“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself…” — Romans 2:1
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” — Matthew 7:3
Many people become experts at detecting the failures of others while remaining blind to their own spiritual condition. Jesus described a man trying to remove a tiny speck from another man’s eye while a massive beam remained in his own. The Lord is condemning hypocritical judgment. A proud heart magnifies the faults of others and minimizes its own sin.
Before we correct another brother, we must first allow God to search us. Conviction must begin in our own heart. A man who walks humbly before God will deal gently with others because he understands his own weakness.
David prayed: “Search me, O God, and know my heart…” — Psalm 139:23
A broken man sees his own need for mercy before demanding judgment upon others.
David Judging the Rich Man — 2 Samuel 12:1-7
Nathan told David about a rich man who stole a poor man’s lamb. David burned with anger and declared:
“the man that hath done this thing shall surely die.” — 2 Samuel 12:5
Then Nathan said: “Thou art the man.” — 2 Samuel 12:7
David condemned in another man the very sin living in his own heart. The beam was in David’s eye before he saw the mote in another.
The Pharisee and the Publican — Luke 18:9-14
The Pharisee stood proudly in the temple boasting: “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are…” — Luke 18:11
Meanwhile the publican smote upon his breast crying: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” — Luke 18:13
Jesus said the broken publican went home justified rather than the proud Pharisee.
God gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud.