And again, you shall say unto them, Why is it that you behold the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the speck, out of your eye, and cannot behold a beam in your own eye? And Jesus said unto his disciples, Do you behold the scribes, and the Pharisees, and the priests, and the Levites? They teach in their synagogues, but do not observe the law nor the commandments, and all have gone out of the way and are under sin. Go and say unto them, Why do you teach men the law and the commandments when you yourselves are the children of corruption? Say unto them, You hypocrites, first cast out the beam out of your own eye, and then shall you see clearly to cast out the speck, out of your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)
Christ uses the word brother instead of neighbor. Does this distinction matter?
Do you want to help your brother see where he is ignorantly walking contrary to God's will? Then wisdom would have you first remove the beams from your eye by not simply teaching obedience to Christ's commandments but by personally obeying them too.
I'm trying to teach Christ's commandments. It would be quite hypocritical of me to do so if I were not striving to live the standard that I explain. What about your teachers. Do they understand the commandments of God? Do they obey the commandments of God? Do they teach the commandments of God? Do they believe that in doing so they will find Christ in this life? Have any of them done so?
Do they instead teach that all is well and you're going to be saved independent of you actually repenting and keeping God's commandments? That you're OK so long as you draw near God with your lips even if your heart is far from Him?
If they do then isn't there still a beam in their own eye? How then can they guide you in cleansing yours?
Before we teach we should first apply. Before we can apply we must first understand.
The things of God are of deep import, and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Your mind, O man, if you will lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost Heavens, and search into and contemplate the lowest considerations of the darkest abyss, and expand upon the broad considerations of eternal expanse. You must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God than the vain imagination of the human heart? None but fools will trifle with the souls of men.
