The Questions Jesus Asked Part 6
Last week in our Questions Jesus Asked series we were in John 21 and the question was “do you love me”? This week we are jumping into Luke Chapter 6 and the question is “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”?
Luke 6:37–42 (NIV)
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.
How we see People
I think Jesus was using a little humor with the speck and plank question. It is interesting to note that speck and plank are from the same original word, meaning they are of the same substance. The take away is that the reason it is so easy for people to see problems in other people is because they are usually very familiar with the same problems themselves.
It seems to me that we have all that we can handle in honestly and actively cooperating with the Holy Spirit in regard to our own plank removal process. It is a huge, lifelong project. It is a big enough job that when you are engaged in it correctly you don’t have time to be on speck patrol.
But we have been impacted and influenced by our culture to be constantly looking for the bad in things. We are quick to find faults and flaws in people and things. This has caused us to become very judgmental. We almost always make decisions about people based on physical appearance and first impressions. Have you ever wondered how many people that might have truly blessed your life or imparted some amazing insight to you that you have missed because you simply dismissed them as not possibly having anything to offer?
We need to be different than the culture. We need to always be looking for the good in people and situations. We need to look beneath the surface, not stopping with superficial judgments, and consider the whole person. Why is someone angry or grumpy or hard to be around? Often times the issue is something deep within them and they use the grumpy and angry tactics as a way of trying to protect themselves from being hurt. I am not suggesting that you let mean grumpy people walk over you, I am saying that instead of just writing them off, perhaps the best course is to begin to pray for them and look for ways to encourage them.
The Gift of Grace
Ephesians 2:4-10 (NIV)
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Because of this gift of grace to us, we are to be a people of grace, not a critical hypocritical people. It is only as a grace-filled people that we can embrace our calling and live this life loving God and loving others.
Steve Lawes is a church encourager and the lead pastor of Keys Vineyard Church.
