Matthew 7:1-5 The
Mote Hunter
Introduction: Hunting can be a great sport. Several types of hunting are popular; squirrel,
fox, coon, deer, bird, and turkey. Even opossum
hunting was once popular. But no hunting
is more popular than mote hunting. If
the state could force people to buy a license in order to hunt, the state would
make a fortune.
I. The mote, what it is.
A.
The mote is not an animal; in our text it is a small speck of matter in
somebody’s eye.
B.
Jesus used it to represent some kind of little fault or flaw in somebody’s
character or conduct.
1. It is not some big glaring sin, (like murder,
blasphemy, cursing, idolatry, adultery, robbery,
lying, drunkenness, etc).
2. The mote is the little thing that would be
overlooked unless one were hunting for it.
3. Perhaps the challenge of finding the mote
helps to make the sport popular.
(Perhaps it
is the superior feeling).
II. The
attitude of Jesus about mote hunting.
A.
However popular it is with men and women, it is not at all popular with
Jesus.
B.
Jesus commanded the disciples not to be overly critical of others, verse
1. He warned that if one
will
not show mercy toward others, that he will receive no mercy toward himself,
verse 2.
(Neither
from men nor from God).
C. Yet Jesus knew humanity.
1.
He knew that mote hunting had been popular
ever since the fall of Adam.
2.
He knew that even His own disciples could
be guilty.
3.
He implied that some had already been guilty.
III. The question
that Jesus raised. Verse 3
(Why does the mote hunter behold the
mote in his brother’s eye?)
A. It is partly because he was hunting for the mote.
1.
He would never have seen it if he had not
been hunting.
2.
He called out his hounds and tracked it down.
B. It is not for the purpose of helping his brother
by casting out the mote.
(He may pretend that this
is his motive, but this is not the case).
C.
His reason is threefold:
1. He wants to accuse his brother.
(“Aha! Gotcha!
– He shoots down his brother with deadly aim).
2. He spreads the news to all; he subjects his
brother to criticism from all.
(Like the hunter
wants all to see what he has killed).
3. He wants to justify his own faults. (If he can call enough attention to the mote
in his brother’s
eye, maybe the beam in his own eye will not be noticed).
IV. Hypocrisy
exposed by Jesus.
A.
The mote hunter only pretends to seek to pull the mote out of his
brother’s eye, verse 4.
B.
He is not even trying to get the beam out of his own eye.
1. Neither is he trying to get the mote out of
his brother’s eye.
2. He is tickled pink that it is there.
3. He is only being hypocritical, verse 5a.
V. The challenge issued by Jesus, verse
5.
A.
Jesus challenged the mote hunter to get the beam out of his own eye.
1. Humble your heart before God.
2. Repent of your sin.
3. Change your ways.
B.
The result would be threefold:
1. The mote hunter would not be a mote hunter
any more.
(He would be
more tolerant of others).
2. He would have a genuine interest in helping
his brother.
(No longer trying to hurt, but to help).
3. He would have spiritual sight which would
enable him to get the mote out of his
brother’s eye.
Conclusion
1. The one person’s sins we should be most
concerned about is our own.
2. When we do see a fault in a brother, pray for
him, and if you can, help him.
3. Four big questions:
A.
Are you saved?
B.
Have you been overly critical of others?
C.
Is there some part of your life that you need to change?
D. Are you ready to make that
change?
Preached
at
Preached at Texas
Baptist Institute
Preached
at Landmark M.B.C.,
Preached at