Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, people were just naturally nice to each other. Everyone tried to understand each others’ perspective, and then tried to help improve the community situation. After several generations, maybe at the tower of Babel, being neighborly transformed into telling someone, “You are doing it wrong,” which can be loosely interpreted, “My way is the only right way.” Jesus had something to say about this posturing, being highly critical of people who complain about a speck in their neighbor’s eye, when they have a plank or log in their own eye. Even today, we want to say, “Both the plank and the speck need removal, so we can see clearly,” but Jesus was criticizing the condition of the human heart, not the human eye.
Jesus spoke to his disciples and the crowds who gathered to him in parables, so that those whose hearts were not right with God could hear everything he said but still not understand his meaning or God’s purpose. Only the humble and penitent servant will understand Jesus’ message. The greedy and power hungry will always misinterpret his meaning, finding fault with anything he says. And so it is with Jesus’ bad eyesight comment. How can the religious leaders be so blind to their own sinfulness while judging and condemning the flock they are supposed to be shepherding, helping, and healing.
“Can we talk,” must be the start of meaningful dialogue about mutual improvement and mutual success, finding a win-win scenario, instead of a fact-finding or fault-finding mission.
Grace & Peace, Charles.