"3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"
It seems to be human nature to want to correct others while ignoring our own failings. Before we correct others, we should evaluate ourselves. If we are in the spirit of criticism, we are neglecting the two great commandments to love God and others (Mark 12) and without that Charity we are nothing (1 Cor 13). It's no surprise then that Christ condemns our nitpicking others and challenges us to remove the beam from our own eye. When we have developed pure charity and the ability to love others as Christ did, we will have wisdom from above to assist them in their weaknesses. I think this is one of the great lessons of life and is crucial in parenting.
Crucial in parenting...wow, yes! I didn't even think of that. When we hold judgement of others it seeps into our own eye as well and we can become defensive. This connects to the passage about Herod and how his defensiveness led to his demise. And how the light can show our flaws, but to love ourselves as we are children of God and to repent and follow the path. And to not point out other's flaws. This type of negative thinking damages our ability to live in a community. This also reminds me of Zechariah "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other." And in Matthew 7:12 "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." I am thankful for the Prophets of today through Latter Day Saints. They have SUCH wisdom.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all these great examples. One of my favorite parts of scripture study is making these connections and seeing how principles flow through the scriptures and are taught from different angles in different settings and by different people. By making these comparisons we can come to a much more robust (multidimensional) understanding of the doctrines of the gospel and grow in our ability to apply them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all these great examples. One of my favorite parts of scripture study is making these connections and seeing how principles flow through the scriptures and are taught from different angles in different settings and by different people. By making these comparisons we can come to a much more robust (multidimensional) understanding of the doctrines of the gospel and grow in our ability to apply them.
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