judging others. He tells us not to judge, lest we be judged, and encourages us in the Lord’s Prayer to forgive others so that we may be forgiven. In the book of John, Jesus saves an adulterous woman from being stoned by telling the crowd that whoever is without sin should cast the first stone. They all leave, recognizing their own faults. Often, we may judge others for sins such as alcoholism, because we do not struggle with it ourselves, forgetting that we too have our own faults, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
God shows us mercy and forgives us of our shortcomings countless times though we are undeserving of His great love. As I self-reflect on this week’s devotional I think I try to be patient with others, often trying to understand and figure out why a person acts the way they do as it could be a result of past traumas. I am challenged to ensure I do a self-evaluation regularly of how I live my life, if it pleases God. And if my life does not please God, to repent and mend my ways as God is faithful to forgive me and restore us back to His kingdom. I will also correct others with love if they fall astray instead of judging them.

[Hannah Street]

This devotional talks about how sometimes we are so quick to judge others. I think this is something that people can easily do when we get caught up in life. This can cause you to think that your actions are better than others or can cause you to judge other people’s sin. I am guilty of doing it myself. I think it is important to recognize that we are all humans and we all make mistakes. We need to realize that it is not our place to judge. We need to recognize that we should not be pointing fingers at others and judging them, but we should offer them the same love that God has given to us. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He died not only to cover your sins specifically, but the sins of everyone. No one deserved to have our sins forgiven, but God freely gave that gift to us.

[Matthew Beaver]

The way I view myself often influences how I perceive others. I strive to be patient rather than quick to judge. I believe it’s important to focus on kindness and understanding instead of highlighting other people’s faults. It’s a reminder to look inward and assess my own shortcomings before critiquing others. By practicing self-reflection, I can cultivate a more positive perspective on the actions of those around me. Embracing patience allows us to foster better relationships and helps create a more supportive environment for everyone.

[Marisa Ross]

Matthew 7:3-4 is a powerful scripture because people often judge others without considering their own actions. Everyone makes mistakes, and I’m generally very patient, often overlooking things, which can make me a bit of a pushover. I haven’t always been that way. When I was younger, I couldn’t see the good in anyone. I would wish pain and suffering on many people and lived in a hateful state of mind, likely due to my surroundings at the time. As I grew older, I realized the world isn’t as bad as I thought and that all I truly needed was God to feel whole again. Now I understand the power of forgiveness, and I physically can’t hold a grudge. I often think about the possible situations or reasons behind people’s actions, even when they hurt me. Sometimes even good people can get burnt out or slip up, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely lost to us. How could I know if things might have worked out if I had just walked away over something trivial when we could have had eternal life together?

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