Sermon on the plain- Pt. II

(Transition) This morning we are looking at a parable, some illustrations in it, and the importance of a builders foundation. So, let’s turn together to our passage.

The Sermon continues, our passage

Luke 6:39–40 NASB95

39 And He also spoke a parable to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.

Luke 6:41–42 NASB95

41 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Luke 6:43–44 NASB95

43 “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. 44 “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

Luke 6:45–46 NASB95

45 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. 46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

Luke 6:47–48 NASB95

47 “Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

Luke 6:49 NASB95

49 “But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

What illustrations does Jesus use in the parable (vv.39-40)?

Blind leading the blind

Pupil not above the teacher

What instructions does Jesus give (v.42)?

Take the log out of your own eye first

There is something that is going to happen, something that will be evident (vv.43-44), what is it?

You will bear fruit, be it good, or bad.

According to (v.45) where does the good or the evil come from?

the heart, then comes out the mouth!

In your own words, what is Jesus saying (v.46)?

Don’t give lip service, if I am the Lord of your life, then do what I say.

What is the illustration of one who hears and acts on the word (vv.47-48)?

A man building his house on foundation of rock

The one that does not act on the word when the storms comes what is the result (v.49)?

There will be great ruin of the house.

Illustration of seeing

Blind leading the blind, literally or spiritually, be careful (ref: Mt15:14).

A blind man will not lead another blind man, nor should one who is spiritually blind lead one for can lead them wrong. The Pharisees were spiritually blind, and in Matthew, look how Jesus says it.

Matthew 15:14 NKJV

14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Where the illustration looks at the blind leading the blind, we can also draw from it to know we need to careful who we follow, make sure our leaders are not blind.

A disciples is not above his teacher

A disciple cannot go beyond the teacher, but by the teaching can by the training be like the teacher.

We are changed by those we follow, so we must decide to be careful who we follow.

The more we follow Jesus, the more we are conformed by Jesus (ref: Rom8:29) and one day we will be like Him (1Jn3:2) and how great will that be?

“The Lord Jesus became like unto us in our low estate, that we should become like Him in His glory. . . There must ever be the limitation of the creature as compared with Him by whom all things were made. But in our measure there shall be the same perfect beauty — His beauty upon us!” (Meyer)

The speck, the plank some good Jesus humor with serious application.

We are, in general, more judgmental of others sins, then even seeing our own.

The religious leaders brought the women taken in adultery to Jesus without seeing the sin, the hypocrisy in their own lives.

Can you be oblivious to a fault in your own life? The answer is yes if we are honest, and we need the Lord to reveal to us our faults, our sins, to get right, then help others.

“Jesus is gentle, but he calls that man a ‘hypocrite’ who fusses about small things in others, and pays no attention to great matters at home in his own person.”(Spurgeon)

Jesus instructions through the illustration is not to not help others, but to get yourself right first. then help others with a speck.

Tree known by its fruit

As believers, born again, are to be transformed (Rom12:1) and that transformation will be evident.

Guzik in brief says: “the fruit is the inevitable result of who we are. It may take time for the harvest to come, the good or the bad fruit will be evident, revealing what sort of tree we are, not all trees are the same.

Jesus had just taught to judge, examine ourselves first, now the question comes to ask ourselves “Do I bear good fruit for God’s glory?”

A scary quote I found and we should take to heart, and we will get to the heart in a minute, but first the quote from Clarke.

“Not to have good fruit is to have evil: there can be no innocent sterility in the invisible tree of the heart. He that brings forth no fruit, and he that brings forth bad fruit, are both only fit for the fire.”

Our words reveal our heart, if we have good treasure in our heart a good treasure will come out from our heart in our words and visa versa.

A builders foundation (obedience vital)

Jesus distinguishes between those who proclaim and those who follow Him in word and deed.

You cannot give Jesus lip service, He is a searcher and knower of hearts. Obedience from the heart matters!

“This warning of Jesus applies to people who say ‘Lord, Lord,” and yet their spiritual life has nothing to do with their daily life. They go to church, perhaps fulfill some daily religious duties, yet sin against God and man just as any other might. There are those who speak like angels, live like devils; that have Jacob’s smooth tongue, but Esau’s rough hands.” (Trapp)

Jesus gives some simple instructions for obedience, there is a three-fold condition:

Everyone who comes to Me (surrender)

Hears My words (discipleship)

And acts on them (obedience)

He will be the man who can weather the storms when they come for they build the foundation of their spiritual house on the rock of Jesus on the foundation of obedience to His commands.

Two builders, same plan, same goal, same finished, but one could withstand the storms, the other could not.

Platte: “Time and the storms of life will prove the strength of one’s foundation, even when it is hidden. We may be surprised when we see who has truly built upon the good foundation. At last, when Judas betrayed Christ in the night, Nicodemus faithfully professed him in the day.”

For the one who hears and does nothing with the word great will be the ruin, and their faith will account for nothing (consider Jm2:14-19)

read if time permits:

James 2:14–15 NASB95

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

James 2:16–17 NASB95

16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

James 2:18–19 NASB95

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

We cannot do, keep, be perfectly obedient, we strive, we keep, and we need. Daily we still need God’s grace and mercy when we fall short. We are still sinners (forgiven) in need of a Savior (daily).