Three Parables
TRANSLATION
(39) He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? (40) A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. (41) And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, and pay no attention to the plank that is in your own eye? (42) Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye. (43) For no good tree bears corrupt fruit. Neither does a corrupt tree bear good fruit, (44) for each tree is recognized by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes gathered from briers. (45) A good person out of the good stored up in his heart brings forth what is good, but an evil person out of the evil stored (in his heart) brings forth evil, for from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
(46) “And why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you (to do)? (47) I will show you what the person who comes to me, hears my words, and does them is like. (48) That person is like someone who, when building a house, digs deep and establishes the foundation on rock. And when a flood arose, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it because it had been well-built. (49) But the person who hears (my words) and does not do them, is like someone who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the torrent struck, it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
OBSERVATIONS
Repetitions help us understand the three parables found in these verses. The frequent occurrences of “blind” (vs. 39), “teacher” (vs. 40), “speck” (three times in vss. 41 & 42), “plank” (three times in vss. 41 & 42), “brother/brother’s” (four times in vss. 41 & 42), and “eye” (six times in vss. 41 & 42) show us that this parable focused on the dangers of a critical spirit manifested in fault-finding.
Verse 43 in which we find the impossibility of a “good tree bearing bad fruit” and a “bad tree bearing good fruit” established the theme of righteousness that leads to fruitful living. In the next verse we find one more repetition of “tree” and “fruit” as well as the related words, “figs…thorn bushes…grapes…bramble bush” (vs. 44). In the next verse, six more words were repeated: “good” and “evil” three times each and “person…treasure…produces…heart” each found twice.
In the final parable we encounter even more repetitions: “Lord” (twice in vs. 46), “do/do not” (vs. 46), the pairing of “hears/does” and “hears/does not” (vss. 47 & 49), and in verses 48 & 49 four repetitions of “house,” three of “building/built,” two of “foundation,” and two of “torrent.” In this segment the emphasis was the wisdom of building our lives on a firm foundation of Christ’s words.
OUTLINE
Jesus’ teaching by means of parables dealt with…
– fault-finding (specks and planks in eyes). (39-42)
– fruit-bearing (trees yielding good fruit). (43-45)
– foundation-building (houses built on rock or on the ground). (46-49)
IDEA STATEMENT
In all areas of life, Jesus calls his disciples to humility, righteousness, and wisdom as opposed to the ways of the world.
APPLICATION
The evidence of godliness in his disciples’ lives was of great concern to Jesus. Simply calling him “Lord” or “master” would never suffice for his followers. All who professed to belong to him were required to demonstrate the genuineness of their faith by living in ways that were consistent with his teachings. In this segment, through the use of parables, Jesus made this clear and practical in three critical areas of life. First, he gave the parable of the person who finds fault with a brother for having a speck in his eye while blinded by a plank in his own eye. This humorously demonstrated our desperate need for humility. Rather than focusing on the failings of others, we should turn our attention to ourselves and deal with our own imperfections before we presume to correct those around us.
Next Jesus used the parable of a tree bearing good fruit in accordance with its nature to call us to lives that produce good fruit consistent with hearts of righteousness. Finally, the importance of building our lives on the solid basis of obeying Jesus’ words was set forth in the parable of two men who built their houses on two types of foundations. A house anchored to solid rock will endure the storms of life while a house built without a solid foundation will collapse when winds and floods arise. With these vivid illustrations, Jesus provided his followers with memorable and powerful principles that would lead to wise and God-honoring lifestyles.