He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

When I was starting out in my insurance career, I was really confused. I didn’t understand why so many people around me couldn’t see life the way I did; they couldn’t solve problems the way I could, and they didn’t readily agree with me either. So, I would try to force the issue and prove that my way was better. This is basically arrogance. Instead of recognizing their positive contributions, I compared myself to them to make me feel smart.

As I look at these three short parables and what they have in common, I think arrogance is a common theme: 1) Blind leaders who assume leadership to lead others who are blind, 2) The student who thinks they are smarter than their teacher, and 3) the brother who points out the speck in the other’s eye and ignores the plank in his own.

Jesus is calling out the sin of arrogance. And many times, just like I did in my career, we hide it and disguise it well. But it is not edifying to others and does not help them reach their full potential in Christ. Instead, it puts them down and makes them feel less important.

God has gifted us all differently and desires for us to recognize each other’s gifts and help them to blossom.

Lord, forgive me for the sin of arrogance. Continue to teach me to seek to listen and understand first, before presenting a solution that may not be needed. Thank you for loving me even when I interrupted your plans for relational work, because of my arrogance. Help me to be better at building up others and become a strong enabler of your church.