Blessings and Woes

Luke 6:17-49 

Luke states his mission at the beginning of his gospel to write out what he has investigated carefully in consecutive order so that the exact truth might be known about the things we have been taught, emphasizing that eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us. 

He begins by giving us the account of the Messiah’s forerunner, John the Baptist.  He continues with the story of the miraculous conception and birth of the Savior, and the mind boggling recognition Simeon had of the Christ child in the temple as soon as he held Him in his arms. 

Luke records the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River and the presence of the Holy Trinity as Jesus comes out of the water, the Holy Spirit descends on Him as a dove, and the Father’s voice is heard saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” 

We read on as Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness where he ate nothing for 40 days and was tempted by the devil to show if He “really was the Son of God.” Hungry and tired, angels minister to Him and He returned home to Nazareth in the power of the Spirit.  Jesus is in a familiar place, probably surrounded by family and neighbors that have known Him all His life.  He attends the synagogue and is given a scroll of scripture. The portion He chooses is a prophecy from Isaiah about the coming Messiah. He amazes them by telling them this prophecy has been fulfilled in their hearing. First, they speak well of Him and wonder at His gracious words...but soon they are filled with rage and want to kill him.  

Needless to say, He leaves the hometown that has rejected Him and continues on to Capernaum and casts out demons and heals the sick. He tells them “I must preach the kingdom of God...for I was sent for this purpose.” Our text this week is an example of Jesus fulfilling that purpose.

Luke 6:17-49 is account of a sermon Jesus preaches after choosing his twelve apostles.  Some call it a condensed version of the Sermon on the Mount, others have named it the Sermon on the Plain. There are many similarities, but in Matthew’s gospel Jesus goes "up” on the mountain and teaches them and here, in Luke 6, He descends with His apostles to a level place and begins to heal and teach those who have followed Him. Many Bible scholars believe the teachings Jesus gave in Matthew and Luke were given on many occasions. Peter told his readers “I shall always be ready to remind you of these things even though you already know them...to stir you up by way of reminder.” II Peter 1:12 & 13 

The literary form of this teaching we call “The Beatitudes,” was called the “form of the oracle” and was very familiar to Jewish people. Old Testament prophets prefaced their pronouncements by saying, “Thus saith the Lord.” Good pronouncements were called “oracles of weal” and pronouncements of judgment or wrath were called “oracles of woe.”  

Jesus begins His sermon with blessings on the poor, the hungry, the grieving, and the persecuted.  R.C. Sproul explains that “being blessed by God does not just mean ‘don’t worry, be happy.’  It is, rather, an understanding in the depths of your soul, in the deepest chamber of your heart, of the sweetness of the presence of God as you live before His face every moment.”  The woes are for those who trust in riches, are well fed and well thought of by others. It infers that their comfort in this world is their reward and that they trust in wealth and the good opinion of others more than God. 

Then Jesus gives them some foundational commandments that are quite the opposite of how the world operates.  He tells them to love their enemies, do good to those who hate them, bless those who curse them, pray for those who spitefully use them, turn the other cheek, give generously to anyone who asks you, and finally, treat others as you would like to be treated. Wow! Seven commands that turn everything on its head.  And it gets better! 

He tells them not to judge or condemn but to pardon. Then something that I find a little scary... “by your standard it will be measured to you in return.” This turns our pointing fingers right back at ourselves.  

On a last solemn note, Jesus asks a question. “Why do you call me Lord and do not do what I say?” If ever we should feel conviction or feel the need to examine ourselves, this is it.  As the world gets further and further away from Godly standards, we as believers in Jesus Christ as The Way, should be striving to know and obey His Word without compromise no matter what the world is doing. 

Let’s be like that one who comes to Him, hears His words, and acts upon them. Let’s dig deep and build a strong foundation on Jesus. 

Jo