Hypocritically Critical
Well, after a too-long hiatus from the Sermon on the Mount, as we got through Confirmations and then Easter, we're finally back to tackle Matthew chapter 7.
Matthew 7:1-6, 12
It's nonsense like this that very often makes Christians timid about speaking the Gospel and drawing that firm line of righteousness vs. sinfulness. I've even heard some church leaders use this text as an excuse to be wishy-washy in their theology.
I said that this is a misuse of the text. More accurately, I think we could call it an abuse. Jesus is not telling us not to be critical in our decisions. He is not telling us not to judge good as good and evil as evil. He is not telling us to be moral pansies who never confront injustice or unrighteousness in this world! That interpretation would out and out contradict everything that Jesus did teach. No, Jesus did not tell us not to judge. He told us, again, as He has said throughout His Sermon, not to be a hypocrite. Just for a refresher, a hypocrite is someone who tells others to do something that they will not do, or someone who makes a show of doing something that he is in fact not doing. That is why Jesus did not say, "Do not judge," but, "Do not judge and you will not be judged." In other words, if you have sin in your own life that you are unwilling to repent of and change, then you do not have the right to judge that same sin (or, really, any sin) in another's life. Why? Because as Jesus makes clear in the next couple sentences, God will use on you the self-same standard that you used for another.
And just in case you missed His point, He makes it crystal clear in His analogy: "Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the great log in your own? And how dare you say to your brother, 'Let me take that splinter out of your eye,' when, look, there is a great log in your own? Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother's eye." He's making the point that not only don't we have the right, but we don't really even have the ability, the spiritual discernment, to help our brother in this situation. It's Jesus at His comical best, too.
Ever seen that sketch by the 3 Stooges, where Curly's got a long plank over his shoulder? In front of him, Moe's giving some direction, and all of a sudden, Larry says something, so Curly swings around and konks Moe one with the plank. When Moe yelps and crumples, Curly swings back around to see what's the matter, knocking Larry a good one. Just as Moe is recovering, Curly swings back to see what happened to Larry, whacking Moe a second time. This pattern goes on for some time until all the Nyuk-Nyuk, Why-I-oughta hyjinx ensues with someone getting his eyes poked, etc. etc.
Well, Jesus must have given the Stooges that idea, because what He describes pretty much plays out the same way:
Plank-Eye to Speck-Eye: Oh! Here, let me help you out with your speck!
Speck-Eye: What?! Look who's talking, you hypocrite!
Plank-Eye: No, really, here, hold still! (WHACK) Oops, sorry, almost got it. (WHACK) Hang on, now, just a little bit more (WHACK) ...
Speck-Eye: Ow, you jerk! Leave me the heck alone!
When we are hypocritically critical, we don't have the tenderness to lovingly help another person. And what happens instead is that we beat them up with their sinfulness, which is really our sinfulness, and really drive them farther away from Grace.
Instead, Jesus tells us, when we take the plank out of our own eye, through humility and repentance in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and strive to live a purer life (albeit still imperfect) we can allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, and our humble, loving approach will allow us to actually help our brother. It will sound a lot less like, "Hey, you hell-bound sinner! Repent!" and a lot more like, "Hey, I've been there, too. Let's walk through this together." As Jesus said, "Then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother's eye." Jesus doesn't say that we never try to help or talk against sin. In fact, He tells us that when we are willing and striving to deal with it in our own lives, we'll actually be able to help others in that way!
This is the spirit behind the Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12, to do unto others what you would want them to do unto you. It's about love, and gentleness, and humility. When we have that gentle humility and love for another, we are radiating Christ to them.
But still, there comes those times when, even when we're right with God, and trying to be humble and gentle, that we still won't get through to others. They, instead, will persist in their sinfulness and reject your words and actions. Jesus knows this. Heck, they did it to Him, too! So He warns us not to cast our pearls before swine, or give what is holy to the dogs (v. 6). In other words, if they won't listen, don't keep breaking your back to tell them! The truth is too valuable to waste! And when we persist in this, it will only cause them to hate and despise you, and your faith, all the more. Instead, back off and pray for them, because that's all you can do. Only God is able to change hearts. That's not your job.
God bless.
Matthew 7:1-6, 12
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgements you give are the judgements you will get, and the standard you use will be the standard used for you. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the great log in your own? And how dare you say to your brother, 'Let me take that splinter out of your eye,' when, look, there is a great log in your own? Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother's eye.Here we come to what, in my opinion at least, is the most misused phrase of Scripture of all time (or, possibly, John 8:7, "Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to cast a stone.") I hear it all the time when talking to people, or posting, or teaching about sin. "Did not Jesus say, 'Judge not lest ye be judged?' You have no right to tell me that I'm wrong! How can you call X a sin? You're so judgemental. Jesus told us not to judge, so you're being a hypocrite!"
"Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces...
"So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the Prophets."
It's nonsense like this that very often makes Christians timid about speaking the Gospel and drawing that firm line of righteousness vs. sinfulness. I've even heard some church leaders use this text as an excuse to be wishy-washy in their theology.
I said that this is a misuse of the text. More accurately, I think we could call it an abuse. Jesus is not telling us not to be critical in our decisions. He is not telling us not to judge good as good and evil as evil. He is not telling us to be moral pansies who never confront injustice or unrighteousness in this world! That interpretation would out and out contradict everything that Jesus did teach. No, Jesus did not tell us not to judge. He told us, again, as He has said throughout His Sermon, not to be a hypocrite. Just for a refresher, a hypocrite is someone who tells others to do something that they will not do, or someone who makes a show of doing something that he is in fact not doing. That is why Jesus did not say, "Do not judge," but, "Do not judge and you will not be judged." In other words, if you have sin in your own life that you are unwilling to repent of and change, then you do not have the right to judge that same sin (or, really, any sin) in another's life. Why? Because as Jesus makes clear in the next couple sentences, God will use on you the self-same standard that you used for another.
And just in case you missed His point, He makes it crystal clear in His analogy: "Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the great log in your own? And how dare you say to your brother, 'Let me take that splinter out of your eye,' when, look, there is a great log in your own? Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother's eye." He's making the point that not only don't we have the right, but we don't really even have the ability, the spiritual discernment, to help our brother in this situation. It's Jesus at His comical best, too.
Ever seen that sketch by the 3 Stooges, where Curly's got a long plank over his shoulder? In front of him, Moe's giving some direction, and all of a sudden, Larry says something, so Curly swings around and konks Moe one with the plank. When Moe yelps and crumples, Curly swings back around to see what's the matter, knocking Larry a good one. Just as Moe is recovering, Curly swings back to see what happened to Larry, whacking Moe a second time. This pattern goes on for some time until all the Nyuk-Nyuk, Why-I-oughta hyjinx ensues with someone getting his eyes poked, etc. etc.
Well, Jesus must have given the Stooges that idea, because what He describes pretty much plays out the same way:
Plank-Eye to Speck-Eye: Oh! Here, let me help you out with your speck!
Speck-Eye: What?! Look who's talking, you hypocrite!
Plank-Eye: No, really, here, hold still! (WHACK) Oops, sorry, almost got it. (WHACK) Hang on, now, just a little bit more (WHACK) ...
Speck-Eye: Ow, you jerk! Leave me the heck alone!
When we are hypocritically critical, we don't have the tenderness to lovingly help another person. And what happens instead is that we beat them up with their sinfulness, which is really our sinfulness, and really drive them farther away from Grace.
Instead, Jesus tells us, when we take the plank out of our own eye, through humility and repentance in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and strive to live a purer life (albeit still imperfect) we can allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, and our humble, loving approach will allow us to actually help our brother. It will sound a lot less like, "Hey, you hell-bound sinner! Repent!" and a lot more like, "Hey, I've been there, too. Let's walk through this together." As Jesus said, "Then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother's eye." Jesus doesn't say that we never try to help or talk against sin. In fact, He tells us that when we are willing and striving to deal with it in our own lives, we'll actually be able to help others in that way!
This is the spirit behind the Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12, to do unto others what you would want them to do unto you. It's about love, and gentleness, and humility. When we have that gentle humility and love for another, we are radiating Christ to them.
But still, there comes those times when, even when we're right with God, and trying to be humble and gentle, that we still won't get through to others. They, instead, will persist in their sinfulness and reject your words and actions. Jesus knows this. Heck, they did it to Him, too! So He warns us not to cast our pearls before swine, or give what is holy to the dogs (v. 6). In other words, if they won't listen, don't keep breaking your back to tell them! The truth is too valuable to waste! And when we persist in this, it will only cause them to hate and despise you, and your faith, all the more. Instead, back off and pray for them, because that's all you can do. Only God is able to change hearts. That's not your job.
God bless.
Labels: Salt and Light, Sermon on the Mount, Sin, St. Andrew's
posted by Gregory at 1:59 p.m.
2 Comments:
Gregory,
Respectfully, I have to step-in on your definition of 'hypocrite.' You said:
"Just for a refresher, a hypocrite is someone who tells others to do something that they will not do, or someone who makes a show of doing something that he is in fact not doing."
When one looks at the instances in the Bible where a hypocrite is labelled, they are usually held in such poor regard because they are on par with blasphemers. That is, a hypocrite, as understood historically, is 'one who professes a belief while despising, or disbelieving in their heart.'
What you have identified is a liar, (though your second definition is pretty much correct). Now, we can relate the two definitions and see that they are only shades apart. But in the broader spectrum, we know that a difference in shades can make for an entirely different understanding of a picture, and even an entirely different picture! The same applies with hermeneutics.
Other than that, I really liked your post, my friend. Excellent as usual!
God bless you,
Christopher J. Freeman
Interesting, Chris. I'd never heard of hypocrisy being directly linked to blasphemy before, other than the fact that the particular hypocrites that Jesus blasts blasphemed against Him in their hypocrisy.
Literally, the Greek refers to putting on a mask, and was originally a theatrical term.
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