Knowing The Word in Luke 6:37-42, Judging Others

Jesus is not rejecting the legal process in the passage below but is condemning the practice of assuming the right to criticize and condemn one's neighbors. He also notes that we set the standards for ourselves which aligns with the Lord's Prayer. The follower with a forgiving spirit bears the fruit of having been forgiven. Then Jesus uses a giving metaphor from measuring out wheat so that there is full volume in the container, unlike a bag of potato chips! He is saying that we get back what is put into life. This is a warning to people who follow the Pharisees. Jesus is encouraging his disciples to make more disciples. The aim of a follower is to become like Jesus who made disciples. In the story of the speck and the log, Jesus employs humor to make a point. The point is that the slight imperfections in others is often more apparent to us than our own imperfections. Jesus encourages us to self-examination. It is impossible for us to put one another straight before we put ourselves straight.

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

Prayer:

O Lord, open our minds to see ourselves as you see us, and from all unwillingness to know our weakness and our sin. Good Lord deliver us.

From selfishness; from wishing to be the center of attraction; from the desire to have our own way in all things; from unwillingness to listen to others; from resentment of criticism. Good Lord deliver us.

From hatred and anger; from sarcasm; from lack of sensitivity and division in our community; from all failure to love and to forgive. Good Lord deliver us.

From failure to see our sin as an affront to God; from failure to accept the forgiveness he offers. Good Lord deliver us.

Peter Nott