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The Only True Standard of Character, November 17
Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye?
Matthew 7:3
.
Even the sentence, “Thou that judgest does the same things,” does not reach the
magnitude of his sin who presumes to criticize and condemn his brother. Jesus said,
“Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the
beam that is in thine own eye?”
His words describe one who is swift to discern a defect in others. When he
thinks he has detected a flaw in the character of the life he is exceedingly zealous in
trying to point it out; but Jesus declares that the very trait of character developed in
doing this un-Christlike work is, in comparison with the fault criticized, as a beam
in proportion to a mote. It is one’s own lack of the spirit of forbearance and love
that leads him to make a world of an atom. Those who have never experienced
the contrition of an entire surrender to Christ do not in their life make manifest the
softening influence of the Saviour’s love. They misrepresent the gentle, courteous
spirit of the gospel and wound precious souls, for whom Christ died....
Christ is the only true standard of character, and he who sets himself up as a
standard for others is putting himself in the place of Christ. And since the Father
“hath committed all judgment unto the Son” whoever presumes to judge the motives
of others is again usurping the prerogative of the Son of God. These would-be
judges and critics are placing themselves on the side of antichrist, “who opposeth
and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as
God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
The sin that leads to the most unhappy results is the cold, critical, unforgiving
spirit that characterizes Pharisaism. When the religious experience is devoid of
love, Jesus is not there; the sunshine of His presence is not there.... There may be a
wonderful keenness of perception to discover the defects of others; but to everyone
who indulges this spirit, Jesus says, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of
thine own eye” (
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 125, 126
).
Not until you feel that you could sacrifice your own self-dignity, and even lay
down your life in order to save an erring brother, have you cast the beam out of your
own eye so that you are prepared to help your brother. Then you can approach him
and touch his heart.... A tender spirit, a gentle, winning deportment, may save the
erring and hide a multitude of sins. The revelation of Christ in your own character
will have a transforming power upon all with whom you come in contact. Let Christ
be daily made manifest in you, and He will reveal through you the creative energy
of His word—a gentle, persuasive, yet mighty influence to re-create other souls in
the beauty of the Lord our God (
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 128, 129
).
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