SERIES: LESSONS FROM THE CARPENTER
PLANKS AND SAWDUST
Mark 6:1-3, “*Jesus left there and went to his hometown accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?”
“What’s this wisdom that has been given him?
What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?
Isn’t this the carpenter?
Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon?
Aren’t his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.*
Isn’t this the carpenter?
Being a village carpenter was among the very lowest occupations in society, with no financial security and no assets such as a small farm.
Now his father was a carpenter and made at that time ploughs and yokes. And there was required of him a bed by a certain rich man, that he should make it for him. And whereas one beam, that which is called the shifting one was too short and Joseph knew not what to do, the young child Jesus said to his father Joseph: Lay down the two pieces of wood and make them even at the end next unto thee. And Joseph did as the young child said unto him. And Jesus stood at the other end and took hold upon the shorter beam and stretched it and made it equal with the other. And his father Joseph saw it and marvelled: and he embraced the young child and kissed him, saying: Happy am I for that God hath given me this young child (Infancy Gospel of Thomas).
Text: Matthew 7:1-6
*“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.*
1. Do Not Judge
McCrindle Research: Faith and belief in Australia (2017): Judging others, that is Christians acting self-righteously and pointing out the faults in others and in society is in the top three negative influences for non-Christian people (No. 1 ~ church abuse)
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Judge = “to pick out by separating”
Same way: in the same way you judge others, you will be judged ~ Cause & effect. Every judgement you make will carry inevitable consequences for yourself!
1 Cor. 5:12, *“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”
*
Same measure: (Gk. Metron) ~ with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
It is ultimate irony and hypocrisy for one imperfect human being to stand in judgement of another imperfect human being!
For example, the woman caught in adultery (John 8; Leviticus 20:10)
Q. Did they have the truth of the Bible on their side? YES
Q. Were they living the truth of the Bible? NO
The Royal Law: Love your neighbour as yourself
The Golden Rule: in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
“If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her” (John 8:7). Nobody threw one!
Jesus then illustrates this “Do not judge” message by using a lesson from his experience as a carpenter…
2. Planks and Sawdust
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite…
3. I can see clearly now
…the speck has gone!
first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
I.e. Jesus’ command not to judge does not mean that we are to never disagree with someone’s life choices. It doesn’t mean that I just roll over and agree with everything so I’m not being judgmental. As the apostle Paul wrote, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” (1 Cor. 5:12)
And so, there is a time when it’s appropriate to help a fellow Christian to remove a speck of sawdust from their eye but:
1. Remove your own plank first
2. Ask for the person’s permission
This is best done out of relationship
3. Have the person’s best interest at heart
I care for you and I want God’s best for you
4. Be humble, gentle and loving
We are to evaluate things according to the Word of God but we are never to condemn people with the Word. Christians need to learn to express God’s truth without being judgmental and condemning. We can feel strongly about something but we must not be arrogant or lacking in compassion.
James 2:12-13 MSG, “Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time” (See also Ephesians 4:2)
5. Make restoration your ultimate goal
Galatians 6:1, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.”
6. Leave room for the Holy Spirit
The changing process that God is doing in each of us (Sanctification) is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit
7. Be discerning
Matthew 7:6, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
What Jesus is teaching here is “don’t bother correcting those who won’t listen to you.” Pigs have no appreciation for valuable things. Scavenger dogs are known to even growl at those who try and toss them food.
Disciples of Jesus are not to force their beliefs on those who won’t receive them. Instead, we are called to be a compassionate community that corrects but never condemns its members. We are to carefully discern appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, but never bring condemnation to another person. And we must make sure the focus is very much on ourselves (our plank) rather than someone else’s sawdust.