Tom Mount – October 27, 2024

 

Introduction

  • We are continuing our series in Luke’s gospel.
  • Two weeks ago, Craig taught from Luke 6:27-36 about loving our enemies.
  • Today’s text builds on that general theme: loving and doing good to others because God is our Father. With today’s passage, we come to the end of the “Sermon on the plain.”
  • We could entitle today’s text: “Three Dos and a Don’t.”

Text of Luke 6:37-49

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

39He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40The 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? 42How 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.

43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Don’t: Sit in judgment on others (vv.37a, 41-42)

  • Jesus is not advocating naivete or a suspension of our critical faculties.
  • Jesus criticized others, including the Pharisees (Lk 11:39-54). So did Paul (2 Tim 4:14).
  • Jesus commanded us to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Mt 10:16). Being wise takes time and practice (Heb 5:14). Jesus presumes discernment (Lk 6:43-45).
  • Jesus doesn’t mean we don’t speak truth to power, confront sin call to account.
  • So, what does Jesus mean when teaching us not to judge/condemn? Don’t be contemptuous, looking down on others especially regarding things we do ourselves. Take the log out of your own eye (vv.41-42). Blind can’t lead blind (v.39).
  • Application: think about our political and cultural discourse today.

Do: Forgive others who hurt us (v.37b)

  • Forgiveness is not minimizing the wrong done to us. It is not saying it was “okay.” It is not letting the offender “off the hook,” just off your hook (and onto God’s hook!).
  • Forgiveness is “surrendering the right to hurt back” and “getting the hate out.” Excising the cancer before it spreads.
  • Forgiveness is not reconciliation. Forgiveness is unilateral. Reconciliation is bilateral.
  • Best way: pray for them (cf. Lk 6:28).
  • Forgive as Christ has forgiven. In OT, Yom Kippur (Ps 103:12). In NT, Christ is the one, final, permanent Yom Kippur sacrifice (Heb 10:10,14).

Do: Give to others without ulterior motives (v.38)

  • The patronage system was based on the principle of reciprocity: do ut des, “I give that you might give.”
  • Jesus calls us to a higher standard (v. 35; Mt 5:45). Give as God gives.
  • If you live with this kind of open hand, God will entrust much to you (cf. Lk 16:10).
  • The “measure” you use with others will be used with you (thimble vs. bucket).
  • Jesus uses imagery from the marketplace: “pressed down, shaken together, running over.” We can’t contain all the blessings God wants to give us.

Do: Obey Jesus’ teaching and example (vv. 39-40, 43-49)

  • “I say to those who listen” (v.27; cf. Lk 8:18). Not everyone does. In the Hebrew language, to “listen” is to obey. Are you in the habit of obeying?
  • If you do obey the Lord, you won’t be like the blind leading the blind. Instead, you will be a good tree bearing good fruit and like a house built on a solid foundation (vv.42-49).

 

What is your takeaway from this text?

 

What is the Lord saying to you from this text? Judging? Forgiving? Giving without expectations? Obeying Jesus?