Blame and Fault

Good Morning,

Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV)
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

I wish that the written word could convey what I hear in my head as I read these verses that came from the mouth of Jesus. I wish that black on white letters making words could put forth the emotion I think that Jesus used when He spoke these words. If I'm to try to write what I hear, I guess it would be something like this:

"WHY to you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and PAY NO ATTENTION to the PLANK in your own eye????? HOW can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when ALL THE TIME THERE IS A PLANK IN YOUR OWN EYE??!!!?? YOU HYPOCRITE!!! FIRST, TAKE THE PLANK OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, and THEN you will see clearly to remove the speck of your brother's eye."

Okay, that's pretty weak, I know. But, well, whenever I read these words it causes me to see Jesus as pretty angry about this subject and using His power...now, remember, that would be the power of the living God!...and emotion to put forth His point. I don't think that He spoke calmly and softly about this. No, not at all. I hear His voice rising, maybe almost to a shout when He said, "You hypocrite," while speaking these words. Do you think people paid attention when they heard the voice of God? When they could feel God's anger at what He was observing?

So, to the point of His message. Forgive the rant there.

We have become, and perhaps we've always been, a fault finding bunch of human beings. It seems that we always want to put "blame" onto everything that goes even just a tiny bit wrong. Yet, most of us have more "fault" and "blame" in ourselves than what we often see in those we are looking to place blame and fault. This, of course, is what Jesus is speaking to in these verses. Jesus also said at one point, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7), and this also speaks to our point this morning.

As Jesus wasn't a fault finding person and didn't look to see where He could place blame, then we, also, should be like Him in this. (Well, we should be trying to be like Him in ALL ways, but let's concentrate on this one for today.) This, I think is one of the easiest ways that we can, truly, be more like Jesus and attain just a tiny piece of the perfection we seek; the perfection of walking this planet in the same way as Jesus. Here, in order for me to walk in His steps, all I have to do is to remember that I'm at fault and have blame for things, as much or more than any I might want to point my finger at or talk about. I have sinned as much or more than the woman caught in adultery. My sin and my fault may not be the same sin and fault as those I might see, but it is certainly there.

Today, just this one single day, let each of us NOT point a finger, point out a fault, place a blame, or accuse of sin...anyone. Why don't you and I start to take the plank out of our own eyes. Then, when we've confessed, repented, and atoned for our own wrongs, let's begin to help our brothers and sisters with the speck we so easily see in them.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David