Matthew 7: 1 - 5

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it

shall be measured to you again.

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?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and,

behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see

clearlyto cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

    When studying the Bible I sometimes like to read the footnotes to get a fuller

understanding of the verses. I am using the Ryrie Study Bible (KJV, 1994). 

The notes for these verses read: 

    "Judge not. This does not mean that one is never, in any sense or to any extent,

to judge another, for verse 5 indicates that when one's own life is pure he should

remove the speck from the brother's eye. 

It does mean, however, that a follower of Christ is not to be censorious."

    So the word 'censorious' stood out to me.  I have a general idea of the basic meaning

of the word but is there something more here?  I like to use the Webster's Dictionary

from 1828 so let's see how 'censorious' is defined there (blue words mine). I read the

definitions and note the ones that seem best to apply to this context. 

CENSORIOUS, adjective

1. Addicted to censure; apt to blame or condemn; severe in making remarks on others,

or on their writings or manners; often implying ill-nature, illiberality, or uncharitableness;

as a censorious critic.

    "Addicted to censure", "illiberality"... let's keep digging...

CENSURE, noun

1. The act of blaming or finding fault and condemning as wrong; applicable to the

moral conduct, or to the works of men. When applied to persons, it is nearly equivalent

to blame, reproof, reprehension, reprimand. It is an expression of disapprobation,

which often implies reproof.

DISAPPROBATION, noun [dis and approbation.] A disapproving; dislike; the act of the mind which condemns what is

supposed to be wrong, whether the act is expressed or not. We often disapprove, when we do

not express disapprobation

    "The act of blaming or finding fault and condemning as wrong"... ouch. 

What about "illiberality"?

ILLIBERAL'ITY, noun

Narrowness of mind; contractedness; meanness; want of catholic opinions.

CONTRACTEDNESS, noun

2. Narrowness; meanness; excessive selfishness.

CATHOLIC, adjective

2. Liberal; not narrow minded, partial or bigoted

    So illiberality, contractedness, want of catholic opinions means?  Narrowminded, mean,

selfish, lacking in impartial or unbigoted thinking...

    Reading all of those definitions, working through them opened my eyes to the complexity

of the word 'censorious' and highlighted things in my own life that I didn't even know were

there (and some I did know..).It makes reading verses 2-5 have more meaning to me. 

    I see words there, descriptors, that I would Never have applied to myself until now. I am

quick to speak, which can be good and bad.  It can be good when it's the Lord speaking

through me and I do not falter to share what is from Him.  It is bad when it's *me*

speaking... sigh.  I am quick to share my thoughts, it's like there's a one-way trip from

my brain to my mouth... there needs to always be a sidetrack through my heart, God's grace,

and a bigger dose of His love before those words come out of my mouth. 

    This is something I have struggled with for as long as I can remember.  I'm not'nearly as bad as I used to be'... that's what I remind myself as a consolation when my mouth

gets ahead of my heart.  It's true.  But it's also an excuse.  I need to be without excuse

regarding what comes out of my mouth.  Lord please help me. 

    This is not at all what I expected to receive from these verses today but God sure

directed my studying to what He wanted me to hear.  He will do the same for you. 

Read His word, take time to study, meditate, memorize, talk to Him.  He loves you,

He cares for you, you can trust Him to guide you and direct your path. 

He is a faithful father and He loves you!