What steps help us avoid hypocrisy as described in Matthew 7:5? Seeing Jesus’ Warning in Matthew 7:5 Matthew 7:5: “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Step One – Honest Self-Examination • Ask the Holy Spirit to expose hidden sin (Psalm 139:23-24). • Test yourself by the Word, not by other people (James 1:22-25). • Identify where you excuse in yourself what you fault in others. • Keep short accounts with God (1 John 1:8-9). Step Two – Confess and Repent • Name sin plainly; no excuses (Proverbs 28:13). • Turn from it and practice the opposite virtue (Ephesians 4:22-24). • Repeat this pattern whenever sin surfaces (Luke 9:23). Step Three – Cultivate Humility • Remember everything good in you is by grace (1 Corinthians 4:7). • “In humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3-4). • Depend on God, who “gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Step Four – Invite Accountability • Welcome faithful wounds from friends (Proverbs 27:6). • Receive correction without defensiveness (Proverbs 9:8-9). • Let trusted believers help you spot lingering “logs.” Step Five – Restore Others Gently • With your own vision clear, “restore him with a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). • Speak the truth in love, aiming for restoration, not embarrassment (Ephesians 4:15). • Offer practical help and ongoing support. Step Six – Walk Daily in the Spirit • Keep in step with the Spirit to avoid fresh hypocrisy (Galatians 5:16). • Feed on Scripture for constant recalibration (Psalm 119:105). • Give thanks in all things; gratitude displaces self-righteousness (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Putting It All Together • Examine yourself. • Confess and repent. • Stay humble. • Seek accountability. • Restore others gently. • Walk in the Spirit. Practice these steps and the “log” comes out, your sight clears, and hypocrisy loses its grip. |
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