December 11, 2006

• In Luke 6, we are told of several incidences of the Pharisees judging Jesus for doing good, then of Jesus telling the disciples (newly christened apostles) a sermon.  Part of it is this parable:

  "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?" 

  Jesus followed with this:

  "A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.  Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

  It seems that if I see a flaw in another, and if I have a desire to help him with that flaw (whether my motive be good or bad?) then the prerequisite is that I be conversant about my own flaws, and be in the process of taking them out.  It seems also that clear sight to help another doesn't come until my sight into myself has been cleaned out.  Does that mean that until I am clearly seeing my own selfishness, my own pride, my own foolishness, my own willingness to dishonor God in order to bring honor to myself -- that until I see my own sinfulness clearly, I am not able to really help another?

  Was Jesus talking about the pharisees' judgement of him, or about his own disciples' propensity to be like them?
  

  • 12:55 pm
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