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Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing
others. Finite men can judge only from outward appearance. To Him
alone who knows the secret springs of action, and who deals tenderly
and compassionately, is it given to decide the case of every soul.
“Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest:
for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou
that judgest doest the same things.”
Romans 2:1
. Thus those who
condemn or criticize others, proclaim themselves guilty, for they do
the same things. In condemning others, they are passing sentence upon
themselves, and God declares that this sentence is just. He accepts
their own verdict against themselves.
“These clumsy feet, still in the mire,
Go crushing blossoms without end;
These hard, well-meaning hands we thrust
Among the heartstrings of a friend.”
[125]
“Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s
eye?”—Matthew 7:3.
Even the sentence, “Thou that judgest doest 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 or 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. According to the figure that our
Saviour uses, he who indulges a censorious spirit is guilty of greater
sin than is the one he accuses, for he not only commits the same sin,
but adds to it conceit and censoriousness.