A Mighty Fine Case of Plankeye (Luke 6:41-42)

“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother’s eye.”

I used to think this passage was talking about two types of sins: bigger sins and smaller sins; and that if you had one of the bigger sins (a log), it was foolish of you to try to help remove a smaller sin (a speck) from someone else’s life. Which kinda made sense at the time, and of course made for some humorous imagery.

What I’ve come to realize, however, is that the context of this passage is what Jesus has just said a few verses earlier: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven” (6:37). The log which prevents you from seeing clearly enough to help with someone else’s speck is not some random larger sin. The log in your eye is specifically the sin of judging. It is the spirit of judgment and condemnation.

Realizing this came as quite an ironic twist to me. It is often those who think they don’t have any sin (or at least not any big sins) in their life that are the most likely to be judgmental in dealing with another person’s sin. I know; I’ve been that person. On the other hand, those who see their own sin – and the mercy that covers them – are the ones who are able to see clearly enough to support another in their own struggle against sin.

I think the point is this: if you want to help someone else, you first have to remove your judgmental attitude towards them. You have to come to them in a spirit of love and forgiveness. Then, and only then, can you be an agent of God’s redemptive spirit in their life.