Biblical Wisdom

Looking at and Criticizing Other People's Mistakes?

5 min read, approximately

“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own? Or how can you say to your brother: Let me remove the speck from your eye, when there is a beam in yours? Hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)

It is so important to weigh what comes out of our mouths:

“… for the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart.” (Luke 6:45b)

. So if we give ourselves free rein to say everything in our hearts, we can do much more harm than we think:

“But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, and blasphemies. These are the things that defile a person…” (Matthew 15:18-20a)

. Therefore:

“Brothers and sisters, do not speak against one another. Whoever speaks against a brother or sister and judges them speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one Lawgiver, who can save and destroy. But who are you to judge another?” (James 4:11-12)

Do we struggle with looking at and criticizing other people’s mistakes? Let us see what the Bible suggests: \1. Remember that we too are human and therefore also make mistakes:

“Welcome the one who is weak in faith, but not to argue over opinions. One person believes they may eat everything; another, who is weak, eats vegetables. Let the one who eats not despise the one who does not, and let the one who does not eat not judge the one who does, for God has welcomed them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? Before their own master they stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” (Romans 14:1-4)

\2. Before criticizing, consider the situation. Think first!

“Some people’s words strike like sword blows, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips will endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” (Proverbs 12:18-19)

To be continued…

\3. Make sure what we are going to say will build the other person up:

“Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as needed, so that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve God’s Holy Spirit, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:29-30)

\4. Always be willing to help, but watch ourselves too:

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a fault, you who are spiritual should restore that person with a spirit of gentleness, watching yourself so that you too are not tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

\5. Beware of slander and defamation; follow the counsel of God’s Word:

“If your brother sins against you, go and correct him when the two of you are alone. If he listens, you have won your brother over. But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he does not listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he does not listen to the church, treat him as a Gentile and a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:15-17)

Let us remember:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to captives and the opening of prison to those confined; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who grieve in Zion, giving them glory instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of gladness instead of a distressed spirit. They will be called trees of righteousness, planted by the Lord for his glory.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

. Proclaim the good news! So be careful:

“Blessing and cursing come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:10)

… Let us not get caught up in what those around us are doing. Do not forget that Jesus himself said:

“But I tell you that people will give account on the day of judgment for every idle word they speak.” (Matthew 12:36)

May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
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