6:39–40 A new subsection begins with a “parable,” a word with a broad meaning. “Parable” can refer to an illustrative story, an extended allegory, or a short and pithy saying—a proverbial statement. We clearly have the latter here, a short illustration about two blind persons. If one blind person leads another on a path, disaster awaits since they will both end up in a hole from which they cannot extricate themselves. Jesus probably has in mind especially the Pharisees as guides and leaders (cf. Matt. 23:16). Whom we accept as a teacher is vital, since disciples become like their teachers when training is complete. If one chooses a misguided teacher, he will be led astray and end up destroying himself. A heart of forgiveness does not mean disciples do not exercise discernment or wisdom, for such discernment is crucial in selecting a teacher to follow. For Luke, of course, the teacher to follow is Jesus himself.

6:41–42 Exercising discernment in choosing a teacher is necessary, but at the same time disciples must guard themselves from a critical or faultfinding spirit. Jesus asks a searching question in verse 41: why do we see the tiny fault, the little speck, in another person’s life but do not perceive the massive fault (CSB: “beam of wood”) in our own? The answer, of course, is that we are blind to our own sins; we fail to see who we truly are. When we are blind to our own shortcomings, we can become preoccupied with the faults of others, concentrating on where they have deficiencies, even thinking that our task in life is to “fix” others’ problems. The problem is not in seeing the weaknesses and sins of others, for this is inevitable and cannot be avoided. The problem is seeing others’ faults while failing to see the massive faults permeating our own lives. If this is the situation, we are guilty of hypocrisy. Seeing the specks in the lives of others is not wrong, nor is helping them remove the specks. Thus it is clear that not all judging or evaluation is misconceived, for one can see specks only if a judgment is made. Still, the first priority is to attend to the evil in our own lives: to see it, acknowledge it, and deal with it. What Jesus teaches here is summed up well in Galatians 6:1: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”