Lately, for whatever reason, it seems people are highly concerning about the hypocrisy of others. I hear them talk about it and I see people pointing out the hypocrisy of others on Facebook. Everyone seems to have burning observations about the recent election which are focused on the behaviour of others. I imagine you have seen this phenomenon too so I likely do not need provide examples. People are boasting, complaining, angry, shocked, mourning, accusing, slanderous, gleeful, resigned, or couldn't care less. As I observe others I do well to first examine my own heart and motives, knowing what the Bible says about me.
After Paul explained how God is holy and we are all under His judgment for sin, Romans 2:1 begins with this zinger aimed at the self-righteous: "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." God's judgment is one thing, but man's judgment is another. This passage teaches us when we judge others we only condemn ourselves. Take hypocrisy, for example. If I am keen to point out the hypocrisy in others it reveals my own hypocrisy. Before God I need to own the sin I judge to be in others. "It takes one to know one" is an appropriate cliche in this context. God's judgment comes from a place of righteous, holy perfection, but my judgments are naturally justified by my own crookedness.
This works in a similar fashion concerning our suspicions of others. If we are suspicious people are talking about us behind our backs, it should be a signal to alert us of our own modus operandi. If I am bothered by people gloating over a victory, I can know it is my natural inclination to do the same. A person who is preoccupied their spouse could be cheating on them may themselves be unfaithful in their hearts. We are all without excuse, for we are all sinners before the righteous Judge of all the earth. Instead of judging others for their faults, we are called to repentance and obedience before God. If we love Him, we will walk in the light as He is in the light. Should we see a fellow Christian in sin, we are to check our own hearts and seek to restore such a one in a spirit of humility and meekness (Gal. 6:1) because we too can succumb to the exact same sin.
Those who judge practice the same things. We do better to remove the plank from our own eyes first so we can see clearly to dislodge the speck from someone else's eye. What I have found to be true is when I confess my sin and repent for my plank-eye and look with clear eyes on others, the specks often disappear. Praise the LORD for clarity of vision He brings through His Word and the Holy Spirit into a world darkened with hypocrisy.
After Paul explained how God is holy and we are all under His judgment for sin, Romans 2:1 begins with this zinger aimed at the self-righteous: "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." God's judgment is one thing, but man's judgment is another. This passage teaches us when we judge others we only condemn ourselves. Take hypocrisy, for example. If I am keen to point out the hypocrisy in others it reveals my own hypocrisy. Before God I need to own the sin I judge to be in others. "It takes one to know one" is an appropriate cliche in this context. God's judgment comes from a place of righteous, holy perfection, but my judgments are naturally justified by my own crookedness.
This works in a similar fashion concerning our suspicions of others. If we are suspicious people are talking about us behind our backs, it should be a signal to alert us of our own modus operandi. If I am bothered by people gloating over a victory, I can know it is my natural inclination to do the same. A person who is preoccupied their spouse could be cheating on them may themselves be unfaithful in their hearts. We are all without excuse, for we are all sinners before the righteous Judge of all the earth. Instead of judging others for their faults, we are called to repentance and obedience before God. If we love Him, we will walk in the light as He is in the light. Should we see a fellow Christian in sin, we are to check our own hearts and seek to restore such a one in a spirit of humility and meekness (Gal. 6:1) because we too can succumb to the exact same sin.
Those who judge practice the same things. We do better to remove the plank from our own eyes first so we can see clearly to dislodge the speck from someone else's eye. What I have found to be true is when I confess my sin and repent for my plank-eye and look with clear eyes on others, the specks often disappear. Praise the LORD for clarity of vision He brings through His Word and the Holy Spirit into a world darkened with hypocrisy.
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