Luke 6:37-38

Read Luke 6:37-38.

Structure:

A    Judge not . . .
B       Condemn not . . .
B1     Forgive . . .
A1  Give . . .

Observations:

1.  The solution for judging is giving.  Giving what?  Mercy (Lu. 6:36).

2.  The solution for condemnation is forgiveness.

3.  These contrasts fit in with Jesus' overall theme in His "Sermon On The Plain" -- life in the Kingdom is counter-intuitive.

That Speck In My Eye (Mt. 7:3)

photo: http://tinyurl.com/hoqvv3h

This verse doesn't speak well of me or of any disciple of Jesus.  How we wish Jesus was speaking primarily to the Pharisees!  His audience, as this is still the Sermon on The Mount, is His disciples (Mt. 5:1-2).

The plank in my eye is . . .

1. Big enough I can't deny it (unless I'm willing to lie to myself, which is possible but never profitable).
2. Big enough God cannot not notice it.
3. Big enough that others cannot not notice it.
4. Deceptive enough to cause me to become a piddly fault inspector.
5. Dangerous and common enough for Jesus to mention it (Among all else Jesus could've said in the Sermon on The Mount, He didn't leave out "planks.")

The main question is "why."  "Why do you see the speck" and "not consider the plank"?  Why?  I'm a master at having to avoid my own sin.  It is built into my fleshly DNA to always look better than I am.  I always want someone else to be the one who struggles or is the problem.  Bottom line -- pride.

Forgive me, Lord.