Of Blessings,
Woes, and Love for our Enemies
[Luke chapter
6, verses 20-36]
For this
week's Bible study, we'll be going over part two of Luke chapter six.
It is at this point in Scripture that the venerated Sermon on the
Mount begins, although it starts in chapter 5 of Matthew's gospel.
But today we'll be picking up beginning at verse 20. As you recall,
when we closed out last week's study Jesus had just finished healing
a large crowd that had come to see him and hear him preach. Now that
the healing was over and everyone's needs had evidently been met, it
was time for the preaching and teaching phase of Jesus' ministry to
begin. I find it quite remarkable that Jesus apparently didn't need
to take a break between the healing and the preaching, although at
this point our Savior must have been on his feet for hours! Jesus
might have stopped long enough for a quick bite to eat, but the Bible
doesn't say if he did or not. I find this to be one of many classic
examples of the unknowable and never-ending love of Jesus Christ for
each of us! But to stay on topic, let's begin at verse 20.
“Looking
at his disciples he said, 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is
the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger, for you will be
satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” (Luke
6, verses 20-21)
As
we take in this portion of Luke's gospel verses by verse, I think
it's important to examine both sides of this coin from Jesus' point
of view. “Blessed are the poor”, means cursed are the rich!
Anyone who chooses a lifetime of temporary riches, all of which will
remain behind when that person has lived out their life, will get
exactly what they chose. Meaning, after they die they have nothing
set aside for eternity. They will be “thrown outside into darkness,
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:
30). “Blessed are you who hunger, for you will be satisfied.”
Matthew's gospel says this a little better, I think: “Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled.” (Matt. 5: 6) We live in an incredibly unjust world,
and the proof lies in the rampant inequality that currently exists,
and has existed for centuries. But if we all make ourselves a people
who hunger and thirst after some true righteousness, we find that
righteousness to be only in Jesus Christ, the One who died to save us
all, only to live again forever! Hallelujah! “Blessed are you
who weep now”. Rest assured that those who have caused you
sorrow will be repaid for their injury to you. Only let God take care
of it, don't try to avenge yourself. It is written elsewhere in the
Old Testament: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, thus says the
Lord your God”.
“Blessed
are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you, and
reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that
day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For
that is how their fathers treated the prophets.” (Luke 6: verses
22-23)
Ever
joined a church only to find yourself excluded or given a cold
reception by other members? Ever tried to join a church only to be
turned away? Trust me, both of the above have happened to me back in
my fairly distant past. But what I gained from these experiences is a
heightened sense of spiritual discernment that I had previously
lacked. These kinds of experiences are fairly commonplace in American
churches, both Protestant and Catholic, as you know. Well, Jesus is
telling us all to quit being mad about feeling rejected, suck up our
hurt feelings, and to grow up into being better followers! Those who
rejected us will be dealt with in due time. By the same token, any
Christian believer who finds themselves ostracized for their faith
should give thanks to God. Moreover, when this happens and we give
thanks and praise, it serves to strengthen us in our abilities to
resist evil and temptation. In so doing, we strengthen our faith and
affirm more strongly our belief! Then Jesus gives his apostles and
the crowd gathered around them the flip side of this coin that I
mentioned above.
“But
woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you
who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men
speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false
prophets.” (Luke 6: verses 24-26)
What
was Jesus saying in modern English? If all we want is riches, that is
all we will receive. If all we want is food and comfort, if any of us
really thinks we will be content with that and no more, then if any
of us is willing to settle just for that little bit, why should the
Lord reward us with any more? That would be like somebody willingly
paying more than the sticker price for a car or truck. Since it makes
no sense to pay more than we have to, then it would be equally
nonsensical for the Lord to reward any of us for being willing to
settle for less than the best. The same thing goes for being popular
or highly respected, or for those seeking fame and fortune. “Woe to
you when all men speak well of you”, and that remains ever so true
to this day. And now let's conclude today's study, beginning at verse
27.
“But I
tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate
you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If
someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If
someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to
you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to
you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even
'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who
are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit
is that to you?. Even 'sinners' lend to sinners, expecting repayment
in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend without
expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and
you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the
ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
(Luke 6: 27-36)
Confound
your enemies by treating them well! Love those who hate you, do good
to those who mistreat you, don't use curse or swear words against
someone even if they 'cuss you out'. This is a tall order for anyone
to fill, no matter how well-meaning an individual we might be. For
one thing, it's noticeably counter-intuitive. We naturally react
negatively towards those who react negatively towards us – it's
human nature! In fact, what Jesus preached that day was that we are
to do everything that is contrary to our human nature in order to
live like Christ. “But love your enemies, do good to them, and
lend without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be
great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to
the ungrateful and wicked.” That statement is one of several
Jesus made here that sums up Christianity in a nutshell with these
most timeless descriptions. Love your enemies, because love always
conquers hate. Love them and do good things for them without
qualification. Lend to them while expecting nothing in return.
After
all, if God is kind even to ungrateful and wicked people, how much
more will he do for those who diligently follow him and serve him
without reservation? Instead, Jesus said, “Be merciful, just as
your Father is merciful.” As before, there are 2 sides to this
coin. The same degree of mercy and patience that we show towards
others will be shown back to us when our lives are over and done
with. The more mercy and patience towards children and the elderly,
the disabled and handicapped, and the mentally ill and homeless we
show throughout our lives, the more merciful God will be towards us
through Jesus Christ his Son. But shallow and selfish individuals who
live their whole lives keeping everything all to themselves while
showing no due consideration for anyone else they ever came into
contact with will go to everlasting punishment for their adamant
refusal to try and reach out and help others, putting themselves
ahead of others instead of the other way around. Let us take all
these things carefully into consideration during this coming week,
making a concerted effort to become a merciful and gracious people in
honor of the Lord, knowing he will do the same for us when our time
comes. And next week we'll move on to the 3rd and final
part of Luke chapter six.
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