Luke 6: 39-42 When you HAVE to be RIGHT...

Luke 6:39-42 “When you HAVE to be Right…”

[39] He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind
person? Will not both fall into a pit? [40] A disciple is not above
the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.
[41] Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice
the log in your own eye? [42] Or how can you say to your neighbor,
'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do
not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out
of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of
your neighbor’s eye.

What is happening in this scripture? – This is a piece of the collected sayings and aphorisms and parables in Luke that is referred to as the Sermon on the Plain or Level Place, as compared to Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. Parables were probably acted out and took a long time to present, so scholars believe this is a short “Parables for Dummies” version of the parable or parables listed here: blind leading blind, removing the speck from your neighbors eye. Perhaps they were connected because they were about seeing or not seeing. I will focus (no pun intended) on the speck in the neighbor’s eye saying.
Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Good question. Why do we not notice the log in our own eye? This is a ludicrous thought really. Have you ever had a speck of something in your eye? You cannot help but notice it, and it drives you crazy until it’s out! But here Jesus exaggerates it to a log! What an insult, really. Parables were provocative and evocative. One can imagine the crowd being highly offended. Later on, Jesus resorts to a bit of name-calling, to boot: You hypocrite! I imagine Jesus acting this out like a Punch and Judy show, offending the imaginary character in the parable, but really talking to the audience. A sneaky way to hit the nail on the head.

How is this happening in the world today? – What does it take to feel generous and righteous enough to offer help to someone who needs it less than we do? Arrogance, maybe? How is arrogance a form of blindness? “I think you need to go to counseling!” or “You’re obviously wrong!” or “Now, if you would just take my advice…!” and so on.
Who in our world in acting out of arrogance today? Who is assuming they have all the answers? How do you or other listeners feel when given unsolicited advice from someone with egg on their face? Are you apt to take the advice from them? Does your own arrogance partially blind you from feedback that, although unwanted, might really be helpful? What is the source of arrogance? When we get too sure of ourselves, isn’t that when learning grinds to a halt? As a counseling intern, I once heard a psychiatrist tell a very stubborn client, “When you have to be right about everything, it makes learning very painful!” But sometimes being right is so important, and being wrong is so dangerous, that we begin to feel we HAVE to be RIGHT.

How is this story my story? – Jesus, guard me against becoming too sure about anything, even you. I don’t want to stop learning, even when it hurts. May it be so.

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