Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Psalms 37-41
     New Testament Reading: Luke 6

Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam of wood in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye (Luke 6:41-42).

In all the movies and videos I’ve seen about the life of Christ, I never saw a scene depicting Jesus and His Disciples laughing or joking around. I’ve never seen a picture of Christ with a big smile on His face in joyous laughter. Yet I believe God has a great sense of humor. (I’m reminded of His humor every morning when I look in the mirror.) I believe Jesus spent time with His disciples enjoying life, telling funny stories, and laughing with one another.

One great example of Jesus’ humor is found in these verses. Now, remember, no one at this time had ever seen a cartoon or character drawing depicting exaggerated features to humorously emphasize a point. Imagine a person with an entire log or wooden beam protruding from their eye. Then imagine them trying to see to remove a tiny speck or splinter. Not only could they not see it, they could not even get close enough to reach it. What a humorous example for us. I can just imagine the disciples roaring with laughter and Jesus pausing to chuckle Himself at the image He described before finishing His thought.

Jesus, however, was not after laughs. He wasn’t trying to just be entertaining. He was using humor to make His point more rememberable. Being critical of one another, constantly pointing out flaws in others is not conducive to the loving atmosphere Christians are to exhibit. Sunday dinner was never intended to be a generous serving of roast preacher!

It certainly is not wrong to help someone get a painful speck out of their eye. The emphasis here is on being honest with ourselves and not becoming hypocrites. We are to be accountable to one another and lovingly offer biblical correction when needed. Jesus simply meant that we should not condemn others for minor things in their lives while we ignore major sins in our own lives. We first need to take the log out of our own eye and then, and only then, can we see clearly to help our fellow Christians with the speck in their eye.

The gentle art of correction requires examining our own walk with the Lord, confessing and turning from any sin the Holy Spirit reveals to us. And then, as the Lord’s servants, in love, we must wisely correct those in sin and serious doctrinal error.