Few of Jesus’ teachings are as memorable — or as uncomfortable — as his words about judgment:
The image is deliberately exaggerated. A speck is small, irritating, easy to spot. A log is large, obstructive, impossible to miss — except, apparently, when it belongs to us. Jesus uses humour to make a serious point: we are remarkably skilled at noticing others’ faults while remaining unaware of our own.
This is not a condemnation of discernment. Jesus is not telling us to abandon moral clarity or pretend that harm does not exist. He is exposing a tendency of the human heart — the habit of looking outward first, and inward last.
Why Judgment Feels So Natural
Judgment often feels justified.
We see behaviour that frustrates us. Decisions that seem careless. Opinions that feel wrong or dangerous. Naming these things can feel like honesty, even responsibility.
But Jesus invites us to notice how we see.
The problem is not that we recognise a speck. The problem is that our vision is distorted by something much larger — a log that shapes our perspective without our awareness.
This log might take many forms:
- pride disguised as certainty,
- fear expressed as criticism,
- insecurity masked by superiority,
- frustration redirected as blame.
Because these patterns feel familiar, they become invisible.
Blindness Disguised as Clarity
One of the dangers of judgment is that it can masquerade as clarity.
We convince ourselves that we see more clearly than others — that our perspective is objective, balanced, or morally grounded. This sense of clarity can feel reassuring, especially in a confusing world.
But Jesus challenges this comfort. He suggests that our confidence in seeing clearly may itself be part of the problem.
Self-examination is not optional in the life of faith. It is essential.
Before we attempt to correct others, we are called to attend to what is shaping our own vision.
Hypocrisy and Healing
Jesus uses strong language here: hypocrite.
This word often sounds harsh to modern ears, but it originally referred to an actor — someone playing a role. Hypocrisy, in this sense, is not simply moral failure. It is misalignment between appearance and reality.
Jesus’ concern is not to shame, but to heal.
When we ignore the log in our own eye, we remain trapped in distortion. Our attempts to help others become harmful rather than helpful. Correction without self-awareness becomes control.
But when we begin with self-examination, something changes.
“First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.”
Notice the outcome: clearer sight, not silence. Jesus does not forbid helping others. He insists that help must flow from humility.
Judgment and Power
Judgment is rarely neutral. It carries power.
Those who judge position themselves as evaluators rather than companions. They speak from above rather than alongside. This dynamic can easily damage relationships, communities, and trust.
Jesus consistently resists this posture. He moves towards people rather than standing over them. He listens before correcting. He restores dignity before calling for change.
This does not mean avoiding hard truths. It means holding them with care.
Logs in the Life of Faith
In religious contexts, logs often appear in subtle forms.
We may pride ourselves on theological correctness while neglecting compassion.We may emphasise moral behaviour while ignoring grace.We may criticise others’ failures while excusing our own as understandable.
These patterns do not develop overnight. They grow slowly, fed by habit and reinforced by community norms.
Jesus’ teaching interrupts this cycle. He calls us back to honesty — not as self-criticism, but as liberation.
Learning to See Clearly
Clear vision begins with humility.
Humility is not self-loathing. It is accurate self-knowledge. It recognises both gift and limitation. It acknowledges that we are shaped by context, experience, and bias.
To remove the log from our own eye is to allow God to challenge our assumptions, soften our defensiveness, and expand our compassion.
This is not a one-time act. It is a way of life.
Practising Self-Examination
Self-examination can feel risky. It exposes us. It unsettles comfortable narratives about ourselves.
But Scripture consistently affirms it as a path to freedom.
When we examine ourselves honestly, we are less reactive. Less defensive. More patient. We become capable of helping others without harming them.
This kind of clarity is rare — and deeply needed.
Living This Teaching
As this month continues, you will encounter situations that invite judgment. Frustrations will arise. Opinions will clash. It will be tempting to focus on specks.
In those moments, remember Jesus’ words — not as accusation, but as invitation.
Pause. Reflect. Ask what might be shaping your response.
Removing the log does not weaken your witness. It strengthens it.
It allows you to see others more clearly — not as problems to fix, but as people to love.
Prayer
Merciful God,
we confess how easily we see the faults of others
while remaining blind to our own.
Give us courage to examine ourselves honestly,
and grace to receive your correction without fear.
Clear our vision,
so that we may see others with compassion
and speak truth with humility.
Teach us to walk gently,
aware of our own need for mercy.
Amen.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright © Crossway.
