It is easy to see what is wrong with other people.
We notice their mistakes, attitudes, words, and weaknesses. Sometimes we become so focused on correcting others that we forget to examine ourselves.
Jesus addresses this tendency in Matthew 7:3–5 through a simple but powerful picture: a person trying to remove a tiny speck from someone else’s eye while carrying a large plank in their own.
Look at Yourself First
Jesus asks: “Why do you look at the speck . . . in your brother’s eye?”
He is not saying that the speck doesn’t exist. He is challenging our tendency to notice another person’s faults while ignoring our own.
We often explain away our own mistakes but judge the mistakes of others. When someone else becomes angry, we may call them impatient. When we become angry, we may say, “They provoked me.”
Jesus wants us to have a different attitude: self-examination. Before asking what needs to change in someone else, we should ask: “Lord, what needs to change in me?”
The Danger of Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy happens when we demand from others what we are unwilling to practice ourselves.
We may tell someone to forgive while holding onto bitterness. We may criticize someone’s anger while refusing to deal with our own. We may speak about humility while constantly comparing ourselves with others.
Jesus says: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye . . .” — Matthew 7:5. He wants our lives to match our words.
Christianity is not simply about knowing what is right. It is about allowing God to transform us.
Correction Should Lead to Restoration
Examine yourself and then help your brother. This means there is a place for loving correction within the Christian life. But correction should come from humility and love, not superiority.
Galatians 6:1 says: “Restore that person gently.”
The goal should not be to embarrass someone or prove that we are right. It should be to help them grow. When we remember how much grace we ourselves have received, we can approach others with compassion.
Before You Judge, Examine
Before criticizing someone, ask yourself: Have I prayed for them? Have I examined my own heart? Am I trying to restore them, or simply point out their failure?
These questions can change the way we respond to people.
Instead of immediately saying, “They need to change,” we can begin by praying, “Lord, change me.” Instead of looking for someone’s failure, we can ask God to give us wisdom, humility, and compassion.
Matthew 7:3–5 is a call to humility.
Before you ask, “What’s wrong with them?” ask: “Lord, what are you showing me about myself?” Before you correct, allow God to correct you. Before you point to another person’s weakness, examine your own heart.
And when God gives you a clearer vision, use it not to condemn others, but to help restore them. “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” — Matthew 7:5
