The Power of Forgiveness · Day 2
Luke 6:36-42 — a devotion
Luke 6
- 36너희 아버지의 자비하심 같이 너희도 자비하라Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.“Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.
- 37비판치 말라 그리하면 너희가 비판을 받지 않을 것이요 정죄하지 말라 그리하면 너희가 정죄를 받지 않을 것이요 용서하라 그리하면 너희가 용서를 받을 것이요Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free.
- 38주라 그리하면 너희에게 줄 것이니 곧 후히 되어 누르고 흔들어 넘치도록 하여 너희에게 안겨 주리라 너희의 헤아리는 그 헤아림으로 너희도 헤아림을 도로 받을 것이니라Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”
- 39또 비유로 말씀하시되 소경이 소경을 인도할 수 있느냐 둘이 다 구덩이에 빠지지 아니하겠느냐And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?
- 40제자가 그 선생보다 높지 못하나 무릇 온전케 된 자는 그 선생과 같으리라The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
- 41어찌하여 형제의 눈 속에 있는 티는 보고 네 눈 속에 있는 들보는 깨닫지 못하느냐And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
- 42너는 네 눈 속에 있는 들보를 보지 못하면서 어찌하여 형제에게 말하기를 형제여 나로 네 눈 속에 있는 티를 빼게 하라 할 수 있느냐 외식하는 자여 먼저 네 눈 속에서 들보를 빼어라 그 후에야 네가 밝히 보고 형제의 눈 속에 있는 티를 빼리라Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye.
KJV and World English Bible — Public Domain · 개역한글 ⓒ Korean Bible Society
Background
The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke, a physician, to a man named Theophilus, presenting the teachings and deeds of Jesus in an orderly way. This passage belongs to Luke's 'Sermon on the Plain' (6:17-49). Its content is similar to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, but Luke is distinctive in emphasizing Jesus' concern for the poor and marginalized. Chapter 6 contains practical teaching for the disciples, moving from love for enemies to not judging, and then to forgiving. The image of the beam in the eye warns against judging others without self-examination, and it was also aimed at the hypocritical attitude of the religious leaders of the day. Since this Sermon on the Plain was given right after Jesus chose the twelve disciples, it can be seen as laying out the basic principles of life as a disciple.
Reflection questions: 1. When I judge someone, have I ever stopped to consider whether I might have a similar weakness in myself? 2. If I want to grow to reflect God's mercy, what change in attitude do I need today? 3. Is there a relationship around me right now where I could draw near with understanding and empathy instead of criticism?
Today's reflection
In this passage Jesus tells us to imitate the mercy of God the Father. The declaration 'Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful' grounds forgiveness in the character of God. The Greek word for 'merciful' here, oiktirmon, means not mere pity but a compassion that wells up from deep within. Jesus then teaches: do not judge, do not condemn, and forgive. What deserves special attention is the relationship between forgiving and receiving.
He speaks of the principle that when we forgive, we are forgiven, and when we give, it is given back to us generously. This is not a transaction but a circulation of grace. It shows the spiritual principle that as I let grace flow out, even greater grace flows in. The expression in verse 38, 'good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,' pictures the way grain was measured out, vividly portraying God's overflowing generosity. The image of the beam and the speck in verses 41-42 reinforces this teaching even further.
It points out our contradiction: we see other people's small faults so clearly while failing to see the big problems within ourselves. Forgiving does not mean pretending not to see someone's wrong; it begins with first acknowledging my own shortcomings. When you feel tempted to judge quickly at someone else's fault, take time to look first at the beam in your own eye. True forgiveness can begin in that humble place.
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