Morning Bible Study: Luke 6: 37-42

Do Not Judge

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 back to you.”

39 He also told them a parable: “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 

40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

41 “Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? 

42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam of wood in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye."

Commentary

What we can learn from this passage:

• Be merciful towards others, because we ourselves need much mercy. God requires us to be forgiving, as He forgives us. The Lord's Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Forgiveness is not the same as ignoring sin, however. We must call out our brothers and sisters in their sin, but with humility, as we ourselves are sinful. Matt. 18:15: [Jesus speaking] If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
• Be generous with others. Whatever we give away to those in need will be returned to us in some manner, many times over. When we ourselves find need, God will remember our generosity and provide for us.
• The world is blind. Do not fall under the mistaken guidance of the worldview. We should surround ourselves with fellow believers and let the Word of God and the Holy Spirit guide us.
• Not only may we have a larger sin than our neighbor as an obstacle in our quest for holiness, but that "beam" will prevent us from seeing in order to help our brother or sister. We are useless in our service to the Lord if our own life isn't in order.