And he told them a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40 No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. “43 A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. 45 A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. 48 That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. 49 But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.
This passage was addressed mainly to the disciples (not just the twelve) because they were ‘blind’ until their eyes were opened by the teachings of Jesus. Once they were fully trained, they could instruct others. The disciples were not being trained in the knowledge of Christ but in knowing Christ and the way he is telling them to live their lives. An external showing of piety has no value in and of itself. Christian actions should come from the heart and through them, the contents of the heart are revealed. They must be purified by the word of God so that their intentions and actions are pure.
Jesus’ followers are not to see their failings as unimportant and see the failings of others as major. They must have a conversion of heart so that they can bear good fruit. Calling Jesus Lord but not following his teaching is not enough. Christians must internalize and live Christ’s teaching which is essential for salvation. Good works are what is needed for salvation, not good words.
Lord God of eternal life, it is by the merits of your Son that we can call out to you with the confident hope that you will hear our prayers. Send down your Holy Spirit upon us so that we may hear with the ears of our hearts and be changed by your word. May our spiritual eyes be opened for us to see you in everyone we meet. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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