The Vine: March 4, 2024

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while 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 neighbor’s eye. “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.”

— Matthew 7:1-6

In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus continues to outline what the Kingdom-minded person looks like. Jesus focuses on how his followers are to be in a relationship with others and begins with the topic of judging. We do it always – it starts when we size people up. We decide who the winners and losers are just by looking at someone. It happens at the grocery store, when you walk, in the office, and even at church. In this text, Jesus’s understanding of the judgment of others is really about condemnation.

Condemnation is the dehumanization of other human beings. Dallas Willard explains it as “communicating that he or she is bad as a whole, and to be rejected.” We sentence that person to exclusion because that person is seen as unacceptable. It is a judgment about control. We attempt to make people into who we want them to be – who we think they should be. This rarely, if ever, works.

Then there is this funny little parable about logs and specks. My friend has a messy purse with snacks. Without noticing, she pulled out and put on her sunglasses with a gummy bear on the lens. She was getting frustrated because something was blocking her vision. It took her a minute to realize it wasn’t the world around her who had the issue but how she viewed it. Sometimes, when we get frustrated at others' actions, the problem is not with them but how we view them. In this scripture, the plank is the issues we deal with affect how we see the world around us. Sometimes, we are more concerned about the tiny spec in somebody else's eye than the log in our own eye.

Jesus starts talking about dogs, pearls, and pigs. These are not things that usually go together. I think that is the point. Jesus is painting a picture of our efforts to correct and control others by pouring out our good things. These things may not even be something they can use, but often, we don’t listen to them. Our good intentions make little difference. The point is not that the pearl isn’t valuable, but it's not helpful to the person. Ultimately, the “pearls” of wisdom we toss at people while judging them have little impact. Jesus follows this teaching with instructions on humility. When we talk with people humbly, we see the change we desire. We know the desired change when we show them respect by asking honest questions.

We all can get caught up in judging others for many reasons. Even as a pastor, I can struggle with this issue. Instead of looking with eyes of judgment, what if we view others with eyes of hope?

Questions for Reflection

Reflecting on the analogy of the log and the speck, how might your biases or personal issues distort your perception of others?
In what ways do you find yourself trying to control or change others to fit your expectations or standards? How might adopting a posture of humility affect these tendencies?
How can you ensure that your efforts to offer guidance or correction to others are received with humility and respect rather than defensiveness or hostility?
Think about the metaphor of giving pearls to swine; how can you discern when it's appropriate to share your wisdom or advice with others and when it might be more beneficial to refrain and approach the situation with humility and respect?

Prayer:

Gracious and loving God,

‘We confess, God, that too often, we are quick to judge and condemn others, forgetting we are not without fault. Forgive us for the times when we have dehumanized those around us, seeing them as unworthy or unacceptable in your sight. Grant us the humility to recognize our faults before pointing out the specks in our neighbor's eye.’

In Christ,

David

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