Today’s Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25, 3:11-13, Matthew 7:3-4
There is a law called the Clean Hands Doctrine that states a person bringing a petition or lawsuit to court must be free from unfair conduct. In other words, that person must come to court with clean hands. Otherwise, his lawsuit against the other person will not be considered because he himself, as the accuser, has not come to court free of guilt.
Eli was quick to cast judgment on Hannah, yet his own hands were not clean. His sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were immoral, contemptuous, and flippant about their priestly service to the Lord. Eli was fully aware of their indiscretions, yet he allowed them to continue serving as priests.
In His sermon on the mount, Jesus warned the disciples about focusing on a speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye while ignoring the plank in their own. He had a name for these “plank-finders.” Hypocrites—people who act in contradiction to their stated beliefs. Fortunately, Jesus also gave a remedy for hypocrisy. He said, “First take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matt. 7:5).
In other words, wash your hands before pointing your finger.
- Why is it easier to point out a fault in others than it is to admit a fault in ourselves?
- Are your hands clean? If not, what do you need to do to “wash” them?