Matthew 7:1-5 says, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at 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,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
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."
A 'log' is a piece of a large branch or part of the tree's trunk that has been cut so that it can be used for structural members in construction that are like pillars. Here, the 'log' spiritually means a big sinful nature in the heart. We need to take this log out of our own eyes first, only then can we see everyone else with the heart and eyes of the Lord. We can also help each other with love, become united, and eventually enter beautiful New Jerusalem.
The 'Log' Causes You to Judge and Measure Others
'Judging' is to distinguish what is right from what is wrong. When you 'judge' others, you form an opinion about them and it is usually a negative one. 'Measuring' is to guess and assume something regardless of what is true. You think a person probably did something because of pre-conceived reasons without the facts or true substantiation.
Those who judge and measure others should be aware that they have 'a log in their eye'. If one has a big root of sin and evil in heart, he or she usually reveals others' shortcomings and points them out.
Of course, we sometimes need to tell someone about his shortcoming to help him realize it because we love him. However, if we have a log in our own eye, we may point him out from evil and even give him pain causing him to stumble rather than help him gain realization.
If you have such a log, you may not be aware of it and not be able to realize what you have done is wrong. Although others may make you aware of such things through advice, you may think it does not apply to you. You may just think, 'I love God and live by His Word. I have faith.' However, if you have such a log, it is likely that you have closed the door of your heart. Then, you cannot discover your shortcomings and you may keep judging and measuring others.
However, if you have spiritual love, you may love anybody and any ill feelings like hatred may not arise even if some people act arrogantly, show off, or do something bad. If you don't have the log, you can see their good characters, understand them considering their measure of faith, and pray for them with consideration.
Therefore, we must know that if others' specks are seen, it may indicate that you have a log in your eye and you should take the log out of your eye. Then, your eyes of heart will open and you can see everything more clearly and discern well in spirit and body (Ephesians 1:18-19).
'Taking Out the Log' Means to Take Out the Root of Your Sinful Nature
If you take out the large root of certain sinful natures in your heart, its fine roots will disappear together with it. It is like when a large tree root is pulled out, its fine roots also are pulled out together with it. So, you should focus your efforts on taking out the root of the sinful nature that is the hardest one for you to pull out. Then, its rootlets will naturally be pulled out too. Again, taking the log out of your eye means taking out the large root of a sinful nature in your heart.
For instance, if you take out the large root 'hatred' and replace it with love, other sinful natures such as jealousy or envy will also be discarded. Thus, you don't have to worry thinking about when you can get rid of all the sinful natures in your heart. If a log used as a support pillar in a building is removed, it will be destroyed. In the same manner if you stay focused on removing the sinful nature that you find it the most difficult to remove through intensive prayer and fasting, you will quickly change and achieve the heart of spirit.
After you take the log out of your eye, you will not judge and condemn others. Even if you see their specks, you will not tell others about them. You can give advice with true love and then they will be moved, realize their shortcomings, and become renewed.
If you think a certain sinful nature is deeply rooted in your heart because you have committed such sins many times, you should put more effort into getting rid of it. If you unchangingly continue to do so, you will be able to experience the sinful nature being removed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Picture a bowl full of dark and dirty water. As you keep pouring clean water into it, the water will eventually be made clean. The same applies to casting away sinful natures. If you practice truth and love constantly, the sinful nature will be gotten rid of and you will be able to achieve the heart of spirit.
If you pour both dirty water and clean water into the water that was made clean, the water cannot be changed into clean water. In the same way, if you accept the untruth while you try to remove sinful natures in your heart, you cannot throw them away.
1 Corinthians 2:15 says, "But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one." Those who have taken the logs out of their eyes cannot reveal any kind of evil to others. They discern everything by the truth, the Word of God, without judging or condemning based on any personal knowledge or thoughts. They can discern things properly in the heart of goodness and love. Therefore, they can make true conclusions, and they are judged by no one.
Some evil people judge men of God in hatred, but it comes from their evil and has nothing to do with God (John 3:20). Only God can judge us. We as His creatures are just doers of the law. Therefore, if some evil people speak against and judge the law, they are just building the wall of sins against God (James 4:11).
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