Lesson 14.1: The Scales of Justice - Part 2 of 2

Brief 4-to-5 Minute Teaching Lesson
Why? and What is the Purpose? in My Life SERIES

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The continuation of lesson 14 of the Discipleship Making process, where I left you last time with these two questions, “How will you judge others?” . . . and . . . “Is the root cause of judging another good or evil?”

In summary of the last lesson, we learned that the method and manner in which a disciple judges another, is the same way in which God will judge the disciple. In addition, we learned in Jesus’ own words: “Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned: forgive and you will be forgiven.” And finally, not only does a person reap what he sows, but also it will return to him in like manner many times over.

Read: Luke 6:40-42

Jesus here continues to teach His disciples about the judgment of others by speaking a parable to them. He begins the parable with two rhetorical questions. "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?"

Jesus' second statement is “A disciple is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.” For a disciple, it is important to know if his teacher judges other people or not, since the disciple will become like him. According to the Apostle John, Jesus was not sent to judge anyone: John 3:17-18.

As we continue to focus on Jesus’ second statement we understand that a disciple needs to be fully trained. Training consists of two parts: learning and application or to say it another way, hearing and obeying. An individual is not trained unless he accomplishes both parts. It takes time to become trained. And a disciple can never be taught anything from his teacher that the teacher does not already know. A point for Christians to ponder is, whom do they want as their teacher: Satan, who is identified in the book of Revelation as the accuser of the brethren or Jesus Christ, the savior of the world?

Jesus states the final part of the parable this way: Matthew 7:3-5

Before analyzing this parable we must first recognize that both individuals in the parable are related to one another as siblings. They have a common parent. And since Jesus is discussing values in the family of God, the disciples are assured that He is talking about everyone who has God as their Father.

With that understanding, let’s now ask a few questions to help gain the spiritual insight necessary in fully understanding this parable.

1. Why was the person with the log in his eye looking at his fellow believer so closely?

In order to find fault in him.

2. Why would a believer wish to find fault with another?

To make the other person of less value or to gain power over another.

3. What issues do faultfinders have?

Their judging of others arises from a need to increase their own self-worth. They do not really believe that God is doing His job parenting and consider Him a poor dispenser of justice. They believe they are better judges of what needs to be done then God; hence they appoint themselves as judges. The root cause of this stems from pride.

The point of the lesson is, there is only one judge, and I’m not him.

With that, allow me to leave you with this question to consider, along with a little homework assignment until my next posting:

What criteria do you use to discern between good and evil?

. . . and the homework assignment . . .

Based on what you have just learned, how will you judge others?

Until next time . . . Godspeed!

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