Clean House!

For Saturday, September 19, 2026:

Luke 6:41 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?”

This example is an analogy. There’s really nothing in our eye! I find it interesting how various writers translate the passage.

“It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.” (MSG) “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and fail to notice the plank in your own?” (PHILLIPS) “Perhaps you want to tell a friend about his little mistake. If you want to tell him, first remember your own bigger mistakes.” (EASY)

Jesus is giving a humorous example of how we tend to be more tolerant of our own sins than we are of other’s sins. He designed it to get a laugh. Picture this in your mind’s eye: You trying to locate a speck of sawdust in your brother’s or sister’s eye while a giant log sticks out of your own? How long is your log? How big around? Can you even see through the log? How egregious is your sin? That’s the real question!

Before calling someone else’s house filthy, make sure your own house has been cleaned. Forgiveness from Jesus can do the cleaning!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Log In Your Eye!

For Wednesday, February 8, 2023:

Matthew 7:3-5 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?”

v4 “How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?” Jesus was fed up with those who wanted to tell others how to live, when they themselves were ignoring many of the Lord’s commandments.

Jesus is specifically dissing the Pharisees, whose mission had devolved into the judgment of others. They were blind to their obvious faults. Pharisees would pontificate over the laws they chose to observe, and bypass ones about kindness, mercy and loving their neighbors. Apparently the log in their own eye was larger that the speck in their neighbor’s eye! Jesus knew!

Note that Jesus didn’t say that it was wrong for us to help our friend with the speck in his eye. It is good to help and encourage your friends, but not before dealing with the logs in your own lives.

v5 “Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship