Breaking the Word

"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. 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. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. 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. 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."  (Lk 6:43-49)

Tree on its own has no relevance and meaning and appreciation (in this parable). Its meaning is seen only through the fruit it produces. Fruit is the indicator of the tree and its goodness. Similarly the man also has his appreciation and relevance only in his actions. Jesus here in this parable challenges the hearer to change his way of life to enter into the kingdom.

The next parable is much more challenging than the one gone before. Listening to true wisdom and not putting it into practice is like building without foundation. Jesus preaching about the kingdom and his message about the Father or from the Father are the foundations on which the listeners are asked to build their own life.

As the kingdom is preached the danger of destruction and the presence of the evil or the chaos (river burst) is at hand. Anyone who is not based on the wisdom of the kingdom of God or the wisdom of Jesus is bound to be challenged by the negative forces. Here the choice is between the wisdom of Jesus or the destruction.   

 And he told them a parable, "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? 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. (Lk 6:39-42)

Jesus is giving a warning to his listeners that they should be careful about choosing their guides. The guides should be aware of their paths and pitfalls. If not they themselves fall a prey to their guidelines or they will make their followers to fall into it. Guides should be aware of their paths and their own vision should be clear.

The next comparison is between a teacher and a student. Comparisons are not good in themselves but here Jesus is making use of it to communicate a particular message. The message is that the students will one day be teachers and not more than that.  He can never become a superior to his teacher.

The next teaching in this passage seems to be a verbal cartoon (wooden beam in the eye). It only says that you cannot criticize another. What one criticizes the other is often the mistake he does himself. It is a sort of projection.