p. 141 | THE MOTE AND THE BEAM by A. S. Hutchins

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1860

THE MOTE AND THE BEAM.

By A. S. Hutchins

“AND WHY,” says Jesus, “beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” Matt. vii, 3.

Individuals sometimes get in their own mind, the mote and the beam misplaced. In their own eye there is but a mote (if anything), while in their brother’s they clearly discern the beam, and in fevered haste set themselves about the work of casting the beam out of the eye thus affected.

With a manifest view to correct such, the great Teacher says, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Verse 5.

Had this principle always been lived out, how much hatred, jealousy, envy and malice would this poor, dark world have been spared, how much strife, and confusion, and backbiting.

O that each would learn to visit the gospel mirror sufficiently often, and tarry long enough, to become familiar with the defects of his own heart and life, and be suitably humble in view of it, and obedient to the above precept.

Says the apostle, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Gal. vi, 1.

Here is a call to the spiritual—to those whose hearts possess the “wisdom that is from above,” that is first pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

Let all our efforts to help the erring, be dictated by this heavenly wisdom, and some would quickly turn their attention to the beam in their own eye, and feel the force of the injunction, “Physician, heal thyself.”

A. S. HUTCHINS.