Luke 6:[39] He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
Jesus has just taught the disciples that they are to love their enemies, do good to those who do evil to them, not judge other believers but instead forgive (Verses 27-38). Then He says that a blind man cannot lead a blind man. We will not be able to keep these instructions of Jesus if we are blind. We will not be able to teach others to do them if we are blind to them ourselves.
What it takes to keep these instructions and to exemplify them and teach them to others is spiritual sight. It takes the miracle of conversion. To read this sermon of Jesus and resolve to love one’s enemies, do good to those who hate me, bless those who curse me, pray for those who abuse me etc. is to embark on a fool’s errand. It cannot be done, at least not for long and not from the heart. What it takes to do this is a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in the heart so that I am a changed person who lives for the glory of God and not myself. I may be able to do some of these things outwardly and maintain them for a short while, but only God at work in me will enable me to live like this consistently. And living like this, for the glory of God, is what it is all about.
This message, improperly understood, will lead people to a works righteousness that will keep them from ever knowing the real righteousness that comes from Christ. It is not a coincidence that at the end of the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 – 7, that Jesus tells the parable of those who stand before God claiming the right to enter glory based on their preaching, their miracles and their exorcisms (Matthew 7:21-23). He is warning us that if we hear this message and then conclude that salvation comes by keeping the rules outlined in it we are going to hear “I never knew you” when we stand before Him.
The point of the Sermon on the Mount and this one in Luke 6 is to show how those saved by grace live. It is how those renewed by the Spirit and forgiven by God because of the work of Christ on the cross, will live. Salvation comes to those who recognize their spiritual poverty and flee to Jesus for spiritual riches (Matthew 5:3). It is this spiritual poverty that God accepts and then we will live like this sermon says.
Far too many people miss this. And they will miss eternal life because of it. On the other side of this coin are those who claim to have a saving faith in Jesus and yet do not demonstrate the attitudes and life that Jesus says will mark those who have real poverty of spirit. Real Christians will forgive, love their enemies, see the log in their own eye before they see the speck of dust in their neighbour’s. They will not claim faith in Jesus and live as if Jesus only changes destinations and not hearts. The blind cannot lead the blind. Jesus opens our eyes and when He does we want nothing more than to live to please Him.
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