JACQUES GAUVIN, RELIGION

The Beam

As we walk the earth we encounter many people. First our parents and siblings, then relatives, friends, classmates, peers, teachers, bosses, co~workers and cellmates, whatever. We learn to deal with all kinds of attitudes and characters.

My cousin, for example, is a professing Christian. Like me he bears the name of an apostle. When we get together he often likes to talk about the Bible and about Jesus. He also likes to try to set me straight by teaching me a lesson or two. The last time we met he caught himself and quoted a scripture, take the beam out of your own eye before you try to take the sliver from your brother^s eye.

I knew that he had not removed the beam from his own eye nor did he know what it was. And I thought, should I, who still has a sliver in his eye, try to remove the beam from the eye of my cousin? I thought not.

Then it crossed my mind, perhaps I should try to explain this beam. Perhaps there are many who do not know what this beam is or how to remove it.

WHAT IS THIS BEAM?

WHAT DOES IT REPRESENT?

Please turn to Matthew chapter 7, to the sermon on the mount. We will read verses 1 to 6. I will read from the King James Version where these six verses form one paragraph. Matthew 7:1.

Different Bibles use different words for beam like plank or log. I prefer the word beam because it conjures up a more meaningful image and that is why I am using the King James Version for my quote.

Matthew 7:1 to 6 (KJV)
Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete (or use), it shall be measured to you again. 3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother^s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother^s eye. 6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Most people who recall this passage or try to quote it often only remember the big graphic image or caricature of a person with a beam in his eye criticizing his brother who has only a splinter in his eye. It is a disturbing image that hits a nerve.

BUT WHAT IS THIS BEAM? HOW DO YOU REMOVE IT? Let us read verse 5 again.

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother^s eye.

Other words used for mote in other Bibles are speck, speck of sawdust and splinter. These represent much smaller errors, like bad habits, misunderstandings, character flaws, lack of knowledge, things that you will remove as you discover them till you die. Once the beam has been removed from your own eye you will see clearly and will be able to assist others in addressing their errors.

To cast out seems like a near effortless task. But to cast out a beam seems very difficult. With the help of the Holy Spirit and with Christ dwelling in us it is a doable task. Otherwise Jesus would not expect it of us.

Now turn to Luke chapter 6. We will read verses 39 to 46. This will give us more insight into what Jesus meant by the beam. Luke 6:39.

Again this whole passage is in one paragraph in the KJV.

Luke 6:39 to 46 (KJV)
Jesus also told them this parable; Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. 41And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother^s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42Either 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. 43For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 46And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

So you see here that Jesus is linking various imagery. He talks about the eye, the tree and the heart and what comes out of them. The objective is to promote true doctrine and the way of God. This is the common thread. The one spreading false doctrine is the one with the beam in his eye. The thorn trees or evil characters, do not bear good fruit or sound doctrine. Those who pretend to worship Jesus but do not do what He tells them to do are also misleading or evil.

Again, what does this beam represent? It represents all that is unholy in your life; false beliefs, false doctrine, evil thoughts and evil actions. The point is though that you can cast out a huge beam of falsehood in one relatively swift motion. Any teachings and habits that do not conform to the Bible are to be cast out. Things like Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism and the like should all be cast out. I think you get the picture. These things you can cast out, with the help of God, making time and room for the truth from the Bible, the word of God.

The word mote is Strong^s number 2595 and is the word καρφος in Greek. The word means a dry stick such as a bird would use to build her nest, according to my Greek Lexicon.

The word beam is Strong^s number 1385 and is the word δοκος in Greek. The word means a bearing~beam in the roof or floor of a house, according to my Greek Lexicon.

Both these words depict building materials, some for small projects, like a nest and some for big projects, like a house. In Jesus parable both materials are inappropriate building materials. They are obstructions. They cannot be used in that way to form Godly character. They are things that need to be cast out.

Turn back to Matthew 7 and we will read verse 6 again.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Here Jesus is contrasting misused construction materials with the construction materials that Christians need. These are called holy and pearls. We are warned not to cast them to swine. So we must be discerners of character and chose those whom we interact with with care like Jesus did in choosing His apostles.

The use of the word cast here is noteworthy. It is the same word that Jesus used when he told us to cast out the beam. The objects being cast represent false religion in the earlier part of the parable and in this part true religion. One is to be cast out and the other not.

Turn to Joshua chapter 24. We will read verse 14. Joshua 24.

Joshua 24:14
Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

This is plain understandable language to me, not the language of a parable. This is the clear and steadfast message from God. His instructions are for everlasting. We must be sincere and we must bear truth, not fables. This is sound doctrine. False doctrine, on the other hand, must be cast out or put away as noted here.

Because Jesus uses terms that are common in construction, the parables, of Matthew 7 and Luke 6, remind me of the fundamental beliefs of the church and underlying structure or beams of a building symbolizing correct religion.

False religion, the beam, is what Jesus is telling us to cast out or put away in all three of the scriptures we looked at. This includes false representation of the Word of God. Sincerity and truth, the intended teachings of the Word of God, are what we cling to.

Conclusion

In short the beam represents evil. False religion is evil, the opposite of what is holy. Every Christian should be able to give a reasonably good description of what is the beam that we all needed to cast out early on in our conversion to Christianity.

As for my cousin, I think there is hope for him but at the great white throne judgment, at the second resurrection, unless he should be awakened or called by God and repent and cast out the beam that is in his own eye. That is something that he has to do himself, I cannot do it for him.

As we approach the Day of Pentecost, let us pray that God will fill us with His Holy Spirit and that it will help us to discern His instructions rightly and lead us to serve Him in sincerity and truth.

2013 Jacques Gauvin