Leaven in the Meal

Week 30: The Good Shepherd

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” Luke 15:4-6

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable, Jesus describes a shepherd with a hundred sheep who loses one. He leaves the ninety-nine behind and goes after the lost sheep until he finds it. When he finds the sheep, he carries it on his shoulders while rejoicing. He calls together his friends and neighbors to celebrate with him because he found the sheep which had been lost.

To put this parable in context, this parable was provided after murmuring from skeptics about why Jesus would associate himself with sinners. Jesus notes, after delivering this parable that, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” Luke 15:7

One theme of this parable is that every individual is important. To the shepherd, it’s not enough that he has the majority of his sheep accounted for. His concern is for the one that is lost. That’s the one that needs his help. That’s the one that needs his attention. In this parable, God is the shepherd and people are his sheep.

This theme may have some negative connotations in today’s speech. Sheep are thought of as mindless creatures who follow the shepherd without question and without thought. To be called a sheep today might mean that the person believes you lack discernment and thoughtfulness. However, in Jesus’ time and in some agrarian cultures today, a sheep was an important piece of the livelihood for the shepherd. And each sheep is kept under the care of his shepherd who watches over it, keeps it fed, and makes sure it is safe from harm.

So, Jesus appears to be saying that if you are lost, know that the shepherd is looking for you. Know that God wants you back and will rejoice when you return safely to his care.

Your Reflection

Have you ever felt lost?
Does it help to know that the God is looking for you and wants to have you back with him?
How can you begin to make your way back?

Week 29: Storing Up Treasure

“…The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable, Jesus describes a rich man who has a plentiful harvest. He has more than he can possibly store in his barns. Because of this, he chooses to pull down his barns and build even greater barns to hold all of his harvest. He then thought that he would rest and enjoy the goods he had built up for many years. But God said to him that he was to die that very night and would not have the chance to rest and live off the treasure that he had built.

To provide some context for this parable, Jesus provided this parable after making the following statement, “…Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15 In a related passage, Jesus tells us, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

The lesson of this parable and Jesus’ related words appear to be that a person’s real worth is not a function of his or her financial worth and the things he or she has, but what is in that person’s heart. In the parable, the rich man’s blessings exceeded even his ambitions and the size of his barn. In other words, his cup runneth over. The question is what to do when that happens. When your cup runs over, do you, as the man in this parable, go and get a bigger cup or do you share your excesses to improve the lives of your neighbors?

In our society, where many are judged by their possessions, it can become easy to believe that possessions and outward displays of wealth are important, that they mean something. What Jesus seems to be saying is that these things are not important to God. And we should keep our efforts focused on that which is important to God if we hope for the riches beyond this world, the riches for our soul that are eternal. As in the parable, the possessions that are stored up on earth, will not be joining the rich man as his life here on earth has ended. They all will be left behind. In current times, we may fool ourselves into thinking that we are just providing inspiration to others by displaying our wealth and status. But what we may be in fact doing is building up our own egos and, in the process, inspiring others to covetousness. What this parable and Jesus’ other teachings seem to guide us towards, as the rich man with the excess yields in his harvest, is being grateful for the fruits of our labor and finding ways to share both our bounty and our knowledge with others so that they too can experience a bountiful harvest.

Your Reflection

Do you believe that gathering as many riches as you are able should be your goal?
Is your focus on storing up for yourself treasures on earth or in heaven?
What is your definition of success? Is that definition based on what you have stored up for yourself on earth?

Week 28: The Vineyard Owner and the Husbandmen

“…There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?” Matthew 21:33-40

“…A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him and the inheritance shall be our’s. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.” Mark 12-1:9

“…A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be our’s. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.” Luke 20:9-16

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus tells the story of a vineyard owner who hires some farmers to watch over his vineyard while he is away. When it was time to harvest his fruit, the man sent a servant to retrieve his harvest. The men who had been overseeing the vineyard beat the first servant and sent him away empty-handed. The vineyard owner then sends a second and a third servant to retrieve his harvest. Each of these servants were then beaten and both sent away without obtaining what they had been sent for. Lastly, the vineyard owner decided to send his son to retrieve his harvest, thinking that the men who had been watching over the vineyard would respect his son. However, instead of showing respect, the farmers decided to kill the vineyard owner’s son so that they could have his inheritance for themselves. The parable ends by asking, “When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?”

Jesus tells this parable after speaking about John the Baptist and his ministry. “For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye when ye had seen it repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” Matthew 21:32 Jesus is comparing the servants sent by the vineyard owners to the prophets sent by God. He is also comparing the husbandmen to those who had been entrusted with God’s domain on earth. The servants, like the prophet John the Baptist, were mistreated.

God, the vineyard owner, sends his son to retrieve what is His. But, as in the parable, Jesus is foreshadowing that God’s son will be killed. He then asks, what then will happen to the husbandmen when the owner returns? Or, what will happen to the people who slew God’s son? In Mark, the answer is given, “…He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.” Mark 12-9 It seems that Jesus is saying that those who believe themselves to be the guardians of God’s domain on earth, the husbandmen, will be judged and replaced by those who humble themselves and follow the instructions of his son.

Your Reflection

Why do you think that the husbandmen refused to return the harvest to the vineyard owner through his representatives?
How do you treat others who you believe have no direct power or influence over your life?
How would you react when someone challenges what you think you deserve?

Week 27: The Strait Gate

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

My Summary & Reflection

In this metaphor, Jesus says to enter at the narrow passage, because the passage to destruction is wide. He notes that there are few that find the narrow passage that leads to life. A strait is a narrow passage. Jesus is comparing the path to eternal life to the strait gate.

To provide context, this metaphor was given after Jesus said, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”Matthew 7:7:12 Jesus is telling us the way to the path. If we treat others as we would like to be treated, we are following the strait path toward eternal life. If we treat others unkindly, disrespectfully, and unmercifully, then we are not on the path toward eternal life; we are instead on the path to destruction.

Jesus notes that not many people find their way to the strait path. It may be because it is a difficult path. Although clear and direct, the requirement to treat others as we, ourselves, would be treated, can be a difficult one if we are led by our egos and not by the spirit of love. It is far easier to mistreat others as they have mistreated us or to take advantage of others before they can take advantage of us. That is a much easier, much wider path. But as Jesus notes in this metaphor, it is a path to destruction, and not to life.

In other teachings, Jesus tells us that the path to life, although narrow, can be found by all of us even if we have been astray for a long time. Similarly, even if you start out on the path, it is easy to lose your way when you lose focus. We just have to find our way back, and we will be among the few that enter the strait gate that leads to life.

Your Reflection

Are you on the path to life? If not, how do you find your way back?
What keeps you from treating others as you would like to be treated?
How would you like to be treated?

Week 26: A Creditor with Two Debtors

“There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him. Thou hast rightly judged.” Luke 7:41-43

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus tells the story of a creditor who is owed money by two different debtors. One owes him five hundred pence and the other, only owes him fifty. Neither debtor was able to pay back what was owed, so the man forgave both debts. Which one of the two debtors will love the creditor who forgave his debts more? The answer, Jesus confirms, is the one that had the most forgiven.

In this parable, Jesus is comparing financial debts to sins and the creditor to God. He is saying that God forgives sinners of all sins, both big and small. Sin, or it’s resulting guilt, is a burden that is carried by the sinner. And Jesus is saying that the sinners who have much to be forgiven, are more grateful and loving because their relatively heavier burden has been lifted. In a similar comparison, one person is carrying a weight of twenty-five pounds, and another of a hundred pounds. The person with the hundred-pound weight will be more grateful if their burden is removed because it is heavier and harder to bear.

As those that have been sinned against, we learned in an earlier parable, A King Forgiving Debts https://leaveninthemeal.com/2018/08/22/week-5-a-king-forgiving-debts/, that we are expected to be forgiving ourselves of the wrongs of our brothers and sisters in order to expect that same grace be shown to us. And in a similar way, the greater the wrong that we forgive, the greater the relief for anyone who may be suffering under the burden of guilt.

And as sinners, we need to humbly admit our wrongdoing and ask for the forgiveness of our brothers and sisters that we have wronged and of God. We must do so recognizing that forgiveness is not owed to us, but only requested and hoped for. As we learned in The Prodigal Son https://leaveninthemeal.com/2019/01/09/week-25-the-prodigal-son/, our Father is always happy to receive us back when we’ve gone astray.

Your Reflection

As a sinner, do you have trouble admitting your wrongdoing and asking for forgiveness? What is stopping you?

Are you more loving to those who have forgiven you?

Are you forgiving or do you hold a grudge?

Week 25: The Prodigal Son

“…A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” Luke 15:11-32

My Summary & Reflection

This parable is familiar to many. In it, a younger son asks his father for his share of his inheritance while the father still lives. The father agrees and divides up his assets and provides the required share to the younger son. After receiving his share, the younger son leaves town and moves to another country where he spends his inheritance wastefully. When all that he had was now spent, he took a job feeding pigs and was not earning enough money to feed himself. He then considers returning to his father’s house as he was on the verge of starvation. Knowing that he had already spent all of his inheritance, and that he had shamed himself and his family, his hope was only to be hired to be a servant in his father’s house. However, when his father saw his approach, he was so overjoyed that he quickly had him clothed in the finest robes and ordered a feast be held for him. When the older brother returned from working in his father’s fields, he heard the commotion of a feast and inquired of a servant what was happening. He was informed that his younger brother had returned and that their father was preparing a feast. The older brother became jealous and stayed away from the feast. Their father came out to him and asked why he was missing the feast. The elder son responded that he had always done everything his father had asked, and never had a feast thrown on his behalf. Whereas, his younger brother, who had shamed the family, was receiving a feast. The father said to his elder son, that everything that the father now owns belongs to him. But he will celebrate because his son, who to him had been dead, was now alive.

The younger son, who had spent all of his inheritance, knew that he had sinned against his father, and against himself and therefore did not expect anything other than perhaps the compassion of his father to allow him to be hired as a servant at the home where he formerly lived. However, his father, as our Father, is always happy to receive anyone who returns to him. The path that the younger son had chosen, was one that was leading toward death, both spiritually and physically. But when he humbled himself to return to his father, to admit his wrong, his march toward death was averted. That is why the father exclaimed that “for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again.” This story shows the joy with which all sinners who return to the Lord will be received. It says that no matter what any of us have done to separate ourselves from our Father’s blessings, we will always be welcomed back if we humble ourselves and return to him.

For the elder brother, who had always remained true to his father’s commands, he felt angry and jealous that such a big feast would be held for his disobedient brother. But, like in the parable of A Householder Hiring Workers https://leaveninthemeal.com/2018/09/05/week-7-a-householder-hiring-workers/, the elder son is assured that he loses nothing by being happy that his brother has returned to the path of life. He will still receive everything that he had been promised. He will not only receive his promised inheritance, but he also receives a brother that had been lost, but now is found. Therefore, we should all be rejoicing for our brothers and sisters as they are welcomed back by our Father and they will enrich us as they rejoin our eternal family.

Your Reflection

Do you believe that you will be forgiven your transgressions against your Father?
Are you ready to return to Him with humility and hope?
Are you happy for your sisters and brothers to find their way back to your Father?

Week 24: An Invitation to a Feast

“…A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” Luke 14:16-24

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable, a man hosts a feast and invites his many friends. He sends out his servant to let the invited guests know that the feast is ready to begin. One by one, the guests each make a different excuse for why they cannot attend the feast. One invited guest says that he must look after some land that he had just purchased. Another invited guest claims that he needed to examine some livestock that he had just bought. A third guest blamed his absence on the fact that he had just married and could not attend. The servant returned and told his master of the different excuses provided by the invitees. The master of the house then told the servant to go out into the streets and invite all that he could to come and attend his feast instead of those that had originally been invited. The master of the house noted that none who was originally invited will benefit from his feast.

This story is similar to the parable of A King Hosts a Wedding for His Son. https://leaveninthemeal.com/2018/09/19/week-9-a-king-hosts-a-wedding-for-his-son/ In both parables, those originally invited to a grand celebration make excuses for why they cannot attend. In both parables, the invited guests claim that they are too busy to come when called. They claimed to be too busy to receive the blessings that had been set out for them by their hosts. And in both cases, it seems that those invited did not appreciate the gravity of the invitation that they were declining. This invitation was not just an invitation to a dinner, but an invitation to eternal life and by declining it to focus on building their earthly possessions, they were in fact forfeiting their own souls.

There’s a commonly used phrase that a person can’t see the forest for the trees. This basically means that because someone is surrounded by the trees, they can’t comprehend the forest that they are a part of. Or to decipher this metaphor, the surrounding details can obscure the bigger picture that we’re a part of. In the same way, those who were invited to the feast in this parable, could not see past their day to day earthly concerns to accept the grander plan they were a part of. They couldn’t see that they were declining their own eternity, in exchange for the temporary.

Your Reflection

Is your focus on the temporary or the permanent? How can you know?

Have you accepted your invitation to the great feast?

Week 23: Men that Wait for Their Lord

“And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:36-40

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable, Jesus describes men who wait for the lord of the house and are ready to open the door to him immediately upon his return from a wedding. Those servants will be blessed and be served by the lord himself. Whether the lord returns during the first, second, or third watch, the servants who are ready to receive him will be blessed. Jesus explains that If a person knows when danger will occur, he will remain watchful to avoid the threat. Remain vigilant in the same way, to receive the lord because he will arrive when least expected.

This parable, like the Ten Virgins parable (https://leaveninthemeal.com/2018/09/26/week-10-ten-virgins/), is about being prepared to receive the Lord. In that parable, Jesus compared the women who sat ready with reserve oil in their lamps, to greet their Lord to those who had not prepared themselves for the wait. Those who had prepared themselves were blessed and those who had not, were shut off from the lord’s blessings. In this parable, Jesus presents the same message to men. He advises them too, to be ready for the Lord’s arrival or be shut off from him and his blessings.

The reference to the thief that could be thwarted by remaining watchful, may be comparing the thief to sin or to any distractions that tempt our focus away from what we are waiting for. We are being directed to stay focused and to keep our attention aimed to the path that Jesus has laid down for us and on which he will return. Else, we will suffer distraction and lose our way. In the end, we are not made to know the day when our judgment will arrive, so it is our assignment to get ready and to remain ready to receive our blessings or else they will be lost to us.

Your Reflection

Are you prepared to receive the Lord?
What distractions try to steal your attention from the path the Lord has provided?
How can you clear those distractions?

Week 22: An Unfruitful Tree

“…A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shall cut it down.” Luke 13:6-9

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable a man had fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came to the tree looking for fruit for three years, but each time the tree was barren of fruit. He then talked to the groundskeeper and told him to cut down the tree as it was a burden to the ground where it stood. The groundskeeper answered the vineyard owner by asking for an opportunity to try to save the tree. The groundskeeper would tend to the tree and fertilize it over the next year. If the tree would then become fruitful, it would be saved. If not, then it would be cut down.

This parable, along with others offered by Jesus, leads me to the conclusion that Jesus is saying that men and women have a purpose here on earth. Like the fig tree, whose purpose it is to provide figs fit to eat, so too do we have a purpose. Our fruits are our words and deeds that either conform to the directives provided us by Jesus or they don’t; Or they either fulfill the mission to which we are specially gifted or they don’t. As discussed in A Tree is Known by its Fruit, Jesus said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits…” Matthew 7:16 Another parable in which Jesus alludes to our purpose is Man Distributing Talents. In it, Jesus talks about a man being entrusted with valuable things and his ultimate fate being determined by how productive he is with what he is given. Similarly, in this way, this parable talks of what happens to a person, who is given all that he needs, and still is not productive. As in the fig tree, this unproductive person will be cut down.

In this parable, I believe that Jesus is referring to himself as the groundskeeper. He is the one asking for the chance to save the tree. He took it upon himself to care for the tree and to fertilize it in order that it might have the chance to be productive and to survive. But ultimately, it is up to the tree to either produce or not. The groundskeeper can provide support and guidance, but it is the tree that must produce. If a fig tree doesn’t produce figs, then why is it there utilizing the space and the resources of the earth? It will be cut down. Just as a fig tree must fulfill its purpose,so must we.

Your Reflection

Are you being an unfruitful tree? How can you change that?
What is your purpose and how can you achieve it?

Week 21: The Mote and the Beam

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.” Luke 6:41-42

My Summary & Reflection

This parable begins with a question, why are you focused on a mote in your brother’s eye, but not on the beam that is in your own eye? How can you try to pull out the mote in your brother’s eye, when your own vision is obstructed? Jesus instructs us to first remove the beam from our eye so that we can see clearly in order to remove the mote in our brother’s eye.

In this parable, Jesus is comparing flaws with motes and beams. A mote is a speck of something like dust. A beam is long piece of something like metal or wood. Therefore, a person with a mote in his eye would be one with a minor flaw and a person with a beam in his eye would be one with a major flaw. Jesus is asking, why are you, who is so majorly flawed, focused on the minor flaws of another? First, you need to remove your own flaws that are obstructing your view, then you can try to help your brother with his.

As in the Praying with Humility parable, this one also instructs us to look inward at ourselves instead of outward at others with our criticisms. Being critical of others is easy because every one of us is flawed. It is the work of fixing our own failures and shortcomings that is hard. In the same way that we should not look on others with envy, we also should not look on others with contempt. Our flaws may not look like someone else’s and some may be easier to hide, but we all have them. So,we should look at ourselves and others with compassion as we focus our efforts to improve ourselves. It is only after we have done the hard work of removing our own major flaws that we can see clearly to help guide our brothers and sisters. As Jesus says, “Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?” Luke 6:39

Your Reflection

Is there a beam in your eye? Is your focus on getting rid of it or in hiding it?
Are you as critical of yourself as you are of others?
Are you as compassionate for yourself as you are for others?