Silent But Deadly

There’s an old saying, “Sweep around your own front door.” Isn’t that a cool saying? But have you ever wondered where these old sayings came from? For instance, have you ever wondered where the saying “You can’t have your cake and eat it too” originated? I mean, if it’s my cake, I’d want to eat it, right? Now, let’s get back to the original saying and off my soapbox, “Sweep around your own front door.” Did you know there’s a song named that? It was performed by the Williams Brothers in 1986. Just a little fun fact!

Most “old sayings” are rooted in scripture. This saying originates from Matthew 7:3-5, and most people interpret it to mean “Straighten up your own life before you come and straighten up mine” or “Mind your own business before minding mine.” These sayings are contextually derived from scripture, but they are taken out of context. Scripture states this:

Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV) 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.

Now, let’s look into the context of the scripture. To truly understand its meaning, we must first identify the subject or subjects it addresses. (There are other factors to consider, but let’s focus on this aspect for now.) Matthew 7 is part of Lord Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, which begins in Matthew 5. This three-chapter sermon presents the truth, character, and requirements of the Kingdom of God. Instead of teaching us outward religious standards or performances, Lord Jesus emphasizes the most effective way to live our lives during our earthly existence.

Lord Jesus taught in various ways, using parables and metaphors. However, in this instance, HE employs hyperbolic statements to convey a point. We understand that Lord Jesus is criticizing hypocrisy, but HE is also demonstrating a contrast between condemnation and correction. The plank and speck both represent sin, and the viewpoint one appears larger than the other, which is the hypocrisy. Let’s break this down like a math problem:

There are two brothers, Brother #1 and Brother #2. Both brothers have a speck of sin in their eyes. Brother #1 calls out Brother #2’s sin and admonishes him harshly. However, Brother #1’s viewpoint has become narrow-minded because he can’t see his own sin.

Now, Lord Jesus never taught us to remain silent about sin. Instead, He taught us to avoid hypocrisy when it comes to calling out sin. We are called to gently correct our brothers and sisters who are in sin, knowing the consequences. Galatians 6:1 instructs us to do this, but emphasizes the importance of doing so with love. Here’s an example of how to do this:

Once again, two brothers, Brother #1 and Brother #2, meet. Brother #1 shares that Brother #2 is on a dangerous path, having been down a similar road that ended in tragedy. Brother #1 urges Brother #2 to listen, emphasizing that this sin is not worth the pain it causes. Brother #1 then recounts how they overcame their struggles and achieved success.

Doesn’t that sound different and even feel different? As I close, the entire concept of Matthew 7:3-5 is not to have a plank or speck in your own eye. Lord Jesus provided us with the most effective ways to live in the Sermon on the Mount and to be distinct from the world. Remember, Lord Jesus went to the cross to take away your sin, not for you to live in it and become a hypocrite instead. Don’t remain silent about your brother/sister’s sin, because when the wages of sin are paid, they’re left to suffer. As the old saying goes, "A miss is as good as a mile." DON’T BE SILENT!

Next Step:

When we see someone struggling, our desire should be to restore them, not to point fingers. This means being gentle and compassionate, acknowledging that we, too, are in need of and have received grace.

God bless you, God keep you. God loves you and I love you too!