"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?"
Luke 6:41 NKJV
Figs are not gathered from thorns and grapes are not found in brambles. Every tree is recognized by its fruit, and when you taste good fruit you praise the plant that produced it. Jesus uses this simple truth to call the disciples and his listeners (v. 27) not to stop and look at the mote in their brother's eye, but rather to pay attention to the beam that may be in their own eye. He does this with a parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” (vv. 39-40). All of us, probably because of culture or the context in which we live, are ready to observe and later judge or criticize what others do. This attitude assumes that one is always more capable than the one being judged. Jesus comes to us with an example that draws from ordinary craftsmanship: working with wood, stone or metals can produce straws or debris that are annoying to the eye, and in some cases even dangerous. Usually when you have something in your eye, the first thing that comes to mind is to rub it, but before that, the eye will drop its eyelid. As a result, if you have something in your eye you can't look. Then how is it that you can see the “speck” in someone else's eye?
Jesus uses this example to prompt his listeners to self-control. What can this beam be? Certainly the piece of wood serves to make us think. To me it suggested three things. The first, that of prejudice, since we have our biased way of thinking, by virtue of which we relate to others. God did not make us equal, but wanted us different from each other. Beyond prejudice there is a more troublesome plank, and that is that of jealousy or envy. Envy goes so far as to make your bones ache. It looks at the other person with contempt. Instead, we are called to look with the eyes of the Lord. There is a third beam still. And it is the beam of conceit, the beam of pride, of “I am....” Those who are succubi of it soon find themselves abandoned. In the same text from Luke we can read, “Be ye therefore merciful, even as your Father also is merciful. Do not judge and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven” (vv. 36-37). This should be our attitude, that is, to be able to see one's limitations and sins, thus to come out of the blindness that is always inability and unwillingness to see the evil that dwells in one's heart.
An Indian apologue tells of a disciple who was guilty of a grave fault. All the others reacted harshly by condemning him. The master, however, kept silent and did not react. One of the disciples could not restrain himself and blurted out, “You cannot pretend nothing happened after what happened! God has given us eyes.” The teacher then replied, “Yes, that's true, but He also gave us eyelids.” Sometimes we should ask the Lord to close our eyes, plug our ears, and especially shut our mouths. Those who have been reached by God's love and understood that they have huge splinters in their eyes will know how to be merciful. We can, and must, take each other back to urge each other to do better. Let the eventual fraternal reprehension not be confused with pointing fingers, ready to hurt rather than help. The believer who has embarked on a journey of conversion will be able to help the other recognize his or her limitations only if he or she questions his or her life, unlike the revolutionary who wants to change everything but himself or herself. We do not need revolutionaries in the Lord's church. Every God-fearing believer will have a lifestyle bent on learning. I hope to contribute in this regard so that we can look at each other offering support and encouragement, because the Lord has called us to this. Let us set ourselves to listen to the Word, which teaches us to speak to God, to pray, but also to communicate with one another for the good of all.
Weekly Bible Reading Plan #03
January 13, Genesis 31-32; Matthew 9:18-34 January 14, Genesis 33-35; Matthew 10:1-20
January 15, Genesis 36-38; Matthew 10:21-42
January 16, Genesis 39-40; Matthew 11
January 17, Genesis 41-42; Matthew 12:1-23
January 18, Genesis 43-45; Matthew 12:24-50
January 19, Genesis 46-48; Matthew 13:1-30
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