Humility not hypocrisy

Matthew 7 : 1- 5

Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?

It does seem to be true that we react to the faults of others most harshly while making light of or even ignoring our own faults. This happens when we are not self-aware, which happens to many Christians, who claim to have a good knowledge of the Scriptures and of God. It has happened to me too. There are times when I judge others based on my standards, rather than seeking God's perspective on the matter. And when we use our own human (and of course sinful) standards, we are as Jesus said, being hypocrites.

Most times, a judgmental thought will form in my mind first and I have the chance to assess it before I speak out against or condemn another. I have found that if I humbly bring my 'judgment' to prayer, I become less certain about it. This contrasts with the temptation of speaking to others about it, to gain their 'support' - which might just deepen my self-righteous judgmentalism. Before God, the holy and just One, I realize that I am just playing as 'judge'. Indeed, often the grounds of my complaint against another seems so paltry before the greatness of God.

Something I have learnt over the years is never to judge and condemn a person solely based on his or her external actions. Yes, there are times when clearly, God's laws are broken by others but I can never be the just and merciful judge that God is. I can only see the action done but I realize that the same action can and does emerge from different motivations. Any human person is so complex that at the end of the day, it is only God who reads every hidden motivation of the heart. In fact that is a grace, for I know that my Judge will deal with me justly and graciously, more so than other human persons might. When I recall the mercy God has shown to me, despite my many sins (that are ultimately against him), how could I not extend the same grace to others? I have heard people say that it is better to 'err on the side of grace'. After much thought about this, and considering passages such as this, I believe they are right. I must never forget how tentative and incomplete my knowledge of other people is. It is far better to humbly seek self-knowledge, and seek personal purity of heart than to try to perform eye surgery on others.