Matthew 7:1-11

The Right Side up Life  / Matthew 7:1–11

We measure things all the time.

In the same way we love measuring height, we love to measure worth. We love to assess the value of something or someone else based on how we measure. We all have versions of what is right, what is wrong, what we want to be right, what we want to be wrong, and sometimes we get those mixed up.

Why does it matter in the first place?

We need better measurement in our lives. Jesus tells us that we are called to be very careful how we measure.

Matthew 7:3–4 ESV

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?

Because it’s way easier pointing out the messy stuff in someone else. When we do that we feel better about our lives. And for a moment we can ignore what we are dealing with. But Jesus is adjusting how we measure.

We are going to see the call to care for another person through restoring them back to Christ. That our role is reconciliation and that does take working on taking out the specks in each others eyes.

However we have to spend most of the time dealing with the log in our own eye. If we don’t spend our time working out the log in our eye we will disproportionately react to things that are not involved in the issue. We will not be able to see clearly to address the issue.

Matthew 7:5 ESV

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Jesus is calling us to deal with that. Because the thing we have sold ourselves as the best thing is really only making us blind. It is not offering us the life we thought we would get.

We have these ideas of the ROI on these things. That we will get a great return on our investment. But the return is often that it just makes us blind. We end up only being able to see how people either help you get that thing or keep you from getting that thing. Everything else is an enemy.

The Log in our eye is often an idol in our heart

Allow the Lord to unstick the log in your eye

Start with Confession

Careful how we judge

Matthew 7:1–2 ESV

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Judgement is fixed. Be careful how you judge

2 Peter 3:8–9 ESV

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Discussion Questions

1. How do we often misjudge others due to the “logs” in our own eyes, and what are some practical ways to identify and remove these logs in our daily lives?
2. Why is it easier to point out faults in others rather than dealing with our own shortcomings, and how can we shift our focus towards self-examination?
3. In what ways can faulty judgment, whether in everyday life or in our relationships, cause harm to ourselves and others? Can you think of personal examples?
4. What does it mean to judge with humility and grace, and how can we approach judgment in a way that leads to reconciliation and restoration rather than condemnation?
5. How can we apply the concept of drawing “arrows” rather than building “barriers” in our relationships, helping to guide others toward Christ while avoiding judgmental attitudes?