Following Jesus In Our Relationships III - Luke 6:37-49
Text (Luke 6:27-49)
" 37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." 39 He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? 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 his teacher. 41 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. 43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." " (Luke 6:37-49, NIV)
Introduction
In the first two messages in this series, dealing with what it means to follow Jesus in our relationships, we learned four important principles:
· Godly relationships are providential, not accidental. (vs. 12-15)
· Godly relationships prioritize His purposes more than our comfort. (vs. 16-19)
· Godly relationships will always be at odds with an ungodly world. (vs. 20-26)
· Godly relationships require doing right, even in the face of wrong (vs. 27-38)
Loving, not hating – doing good to those who hate you (vs. 27)
Blessing, not cursing – praying for those who mistreat you (vs. 28) literally, "good wording…"
Yielding, not resisting – turning cheek, giving tunic as well as cloak (vs. 29)
Giving, not getting – give to everyone that asks you and do not demand it back (vs. 30), give and it will be given unto you (vs. 38)
Acting, not reacting – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you and whether or not they will do good unto you…! (proactive, not reactive) (vs. 31-34)
Forgiving, not avenging – love your enemies and lend to them, expecting nothing in return (vs. 35); do not judge and you will not be judged, do not condemn and you will not be condemned (vs. 37)
Governed by grace, not grounded in law – be like your Father who is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked; be merciful like He is merciful…! (vs. 36)
In essence, we should not only treat others the way we want them to treat us, but we should treat others the way we want God to treat us…because He will treat us the way we treat others…!
Today, we want to learn four more principles of how to walk in godly relationships…
1. Godly relationships are grounded in honesty, respect, and humility. (vs. 39-42)
· HONESTY – can a blind man lead a blind man? (vs. 39)
"39 He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?" (Luke 6:39, NIV)
We must be honest with ourselves and with others in order to effectively lead them.
We must be able to see where we are going in order to guide others…! We must learn the truth ourselves before we can teach others into the truth. We can never effectively take people where we have never been. Leadership vs. coaching)
Ø Leading With a Limp (Dan B. Allender) – All leaders limp. Wise leaders bring people around them who can help them where they limp. People will follow a leader who limps if that leader acknowledges that he/she limps!
Honesty is part of transparency and transparency is necessary for intimacy.
Where there is no transparency, there can be no intimacy, and where there is no intimacy, there can be no true relationship.
"3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (Romans 12:3-5, NIV)
New Living Translation - Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, [1]
This honesty with ourselves must extend to our relationships with others. We must be truthful with them about who we really are and about the way we perceive them to really be. Remember: The truth should always be spoken in love…!
"15 … speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (Ephesians 4:15, NIV)
We must speak the truth with a loving (redemptive) motive; with a loving attitude (spirit); and in a loving way…! When we speak in anger, it is very difficult to speak in love, so it is much better to not speak until we are not angry…!
"Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?"
· RESPECT – he student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Honesty about our own limited knowledge gives us respect for those who have knowledge. In Jesus' day, students did not have access to books, much less the internet. Teachers incarnated truth, were themselves a vast repository of information. In order to learn, one needed to approach the teacher with an attitude of respect. Students were even taught to call their teachers, "Master," as an exercise to helping them adopt a posture of humility toward their instructor.
"It's what you learn after you know it all that really counts!" (Kenneth Brand)
In the Old Testament, those who learned much from great mentors often adopted a posture of faithful service toward those mentors (Elisha poured water on the hands of Elijah. His relationship with the aged prophet was such that even his peers recognized that Elijah was his master on the day he was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot…!)
Ø Ask yourself the question, "Who is God giving me to that I might serve them and help them become everything God has destined them to be so they might maximize their contribution to His Kingdom?"
Now, I do not claim to be an Elijah, and I am not asking for someone to pour water on my hands, but I can tell you that, as a minister, I find it is very, very difficult to impact people who do not respect the office and anointing God has given me. Part of wisdom as a leader is learning to recognize/discern/perceive the level of influence you have in the lives of others (John leaning on Jesus' breast)
cf. John Bevere's message at WME on "Honor"…!
Ø The best place in life to begin learning the lesson of honor is at home with your parents…! (Command to honor parents found eight times in Scripture…!)
" Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:1-4, NIV)
This need for respect cuts both ways…!
Wise teachers know they can learn much from their students, even as wise parents learn much from their children…!
Ø Never set yourself to learn from a teacher who does not acknowledge their need of further learning and never follow a leader who does not freely acknowledge their own limitations…!
In one sense, the greatest need both husband and wife have from marriage is honor. One of the saddest scenes in the Old Testament illustrates this as Leah said to herself,
"20 Then Leah said, "God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons." So she named him Zebulun." (Genesis 30:20, NIV)
Proverbs 31 proclaims that a godly woman is worthy to be "praised," i.e., "honored…"
"28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." (Proverbs 31:28-31, NIV)
1 Peter says Sarah called Abraham, "Master."
" Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."" (1 Peter 3:1-12, NIV)
· HUMILITY – plank in own eye should be of greater concern than speck of sawdust in brother's eye.
Even in confrontation, i.e., dealing with someone else's shortcomings or failures, we must adopt a posture of humility…!
"42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Luke 6:42, NIV)
Jesus does not say that we should let our brother suffer endlessly with a speck in his eye. Sometimes in the Kingdom, sin must be confronted, but it must be done with a right spirit, not a self-righteous spirit…!
" Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." (Galatians 6:1-3, NIV)
Humility – acknowledging our own need of God.
Ø In marriage, respect is the foundation for all true love and humility is the foundation for all true respect.
Points 2-4 to be continued next week...!
Invitation
1. Do you need God to cleanse your tongue and fill it with words that will nourish your relationships?
2. Do you need to begin a relationship with God?
[1]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible : New Living Translation., "Text Edition"--Spine., 2nd ed. (
[2] zygṓs [yoke, scales], heterozygéō [to be unevenly yoked] zygṓs. A. zygṓs. in the LXX. 1. The normal LXX use is for "scales" or "yoke." For scales in the secular sense cf. Ezek. 5:1 (division), Is. 46:6, and Jer. 32:10 (weighing). God weighs the universe in Is. 40:12, and demands just weights in Lev. 19:35; Ezek. 45:10; Hos. 12:7; Am. 8:5; Prov. 11:1; 16:11. Scales symbolize justice when given to Dan (cf. Gen. 49:16). For a moral use cf. Sir. 21:25; 28:25 (the measuring of words). 2. A significant figurative use is found for destiny and human worth. Job's sufferings weigh more than the sand (i.e., they cannot be measured) (6:2). We ourselves are to be weighed (Job 31:6; cf. Mic. 6:11). We count for nothing in God's sight (Ps. 62:9,; cf. Is. 40:15). Belshazzar's kingdom, when weighed, is found wanting. Though the LXX translates this differently, the idea of weighing in judgment occurs in many apocryphal and apocalyptic texts. 3. The image of the "yoke" is also common in the LXX. It denotes political tyranny in 2 Chr. 10:4ff. (cf. Gen. 27:40) and alien rule in Is. 19:10; 14:29; 47:6; Dan. 8:25. Deliverance is the taking away of the yoke in Is. 9:3 and its breaking by God in Lev. 26:13 (cf. the false prophecy in Jer. 28:2, 4, 11). In the moral sphere, slaves must be under the yoke (Sir. 30:35), one must avoid the yoke of the tongue (28:19), but it is good to accept the yoke of wisdom (51:26). Sinners do not want to bear God's yoke (Jer. 2:20) but finally the nations will bear it gladly (Zeph. 3:9). The suffering of the righteous is construed as God's yoke (cf. Mt. 11:29-30). [G. Bertram, II, 896-98] B. zygós in the NT. 1. In Rev. 6:5 the third horseman (on the black horse) has "scales" in his hand. He symbolizes scarcity as a sign of impending judgment (cf. Lev. 26:26). 2. Elsewhere in the NT zygós means "yoke," but is used only figuratively in the general sense of absolute dependence. a. In 1 Tim. 6:1 the word expresses the situation of slaves; where the masters are Christians, the legal situation is the same but the personal relation is determined by their love as brethren, which adds a new dimension to service. b. The yoke of slavery has figurative significance in Gal. 5:1: Having escaped bondage to the elemental spirits (4:8ff.), believers should not submit to the yoke of the law but enjoy the freedom of sonship that Christ has conferred. The use in Acts 15:10 is similar: Gentile Christians are not to be put under the yoke of the law. c. In Mt. 11:29-30 Jesus invites those who labor and are heavy laden to take his easy yoke upon them. The apparent paradox (how can a yoke be easy?) vanishes when one considers that this is the yoke of the Messiah who offers free access to God to all who accept his call. Parallel rabbinic sayings refer to the putting off of the yoke of government by acceptance of the yoke of the law, or of coming under the yoke of earthly rule by breaking the yoke of heaven, but with the distinction that human achievement is here presupposed (though the divine yoke is regarded as a privilege rather than a burden), and that the yoke of Christ does not stand in such absolute antithesis to that of earthly government (cf. Mt. 22:15ff.). d. The apostolic fathers adopt the metaphor of the yoke, e.g., in Did. 6.2 (more legalistically) and Barn. 2.6 (characterizing the new law of Christ as gift rather than obligation). heterozygéō. This word derives from heterózygos, "unequally yoked" (e.g., the yoking of an ass and ox). It occurs for the first time in 2 Cor. 6:14, where Paul uses it to describe the abnormal situation that results when Christians fail to maintain their distinction from unbelievers. [K. H. Rengstorf, II, 898-901]
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