Some of the teaching of Jesus can be so familiar that it doesn’t land nearly as richly, and forcibly, as it should. Our familiarity can mean we distil Jesus’ words to an abbreviated version which, while seeming to capture the essence, is missing much of the point.
Jesus teaching about specks and planks (or logs if you prefer) is a case in point. When He first spoke these words, one might imagine the reaction was rather mixed. Some, envisioning the ludicrous picture Jesus was conjuring up, may well have enjoyed the humour of the imagery. But this imagery had an uncomfortable punchline. Thoughtful hearers would soon have been wrestling with the deeper meaning.
Lest we forget the detail, here’s what Jesus had to say: “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? 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? 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.” (Matt.7v3-5)
Superficially, it could seem Jesus is saying: only ever try and help others once you have fully sorted yourself out. Remove all planks fully from your own eye before ever helping others with theirs. Only no one ever fully sorts themselves out – and so no one would ever get helped. Besides which, why the distinction between specks and planks?
So, try again. Might Jesus be advising that we only help those whose problems are bigger than ours and never the other way round. Yet that would have Jesus almost endorsing smug superiority, which is hardly his usual approach. There’s more going on.
Three things to avoid
There are at least three things Jesus is telling us to avoid.
1. Avoid presumptuous judgementalism. That is the peril Jesus has already identified in the preceding verses – “do not judge or you too will be judged” (7v1). Don’t be so quick to assume you know what’s wrong and you know what’s needed. The arrogance of presuming to know may, in fact, be the very plank Jesus is identifying.
2. Avoid superiority. Stop acting like you are perfect and only other people need sorting out. Offering help with a “better than you” attitude is as ludicrous as conducting eye surgery with a plank protruding from your own eye.
3. Avoid self-deceit. The would-be eye surgeon is at fault because they are “paying no attention to the plank in [their] own eye”. There is a culpability to this self-deception – their own failings would be obvious if only they would attend to their own hearts.
Three things to cultivate
Having seen things to avoid, here are things to actively embrace.
1. Self-awareness. Do whatever you can to cultivate self-knowledge. A great many problems in ministry arise because self-awareness is lacking. So, slow down and think. Welcome observations from others. Invite them to tell you what they notice. It is helpfully said that others generally see us much more clearly than we see ourselves.
2. Humility. Return frequently to the heart of the gospel. We are sinners saved by grace – “and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God … so that no one can boast” (Eph.2v8). We have planks. Many of them. Start ministry from there. Praise God that he is at work to remove our planks, but always begin with an awareness of our own desperate need for grace.
3. Gentleness. It’s good to be helped by someone who has just had a plank removed from their eye because they have first-hand experience of just how sensitive eyes are. Which means that they will be gentle with us.
Familiar words – when spoken by Jesus – are always worth revisiting. Well has it been said that the Bible is a pool shallow enough for a toddler to paddle in and deep enough for an elephant to swim in. Splashing around a bit is good for us.
