Luke 6:37-42
Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. 41 “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? 42 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.
Reflection:
Jesus continues his "sermon on the plain" to his newly chosen disciples and others that had gathered with them. He is teaching them about how the kingdom works and the values associated with the coming kingdom. Importantly today he says, "everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher". Imitation was the primary teaching method in the first century. Imitation was considered one of the best ways to learn how to live. As Origen, a third century theologian wrote, "a disciple resembles or imitates his master".
I love the phrase "fully trained" as a definition of the goal of being a follower of Jesus. Jesus becomes the ultimate "life coach" as he not only is their salvation, but trains them how to live in this world until God chooses to call them home. Just as an athlete goes in strict training to compete in their sport, Paul uses this term to indicate the training he undergoes to be a fully developed follower of Christ. Jesus taught his disciples not only head knowledge, but knowledge learned from applying Jesus' teaching in everyday life. There are many instances where Jesus employs this teaching method. One example is when he washed the disciples' feet. And how did he end this teaching lesson. He said, "now that I have washed your feet, you should wash each other's feet". The disciples would not fully learn this teaching until in humility they did it themselves.
And when you think of the church today, what is its greatest need? I think when you get down to it, we need more disciples who are being fully trained in the way of Jesus. If you look at any deficiency is today's church, whether it is giving, evangelism, or even moral character; it all gets back to disciple making. And what do we see in effective churches? There is usually some plan to make disciples. If there is no plan to make disciples, there is usually a slim chance of actually making them.
What is your plan of making disciples? Or we could say, what is your plan for being a disciple? I have found in many years of being a pastor, this isn't easy work? The battle is against a consumer Christianity that seeks to meet people's needs instead of helping people to fulfill their greatest need to become like Jesus and then lead others by teaching and importantly our own example. Jesus' Great Commission to make disciples of all nations hasn't changes, the only question is will we give all we have to actually do it. Fortunately he has promised that he will be with us we seek to carry out what He has given to do. In fact he says, "I will be with you until the end of the age."
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. 41 “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? 42 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.
Reflection:
Jesus continues his "sermon on the plain" to his newly chosen disciples and others that had gathered with them. He is teaching them about how the kingdom works and the values associated with the coming kingdom. Importantly today he says, "everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher". Imitation was the primary teaching method in the first century. Imitation was considered one of the best ways to learn how to live. As Origen, a third century theologian wrote, "a disciple resembles or imitates his master".
I love the phrase "fully trained" as a definition of the goal of being a follower of Jesus. Jesus becomes the ultimate "life coach" as he not only is their salvation, but trains them how to live in this world until God chooses to call them home. Just as an athlete goes in strict training to compete in their sport, Paul uses this term to indicate the training he undergoes to be a fully developed follower of Christ. Jesus taught his disciples not only head knowledge, but knowledge learned from applying Jesus' teaching in everyday life. There are many instances where Jesus employs this teaching method. One example is when he washed the disciples' feet. And how did he end this teaching lesson. He said, "now that I have washed your feet, you should wash each other's feet". The disciples would not fully learn this teaching until in humility they did it themselves.
And when you think of the church today, what is its greatest need? I think when you get down to it, we need more disciples who are being fully trained in the way of Jesus. If you look at any deficiency is today's church, whether it is giving, evangelism, or even moral character; it all gets back to disciple making. And what do we see in effective churches? There is usually some plan to make disciples. If there is no plan to make disciples, there is usually a slim chance of actually making them.
What is your plan of making disciples? Or we could say, what is your plan for being a disciple? I have found in many years of being a pastor, this isn't easy work? The battle is against a consumer Christianity that seeks to meet people's needs instead of helping people to fulfill their greatest need to become like Jesus and then lead others by teaching and importantly our own example. Jesus' Great Commission to make disciples of all nations hasn't changes, the only question is will we give all we have to actually do it. Fortunately he has promised that he will be with us we seek to carry out what He has given to do. In fact he says, "I will be with you until the end of the age."
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