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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 3 - JESUS' MINISTRY IN GALILEE (Luke 4:14 - 9:50)
7. The Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20-49)
LUKE 6:37-42
37 Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free. 38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.” 39 He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 42 Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye.
Every man is foolish in many instances, when he thinks he can understand everything. What is more horrible than superficiality? Who can know the heart of a man, his past, his inner background, the elements he inherited from others, the effects that surrounded him and took part in his formation since childhood and their consequences on his development, on his experiences with evil, and on his complicated present? Do not judge any man, and do not reject any sinner, for you do not know what you would be like if you were in his position.
If you are obliged to give your opinion about someone, be cautious not to criticize him harshly without love, Recognize his good and bad points at the same time, and make your own opinion, keeping in mind that God alone knows all about him, for you only see the outer layers of his soul. Do you even know yourself? Then how can you judge others even enemies, since you are not omniscient and do not know the mystery of life and death? Man! Know your limits, and confess your folly, so that you may give your heart wisdom and humility, and you may ask your Lord, in every respect, what he wants, and what you have to say and to do, according to the gospel of his love.
Our God is Mercyful, Forgiving, Providing, Loving, giving us grace for grace. If you abide in him, you will love with your Father’s love, and his Holy Spirit will urge you on to lovingkindness and tender mercies. In this depth, there will be no place for hurtful criticism, or rejection of the poor in your heart, for your Father in heaven forgave their iniquities when he gave his Son on the cross. How then can you judge those who have been forgiven and released? There are no unforgiven iniquities in the world except refusing Christ and his righteousness.
Nevertheless we must judge the spirit of evil who is working in people, nations, and faiths; but we must love the man who is pressed by such spirit, for God desires all men to be saved. The sea of love flows from God to release slaves from the evil one. Do you have this evil spirit? Do you despise other people? Are you yourself in need of liberation, are you feed from pride, and now are helping God in releasing those who are bound by the devil?
The agent of God’s mercy who wants to embody him in you is like a flood, for God is love, and aims to put the fullness of his love in you, that you may become a source of kindness an good-will in your surroundings.
But if you remain blind to the folly of your wickedness, you cannot lead another man to God at all, and you have no right to teach others any sciences or theology, for you have not realized yet that every man by nature is blind, ignorant, and poor. However, as Christ’s forgiveness opened the eyes of your heart, and you received in the great flowing of his power, and the knowledge of his love, you have become a lampstand in your dark surroundings. Do not think that you are something, for all the good in you is from God. We have nothing to be proud of, we must thank him who made us good. You are nothing, but your Lord is everything. He desires to make you as he is.
He who lives near brothers and sisters in Christ, soon sees their small mistakes. And he who thinks himself an expert in the ways of the Holy Spirit, and boasts as if he were mighty to save others, begins to remove the speck from their eyes, which causes acute pain. Alas! Those who are godly rarely see that there is wickedness in their own souls, for they are blinded by spiritual pride, which deprives them from seeing their own sins. We recommend, dear brother, that you do not criticize the faults of others, but reform yourself first, and then pray continuously for your enemies. Be conscious that you are the lowliest and most needy in your community. To confess your infirmity is not a failing. It is a divine power. So criticize yourself, and judge your sins. Do not judge them superficially. Then you may become merciful towards your brother’s short-comings.
PRAYER: O Holy Lord, You know my heart and mind, and have condemned my pride and my hard heart. Please rebuke the evil spirit in me, forgive my iniquities, and fill me with your love, patience, wisdom, and spirit of discerning. May I testify of the truth, love those who are going astray as you love me, and forgive them their iniquities as you forgive me my iniquities. Thank you for the sea of your love that is flowing over us.
QUESTION 53: How does Christ prevent us from criticizing others?