Pastor’s Thoughts – 02-22-2026

I think many of us at times after hearing a solid sermon at church have thought to ourselves or voiced it, “I wish so and so had been here to hear that message.” In expressing this, I have assessed myself as having the best of intentions. I do want others to hear the truth and be fully convinced in Jesus Christ, embrace Him, and live the Christian life. But it could be that at times other motives have slipped into me where I could be caught thinking with an inappropriate attitude formed from pride. I am reminded that even the best of things can be misguided if not embraced in God’s wisdom. The attitude of being a, “know it all,” or thinking of ourselves as superior to others is a problem for all of us on planet earth. The highest epitome of this was demonstrated by the Scribes and Pharisees. They looked at themselves as a cut above all others and treated others with contempt. On the contrary the Christian must be motivated by the compassion of God’s love. Judgmental attitudes must rest upon a fine line of truly having a motive of the well-being of others at heart, and not something personal in us moving as a means to pull ourselves up while we push others down. Our Lord addresses this in His Sermon on the Mount, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” (Matt. 7:1). This verse is often taken out of context and abused. We know that Christ was not saying we must not exercise appropriate judgement of others because just a few verses later He says, ”Beware of false prophets” (Matt. 7:15). He also says, “Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24).

Importantly, this is a context where Christ is warning about judging others carelessly. He addresses our foremost need which is to first judge ourselves properly. “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” (Matt. 7:3)? This is one of the most humorous analogies in Scripture. We must be sure we are viewing ourselves correctly before we critically make judgments on others. Here is the idea of seeing something small in someone else’s eye like a grain of dust while overlooking a huge beam protruding from our own eye. This, like so many matters of Scripture and perception, has much to do with our walk with the Lord, a righteous assessment of ourselves, and carrying a mindset of humility.

Our Lord says in effect in Matthew 7:5 that we should work on setting ourselves in order and then we will be able to properly help others. He says, “First take the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Ironically, the one person of which we have a significant degree of control is ourselves, not others. The point is that we cannot be useful to help others when our own view of reality is marred, and when our right relation with God is impaired by wrong and often over inflated perceptions of ourselves. To begin to assess and be of help to others, we must be free from the obstruction we ourselves may possess. Only then can we be in any sense qualified to spiritually assess and help to guide others in a righteous direction.

In this same context Christ also teaches of our need for wisdom in addressing others. He says, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces” (Matt. 7:6). It is another way of saying that there is also a balance required in what we say and to whom we say it. This passage also has powerfully worded imagery expressing a serious warning. We must be careful by our motive not to misjudge with a critical spirit, but we also must not misjudge others ability to receive the truth. In everything we assess the situation and speak wisely as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). Christ did not address everyone He encountered in the same manner. We have a responsibility and accountability to convey truth to others, but we must judge every situation and person in wisdom as to how they are approached. “Dogs” in this context are not house pets, but ravenous wild dangerous animals, and “swine” are the unclean animals of the covenant representing those who will reject anything good. The “pearls” are the truths of God’s holy and great salvation, and its righteous relation with God. When we meet people who are antagonist toward the truth in Christ, we are not obligated to have it out with them so to speak. In fact, Christ commands us not to, and He is God and the source of all wisdom.

Every person and every situation in the course of our life is different and challenging. We must assess our own selves and our motives, and we must with our ears determine the character of those we encounter. We are obligated by Christ to bring light to others, and yet we are instructed to assess and know what to say and when to say it. There is a beautiful proverb that sums this up. “Like apples of gold in settings of silver, is a word spoken at the proper time” (Proverbs 25:11). Our words and their use will be formed in us by being in God’s Word, and by the prayerful guidance given us by the Holy Spirit. We are to joyfully walk in wisdom before our God seeking to benefit others and be useful for His kingdom and for His glory!