Luke 6:39-42 — Order Matters

Jesus asks a simple question with a serious answer: Who is teaching you?

In Luke 6, Jesus describes a blind person trying to lead another blind person. The problem isn't that the leader is trying to be helpful. The problem is that the leader can't see where he is going. If both people follow him, they are headed toward the same pit.

Jesus then says, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” That means the people we follow matter.

We are all being discipled by someone. We learn from parents, teachers, coaches, friends, pastors, authors, online personalities, and countless other voices. Whether we realize it or not, somebody is helping shape what we believe, what we value, and how we live.

The question isn't simply, “Am I following someone?” The question is, “Where is that person leading me?”

Paul gives us a better pattern in 1 Corinthians 11:1: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” A good teacher, mentor, parent, friend, or church leader doesn't ultimately point us toward themselves. They point us toward Jesus.

You don't have to be a pastor to disciple someone. Whoever you influence, remember that your example matters. Jesus is the teacher who will never lead us into a pit.

Imagine someone walking up to you and offering to remove a tiny piece of sawdust from your eye. That sounds helpful—until you notice that a giant piece of wood is sticking out of their own eye.

Jesus uses that ridiculous picture to make a serious point: the worst time to teach a lesson is when you haven't learned it yourself.

Jesus isn't saying we should never help other people. In fact, He tells us that after we deal with the log in our own eye, we can see clearly enough to help our brother with his speck. The problem is the order. First, deal with your own eye. Then, help your brother.

Before we rush to correct someone else, we should ask, “Have I learned this lesson myself?” That doesn't mean we have to be perfect before we can encourage someone. If perfection were required, none of us could help anyone. It means we should be honest about where we are.

The goal isn't to become actors who pretend to be Christians. The goal is to become disciples who are actually following Christ. And discipleship takes time. That's okay. God is forming us.

We often want to skip ahead. We want to know the ending before we've learned the beginning. We want to be mature before we've gone through the process of maturing. But order matters.

The Christian life isn't simply a checklist of things to accomplish. It is a path. Each step prepares us for another step. Hebrews 5 reminds us that there are basic lessons we need to learn before we move on to solid food. You don't give a baby a steak and say, “It's time to grow up.” You start with milk. That's not an insult to the baby. It's part of the process.

There may be things you aren't ready for yet. You may have to wait. You may have to learn something again. That isn't wasted time. You aren't just waiting. You are being formed.

And if you're not yet a Christian, the first step isn't trying harder to become a better person. The beginning of the Christian life starts by recognizing that you cannot save yourself. You need a Savior. And that Savior is Jesus Christ.

So wherever you are on the path, trust God with the process. Take the next faithful step. Learn the lesson in front of you. Let God give the growth.