39 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 thorn bushes, 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.

• Contexts: Jesus started the Sermon on the Plain in 6:20.
• (v.39) Blind. In the Sermon, Jesus taught four blessings, four woes, and to love one's enemy. Not following this teaching would be blind and end up in a pit.
• (v.40) No disciple is superior to the teacher. Therefore, choose a wise teacher. Matthew 10:24 uses the same language to convey the meaning of the latter half of this verse, every disciple will be like his teacher, indicating that Jesus' disciple will share the same fate with Him.
• (v.41) Notice the fault of others is just a type of blindness or hypocrisy, unless we perceive and correct our own faults first.
• (v.43) Good tree. How to know whether our teacher or we ourselves are blind? Evaluate our words and deeds.

Jesus continues to teach his disciples the wise ways of God.

1. Don't you think Jesus' message of love (offering the other cheek) is passive? Did you ever take this approach to solve your conflict? What were the end results?
2. Do you have an enemy? How did this person become your enemy? Whose fault was that? What are your real enemies? Can you make peace and pray for this person?

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A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community