Parables Explaining the Need for Loving Our Enemies

(Luke 6:39-49) I would not "go down fighting" for the fact that all of these words are parables, but I do think that the one common factor is that of explaining why it is essential for Jesus' followers to obey these commands. In simplest terms, Jesus is saying that it is necessary for His followers to "march to the beat of a different drum," to live life by a higher standard, to have their practice be better than that of others, who are not His followers. "Betterness" is the unifying thought which undergirds these verses and gives a unity of thought.

(1) Guides of the blind need to see better than those they lead, v. 39. The first parable has to do with those who lead the blind. If the "guide" is as blind as the one he leads, both will get hurt. The guide for the blind must see better than the one he guides. Jesus came, He said, to "give sight to the blind" (Luke 4:18). This, I believe this involved more than the giving of physical sight (cf. John 9:35-41). If Jesus' followers are going to do as He did, their sight must be better than that of sinners.

(2) Teachers must be better than their students, v. 40. Jesus reminded His of what we all know: teachers must be better than their students, for it is the student's task to come up to the level of his teacher. We do not have a 5th grade student teaching 12th grade students. We might, however, have a 12th grade student teaching the 5th grader (in the old days this happened). Because students are in the process of becoming like their teachers, teachers should be better.

(3) Eye inspectors and correctors must have better vision than the one whose eye from which they are trying to remove a small foreign particle, vv. 41-42. If one has bad eyesight, caused by a large foreign object, he can hardly function well at helping another remove a small imperfection from his eye. One must have better vision than the one with impaired vision, whom we are seeking to help.

(4) The superiority of some things can only be discerned by the better quality of their output, their "fruit," vv. 43-45. The quality of some unseen things can only be measured by the visible "fruit" of their output. The nature (species) and quality of a tree can only be known by the nature and quality of its fruit. The condition of a man's heart, invisible to other men, can only be judged by what proceeds from him (his mouth). If following Christ is the better way, then Christians should produce better "fruit." Thus, Christians are called to live by a much higher standard.

(5) Obedience to the "tough" commands of our Lord proves a person to be a true follower of Christ, and handling the tough tasks now assures us of enduring tough times ahead, vv. 46-49. Jesus taught that it is not only to call Jesus Lord, they must prove He is Lord by obeying His commands (v. 46). It is in doing the tough things which shows our discipleship. It is not test of a child's obedience to hand him money and instruct him to go and buy candy. It is a test of obedience to have the child submit to an inoculation at the doctor's office.

In verses 47-49, Jesus sought to illustrate the fact that doing the hard thing now gives confidence in the hard times ahead. When building a house, the wise man "goes the extra mile" of laying a strong foundation. Digging deep to establish a solid foundation is not the easy way, but when the storms come, the building will stand. Obedience to our Lord's commands regarding the loving of our enemies is not easy, but it does give us confidence that in the future we will have been well founded, well established in our faith and obedience, and able, by His grace, to withstand any coming storms.
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