Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion was Matthew 7:1-5.

 

¹  “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.²  “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

³  “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

⁴  “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?

⁵  “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”  Matthew 7:1-5. 

 

Here are some quotes from Calvin’s Commentary (not contiguous) on these verses:

“Matthew 7:1. Judge not.   These words of Christ do not contain an absolute prohibition from judging, but are intended to cure a disease, which appears to be natural to us all.  We see how all flatter themselves, and every man passes a severe censure on others. This vice is attended by some strange enjoyment: for there is hardly any person who is not tickled with the desire of inquiring into other people’s faults.

This depraved eagerness for biting, censuring, and slandering, is restrained by Christ, when he says, Judge not.  It is not necessary that believers should become blind, and perceive nothing, but only that they should refrain from an undue eagerness to judge:  for otherwise the proper bounds of rigor will be exceeded by every man who desires to pass sentence on his brethren. 

To judge, therefore, means here, to be influenced by curiosity in inquiring into the actions of others. This disease, in the first place, draws continually along with it the injustice of condemning any trivial fault, as if it had been a very heinous crime; and next breaks out into the insolent presumption of looking disdainfully at every action, and passing an unfavourable judgment on it, even when it might be viewed in a good light.

That you may not be judged.  He denounces a punishment against those severe judges, who take so much delight in sifting the faults of others. They will not be treated by others with greater kindness, but will experience, in their turn, the same severity which they had exercised towards others.

Luke 6:37, 38.  Forgive, and it shall be forgiven to you. Give, and it shall be given to you. This promise, which is added by Luke, means, that the Lord will cause him, who is indulgent, kind, and just to his brethren, to experience the same gentleness from others, and to be treated by them in a generous and friendly manner. 

Matthew 7:3.  And why seest thou the straw?  He expressly touches upon a fault, which is usually found in hypocrites. While they are too quick-sighted in discerning the faults of others, and employ not only severe, but intentionally exaggerated, language in describing them, they throw their own sins behind their back, or are so ingenious in finding apologies for them, that they wish to be held excusable even in very gross offenses. Christ therefore reproves both evils: the excessive sagacity, which arises from a defect of charity, when we sift too closely the faults of brethren, and the indulgence by which we defend and cherish our own sins.”

Here is the link to the full Calvin Commentary on Matthew 7:1-5 – Click here: Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke – Volume 1 | Christian Classics Ethereal Library