Hebrews 5 - "You can catch more flies with honey, than with vinegar"

Verse 2, in reference to the High Priest, it states, “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.” This verse stood out to me on how we should treat others as Christians.

We are to deal with other’s transgressions, those who are ignorant of their sins, GENTLY. Why gently? Because we are subject to the same weaknesses and can sin just as easily. Unfortunately, there are some who judge people harshly and abuse them while trying to educate. Sadly, I feel they believe themselves “more holy”, pious in comparison to the lost; therefore, they treat them as inferior “louts” that need to be “brow beaten” into submission. Regrettably, those who are accusing usually fall into sin, showing the rest of the world their “double standards”, which leads to labeling all Christians as “hypocrites” and damaging our chances at saving the lost. This is why many view Christians as “bible totin’, hypocritical, maniac accusers”, bent on condemning and threatening the world with damnation.

In contrast, we should, as the verse states, be treating the sinners, and our own who stray, GENTLY. We should calmly, and in the correct manner, set them on the right path OUT OF LOVE for our Savior and them, as brothers and sisters, not out of being “holier than thou”. For as Matthew 7:1 clearly states, “"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

We are all humans, we all sin. Romans 3:23 “for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”; therefore, we should gently guide and direct knowing full well it could as easily be us. Quite frankly, it probably was us at some point in our lives, sinning exactly as they are now. In fact, Matthew 7:4 addresses exactly that issue of putting ourselves on a pedestal, while we know full well that we sin too, “How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?”

Sure we want to help those who are lost or have lost their way. But we must do it for the right reasons and with love and compassion, gently guiding them back to the light, not judging, punishing, self-righteously accusing; that method will not help anyone and will only condemn ourselves.

Almighty God, thank you for Your Word. Thank You for Your love, mercy and grace. Please forgive me of my sins against You and help me to follow Your word, to gently help those who are lost and astray. Help me not to judge, but rather support, love, and guide them back to You, all for Your glory. Amen.