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THE
PARABLES OF JESUS, #003
A chronological Study
"To Him who
opened His mouth in parables and
uttered things hidden since the creations of the
world."
Psalm 78:2
Jesus Said:
Why are you observing the speck in your brother’s
eye?
The Speck and The Log, Hypocritical Judging
Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 6:39-42
INTRODUCTION -
Hypocritical Judging
The parables are
the direct words of Jesus!
Now, open your ears,
sharpen your
understanding,
and hear what He has to say!
Now that we've made
it through our introduction the Parables in general, we now move on to the
First parable that talks about Christian responsibility as Jesus
begins to contemplate His move from the land of Galilee to Jerusalem and the
Cross. When thinking about the words of the teachings of the Scriptures we
need to remember that in the plan of God - these words were not just for
those to which He first gave them. These words belong to those to whom they
were supposed to bring change.
These words belong to
those who first hear them in their original context. These words belong to
those who first read the Scriptures. These words belong to us who read and
study them today, and they belong to each and every generation that follows.
This parable deals with our personal
judgment of each other, and the unbeliever. It is important to note that
Paul instructs us in the area of judgment of members of the Local Church
body and that is an entirely different matter and is largely placed upon
those called to the Elder and Deacon ministries. We'll talk more a little
later about the differences in what Jesus has to say to His disciples,
verses what Paul has to say to the Church. Our first concern is, "What does
Jesus call us to be like in our ministry to the world for the sake of the
Gospel?"
Let me give you a short
little illustration that may help you with this parable. Suppose you are a
“normal” believer in today’s world. Suppose you, on a regular basis, exceed
the posted highway speed limits, (10 mph over the limit) basically because
everybody else does. You know you are breaking the law, but there’s no
police in sight, and traffic is going along smoothly and you’re getting to
where you want to go quickly.
Now suppose you get stuck
on a road where there is no place to pass and the car in front of you is
doing 1 mph over the speed limit, and you become irate because you’re,
“in-a-hurry.” In your heart you are saying, “Hey, you’re violating the speed
law anyway, why not go 9 mph faster?”
So, you (wanting to go 10
mph faster) are the one judging the guy going 1 mph over the speed limit.
That makes you the focus of this parable.
Matthew 7:1-5
[NASB]
Jesus Said:
1 "Do not judge, so that you will not be
judged. 2 For in the way you judge,
you will be judged; and by your standard of measure,
it will be measured to you.
3 Why do you look [why are you
observing] at the speck [something insignificant] that is in your brother’s
eye, but do not notice the log [something significant] that is in your own
eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of
your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take
the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck
out of your brother’s eye!"
Comments from Matthew 7:1-5
In the background of this Parable Jesus is speaking to the
Pharisees - and the people of Israel - concerning the way the rabbinical
teachers had turned God's Word (His law) into idolatry. They set up a system
whereby the requirements of God for holy living were superseded by rules and
regulations that exceeded God's will for His people. As an example, God's
law called upon them to rest on His day of Sabbath. The rabbinical teachers
then dictated that you shall not cook or light candles after sunset on
Friday. Even today, you can flush your toilet but only if you don't have
something that disinfects and/or colors the water when you push the button,
for you must take care of your physical needs, but disinfecting the toilet
water is work - and you may not work on the Sabaoth. According to these
teachers... what they added to the Law of God made you more holy than the
Word of God required – and that's idolatry.
Jesus begins His teaching to teach repentance to these people. He
introduces His teachings by listing what's wrong with the Oral Law, and then
says, "But I say to you..."
A quick list, starting back in Matthew 6:1 would include: Don't
practice your righteousness in the sight of people (like the Pharisees do).
When you give to the poor - don't even let your left hand know what your
right hand is doing. When you pray, do so in secret. Forgive other people...
your heavenly Father will forgive you. Don't attempt to serve God and
wealth. Don't be worried about your life. Don't judge the spirituality of
others. And then, don't look upon the speck in your brother's eye....
For Jesus’ then audience, he is indicating that being a hypocrite
is against the teachings of God’s Word – especially in the context of
judging others – and doubly especially in the context of judging those whose
faults are minimal compared to your own – and when it is against God’s will
for you to be the judge!
For us today, Jesus is indicating the proper way of life that those
outside the New Testament Believing Church will see in you (the Light on the
hill) - for the sake of the Gospel. The judgment of others is detrimental to
the image of Christ and the efficient spread of the Gospel.
This parable is introduced by one of Jesus' often used commands,
"Don't judge!" Judgement has the quality to make you responsible for the way
you judge. If you wish not to be judged for judging others... then "Don't
judge!" An old Indian saying comes to mind, "Don't judge another man until
you have walked a mile in his moccasins." God calls all of us to walk
according to His calling. Sometimes that calls us to do things others may
not agree with. But who are we to judge what God has called others to do?
Let us not be guilty of the sin of the rabbinical teachers and the Pharisees
- Don't judge! [Especially if your judging attempts to make another (or
yourself) more holy than the Word of God]. God called the prophet Hosea and
commanded him to marry a harlot who already had children through her
harlotry and Hosea had a son by her as well. If that happened in our
neighborhood or church - oh, how we would talk and judge. But this happened
at God's calling and command - for His purposes, not ours. It is important
that each one of us do what God calls us to do, and do it faithfully, and
making judgment on others is not what He has called us to do in the ministry
of the presentation of the Gospel to those others.
The Speck and The Beam
I like the wording of a literal translation
for this parable about the "Speck" and the "Beam". "Why are you observing...?"
Observing indicates that you are purposefully spending time being intent
upon looking at the speck in a brother's eye. Oh, and the word for brother
here includes all those around you who have a part in your life (men, women,
children).
We don't want to miss the Pharisaical implications here. Oh, me,
the holy one of God, let me take that speck out of your eye so
you can be holy as I am! Hypocrite! You see, in doing that you are
judging the other person. Only God shall judge, and don’t give me that “Oh,
I’m just being a fruit inspector” business! Don't become an idolator by
taking the position of Judge away from Almighty God. You see, this parable
is not about the other guy. It's about you. Jesus says that you need to pay
attention to you, especially in the area of holiness before Him. There's not
one of us that is not steeped in daily sin. All of us have giant wooden
beams sticking out of our eyes... and we have no right to judge others.
Jesus finishes the parable by telling us, if
we were able to remove all of the wooden beams from out of our eyes... then,
and then only, would we be in a place to judge, and help, the one with the
speck in their eye - and become perfect - that's not going to happen this
side of heaven. And remember, that the speck in the other person's eye - may
have been placed there for God's purposes.
Therefore:
1.
Don't judge your brothers and
sisters and unbelievers. It is not your place to execute judgement. It is
God's place. And Please - don't say, "Yes, but I am just the fruit
inspector." No you are not - just don't judge.
2.
It behooves us to keep a careful
watch of our unbelieving friends and neighbors. Pray for them, help them,
encourage them, continue to share the Word of God with them. Talk of Jesus
to them. Take your concerns to your heavenly Father concerning them and
remember - He is the judge, not you.
Within the
Church body:
New Testament leadership of the
Local Church body is typically divided into three positions. These are the
people charged with the responsibilities of Church body leadership and
judgement. If there seems to be one, or a group, who need help - take it to
one of these:
A. [Gk.
Poimano: Pastor, shepherd] Those who feed, nurture and teaching of the flock
(1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20-:28).
B. [Gk. Presbuteros: Elder, older, senior] those who care for the
Word of God, doctrine, and oversight of the body (Acts 14:23; 20:17-18; I
Timothy 5:1-2; 17-19; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; I Peter 5:1).
C. [Gk. Episkopos, Diakonos: Deacon,
Overseer, guardian, servant] Those who are charged with looking after the
needs of the body (Acts 20:28; Phil. 1:1; I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7; I Peter
2:25.)
Now let's see what the Apostle Luke reports about what Jesus had to say:
Blind Guides
Leading the
Blind
THE TEXT:
LUKE
6:39-42
[NASB]
39 Now
He also spoke a parable to them:
Jesus Said:
“A person who
is blind cannot guide another who is blind, can he? Will they not both fall
into a pit? 40 A
student is not above the teacher; but everyone, when he has been fully
trained, will be like his teacher. 41 Why
do you look at 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.”
Help them,
encourage them, share the Word with them, Talk of Jesus to them...
Comments from
Luke 14:34-35
So, now we look for little nuances
that Luke can offer to us. The background issues are the same - the
rabbinical teachings of their erroneous idolistic teachings. Luke brings up
the issue of blind leaders and blind followers (blind spiritually).
This illustration would be funny if it were not
for the terrible ramifications of the actual problem.
"The blind leading the
blind." I've heard that expression all of my life. In today's society this
reality is a "pandemic." So many voices from the spiritually blind
attempting to lead the way for the spiritually blind. Luke reports that
Jesus said that the only way to grow up, especially spiritually, is to be
"fully trained." Jesus looks upon His disciples and tells them that
they will grow up out of the spiritual mess of the end of the old covenant
and become like their teacher (Jesus) when they are fully trained. This of
course they will do. They will learn, be educated by pre and post
resurrected Jesus. They will be filled with God's Holy Spirit. They will
come to understand the Old Testament. They will teach, they will preach,
they will lead in the transition from old Judaism to the Church Age. They
will themselves write scripture.
But, in the meantime... Jesus
instructs them to not be like the Pharisees and attempt to judge all in the
nation of Israel because they see themselves as being so holy. Luke
literally records Jesus' question, "So, why are you looking at the speck in
your brother's eye." Jesus says, "Make sure your own eyes are clear first,
then help your brothers and sisters to clear their eyes. And, Don't Judge.
Therefore:
1.
Recognize that the world system around you is blind. So, don't let them
attempt to lead you - so you don't fall into the pit with them!
2. Grab onto Jesus, your teacher - He is
worthy of following.
3. Keep your
own life centered in Jesus, the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and the spread
of the Gospel through you.
4. Be
constantly self-evaluating and looking for the "speck" or "wooden beam" in
your own eyes and get them out. Place yourself under the Holy Spirit, the
Kingship of Jesus, and the power of Almighty God. Keep yourself saturated
with The Word of God.
5. Be there
for your Spiritual Family, your brothers and sisters in-Christ. Love them,
care for them, fellowship with them, and Pray for them - constantly.
WRAP-UP COMMENTARY on Specks and Wooden Beams
We may not see it at first, but a primary quality that Jesus wants
us to demonstrate to the world is that Christians are not judgmental toward
them or toward each other. Is that anti-human or what? But that's what
studying the Bible is supposed to do to you. Matthew's first teachings were
about the blessings presented in the Sermon on the Mount, and then... Don't
allow yourself to be a judge through "observing" the sin of others and
trying to fix them before making sure you yourself are holy; or by being a
"blind guide."
In Matthew's perspective it is important that you "get cleaned up"
and "grow into maturity" before casting any judgment upon another. In Luke's
perspective it is important that you don't try to lead if you are blind to
Biblical truth.
According to both writers God (the Trinity) isn't pleased with
anyone taking God's responsibilities away from Him. We are to [1] not judge
others, and [2] not be blind guides.
Still want to judge others? Consider what Jesus did for you at the
Cross...
For God so loved the world in such a way that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have
eternal life.
The world has been forgiven all of its sin. No sinner will go to
hell based upon their sin... but based only upon whether or not they have
believed upon Jesus as the Savior. It doesn't make sin/sinning a right thing
to do, We will all be held accountable for our lives, but it is only God's
job to judge.
FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS
According to Jesus in Matthew's Gospel...
1. Why should you not judge?
2. If you judge another, how will you be judged?
3. Should we be spending our time looking to
judge others?
4. What is Jesus' standard for criticizing
others?
According to Jesus in Luke's Gospel...
1. If you are spiritually blind
(ignorant of the mind of God) and you try to lead others... what will be
your, and their, destination?
2. What is your expected position when
being under a Biblically qualified teacher?
3. What will happen to you if you place
yourself under the teachings of Jesus and learn them fully?
4. What is your responsibility,
according to Luke 6:42,
5. What's the BIG message of these two
Gospel writers in this lesson?
FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
According to Jesus in Matthew's Gospel...
1. Why should you
not judge?
So that you will
not be so judged.
2. If you judge
another, how will you be judged?
"by your standard of measure, it will be
measured to you."
3. Should we be
spending our time looking to judge others?
No, not unless we desire to be judged according
to our human understanding.
4. What is
Jesus' standard for criticizing others?
You must be holy as He is holy - without specks
in our own eyes.
According to Jesus
in Luke's Gospel...
1.
If you are spiritually blind (ignorant of the mind of God) and you try to
lead others... what will be your, and their, destination?
The Pit!
2. What is your
expected position when being under a Biblically qualified teacher?
To be "spiritually Under" their authority.
3. What will happen
to you if you place yourself under the teachings of Jesus and learn them
fully?
You will be LIKE
Jesus, and "apt to teach."
4. What is
your responsibility, according to Luke 6:42?
"first, clean up your own act!" And clean it up
Biblically! Don't judge those you are trying to help.
5. What's the BIG
message of these two Gospel writers in this lesson?
Don't judge the life, witness, or testimony of
your fellow believers. This is a primary command for every believer. Our job
is to show forth the Gospel to a fallen world. Like Jesus said, "I have not
come to judge the world, but to save it."
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2024-03-20 updated