Jesus Teaching in Parables
December 11, 2020
Commentary
In this passage we find three parables. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus used several parables drawn from everyday life to illustrate the principles He was teaching:
The Eye and its Focus (vv. 39-42) – Discernment is the key as we tend to judge. To see clearlyTo judge carefullyTo act compassionatelyThe Tree and its Fruit (vv. 43-45) – Life needs good fertilization and pruning. Is the tree prepared Is the tree productiveIs the tree profitableThe House and its’s Foundation (vv. 46-49) – Make sure it is built on Christ the rock.
The foundation must be deepThe foundation must be dependableThe foundation must be durable
Application
These character qualities given by our Lord in these parables are needed in my life in order for me to not be a hypocrite and for Him to be able to produce good spiritual fruit that is lasting?
Luke 6:39– 49 (NET)
39 He also told them a parable: “Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles. 45 The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you?
47 “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice —I will show you what he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against that house, it collapsed immediately, and was utterly destroyed!”
Illustration: Same Size Box with less Content
Have you checked the labels on your grocery items lately? You may be getting less than you thought. According to U.S. News & World Report, some manufacturers are selling us the same size packages we are accustomed to, but they are putting less of the product in the box. For example, a box of well-known detergent that once held 61 ounces now contains only 55. Same size box, less soap. How something is wrapped doesn’t always show us what’s on the inside. That’s true with people as well. We can wrap ourselves up in the same packaging every day-nice clothes, big smile, friendly demeanor-yet still be less than what we appear to be. (Our Daily Bread, June 22, 1992).