Lectionary Calendar

Monday, January 20th, 2025
the Second Week after Epiphany

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Verses 1-16

Intro:
1. Outline: Sabbath-tage; & Team Eclectic!
SABBATHTAGE! (1-11)
1. LORD OF THE SABBATH! (1-5)
2. Keeping the Sabbath was near the top of the list of Pharisaic virtues. But wasn’t keeping the Sabbath also important to Christ?
  1. Was Jesus throwing off the 4^th commandment?
  2. The difference? The Pharisees enjoyed heir own rigid definition & requirements. Jesus kept the Sabbath as was intended.
    1. Jesus was Jewish & honored the Law.
    2. The habit of Jesus was to observe the Sabbath as a day of worship in the synagogues.2.2.2.2.1.The Sabbath/rest was principally for worship, not just for rests sake.
  3. Jesus’ failure to comply with the minute restrictions of the Pharisaic observance brought conflict & confrontation.
3. Let me unfold the problem:
  1. About 200 yrs before Christ there arose what was known as The Great Synagogue. It took the 10 commandments & the whole Law of Moses & added interpretations.
    1. Not by teaching the inner spirit of them, but by adding to them other commandments.
    2. Ex: this Sabbath question. The Great Synagogue had given 39 prohibitions to interpret “thou shall do no manner of work”
    3. Those prohibitions were called Abhoth(fathers).
    4. Then they added Toldoth(descendants/i.e. descendants of Abhoth)
    5. 1 of the Abhoth prohibitions said, “Reaping is work”.
    6. Then the Toldoth(the rules to help you carry out the idea) it says, “plucking the ear of wheat is = to reaping, & rubbing in the hands is = to threshing.”
    7. So, the disciples by doing this act were breaking Toldoth,
      1. by breaking Toldoth they were breaking Abhoth,
      2. by breaking Abhoth they were breaking the Law. (G. Campbell Morgan, Luke; pg.82,83)
  2. This is what Jesus is constantly trampling over…human traditions! That start off w/good intentions, but always end up missing the heart of God!
4. He referred His critics to the example of David. When David was desperately hungry, he broke the law by eating the bread of the presence.
  1. If David could do this, how much more the Son of David?
  2. In the interest of survival David and his companions were allowed to be above the Law with the priest’s blessing.
  3. Christ and His companions were also above the man-made law which the Pharisees proclaimed.
5. Thus, [1] Circumstances justified practice.
  1. Larger obligations overruled lesser.
  2. Ceremonial observance is less important than meeting human needs
6. HEALING ON THE SABBATH! (6-11)
7. (6,7) They just knew that’s who he would be attracted to. The one person that was hurting the most!
  1. Do you see it? – They just knew He couldn’t pass up compassion. “What an unconscious compliment to our Lord!”
8. (9) Is that fair Jesus? To do nothing for this man was to do him evil or likened unto killing him??? [same anytime someone’s hurting?]
  1. Here God was speaking to my lackadaisical hard-heart.
  2. Brian, “Can you just say I’m concerned for your hand, what happened?”
    1. Is it finances? No insurance? No doctor?(Haiti)
    2. I can ask, “Eske muen kabob prie po oh?” (Can I pray for you?)
  3. I believe Jesus is saying here, “you are either acting in some way for the person’s recovery, or you are acting for the perpetuation of his misery.”
  4. May it be our new goal to never leave anyone how you found them. When we depart from them may their soul be lifted up, encouraged, or brought before the throne of God!
9. Jesus, armed w/principles goes to the heart of the subject!
10. Q: Which principle do you live by?
  1. Do you live by the Pharisees principle “Is it lawful”, or Jesus’ principle “Is it loving”? (Here This!)
  2. Q: Does it feel like compromise to ask Is it loving?
  3. Q: Does it feel more holy to ask Is it lawful?
  4. Q: Does it feel wimpy to ask Is it loving?
  5. Q: Do you feel more bold to ask Is it lawful?
11. The Pharisees had transformed a day of blessing into a day of bondage. [It takes great skill to do that!]
  1. Original intent? To provide a day of rest for the children of Israel that would free the people from the tyranny of a life of unending toil. (Shepherd’s Notes; pg.23)
  2. God gave it for the good of humanity! – How mean of God to not want man to work 24/7’s???
  3. It was a principle that is far older than Judaism. It goes back to Genesis, to the 7^th day in the creative process.
  4. But notice this…it was the 1^st day of human existence!
    1. Thus man’s 1^st day was his Sabbath day! (G. Campbell Morgan, Luke; pg.84)
12. It is always right to do good, & to meet human need, for loves fulfills the law!
  1. Rom.13:8 “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
  2. Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
13. Christ makes their intention public & whets expectation.
  1. Thus He heals him! (a) Relieving the man’s suffering & (b) exposing the enemies nastiness!
14. (11) Now they were more than critics...they were enemies!
15. Ps: Jesus did 7 such miracles on the Sabbath so they’d get the point!
  1. In short, Sabbath is for man, & Christ is Lord of both!
TEAM ECLECTIC! (12-16)
1. Jesus while on earth had 3 methods of work: [1] Performing miracles [2] Teaching [3] Raising up his successors.
  1. Now, another landmark in Jesus’ earthly ministry.
  2. Jesus in the limitations of His humanity, was unable to do it alone.
  3. The work was extending & pressing.
  4. His Vision was so far-reaching that it was essential to provide not only for the present, but for the future.
2. Out of His many disciples He picks only 12.
  1. Q: I wonder what were the issues that went along with those not picked?
  2. He didn’t pick the influential, the powerful, the learned or the wise. But good men, simple men, impressionable men(open/easy to mold).
3. Jesus chose 12 apostles to: Serve w/Him during His ministry & to provide leadership for the church.
  1. Maybe 12, to correspond w/the 12 tribes of OT Israel.
  2. These were picked from those Jesus knew personally (Acts 1:21,22)
4. This big decision, only after He prayed all night.
  1. If there was One who might have lived w/o prayer it would have been our spotless Lord!
  2. But He sought communion with His Father.
  3. It was right after enemies had been enraged.
  4. It was for intercession for those He was choosing.
  5. It was an example for us.
  6. He refreshed Himself in prayer.
  7. Prayer was the gate of His new enterprise.
5. The term disciple & apostle are often used interchangeably in referring to these men.
  1. But a Disciple is a learner or follower.
  2. An Apostle generally refers to a person who is sent w/a special message or commission.
6. “also Named apostles” – they are still disciples(learners); they are still ministers(servants); & now apostles(sent/missionaries).
7. I wonder how much they understood?
  1. Q: Did they realize they would be inheriting His work?
  2. Q: That they would be possessing His Spirit?
  3. Q: That they were called to transmit His character to others?
    1. Q: Have we comprehended these 3?
8. Q: Does it encourage you that Jesus had so much patience with them, educating them, bearing with their worldly hopes, & clumsy mistakes?
  1. Their training was His constant care. And so is ours! J
9. Jesus uses every sort of individuality! (Adapted from “Luke” Thomas Griffith; pg.119.)
  1. Are you determined, adventurous, original, a born leader type…He will chasten you & make you steadfast…like Peter.
  2. Are you a keen observer, a deep thinker, maybe leadership isn’t your #1 gift…He will use you for insight & teaching others-like John
  3. Are you full of questions, even doubt, & move forward w/hesitation, Jesus can train intellectual questioners & use them to bless others…like Thomas or Nathanael.
  4. Are you a practical man/woman, familiar w/public affairs?…Christ will avail Himself of your administrative ability…like Matthew & Judas (sorry to link you w/Judas, but he was the Treasure for the group).
  5. Do you have directness, straightforwardness, a self-reliance about you?...Jesus will take these & enable you to give assurance & confidence to others…like James & Andrew.
  6. Do you have an unimaginative, ordinary, & sluggish temperament?…Christ will utilize your good points & energize you in His service…like Philip.
  7. Are you unknown, inconspicuous, unimportant?…Christ can use you also, “you in your small corner, me in mine”…like “the other James, the other Simon, & the other Judas”. [They didn’t even bear an exclusive name]
  8. Team Eclectic!
10. Therefore, let each be himself & do his/her best.
  1. Not desire to be someone else!
  2. But be all he/she is, & do all he/she can.
  3. Christ’s grace was necessary for each, giving them power to think, to go, to do, or to speak.
  4. When I get to heaven I’m not going to be asked, “why were you not Moses?” But I hope not to hear, “why weren’t you Brian? The Brian I meant you to be!”
11. I’ve seen 1^st hand how God has used this in our own church staff:
  1. We have a very diverse staff: we have the deep thinkers, those who keep us sane with humor, some especially gifted to deal with so much hurting, some w/analytical minds, some that even love numbers?, some w/strong personalities, some with soft.
  2. Q: Are you being all that God designed you to be? – Use your gifts, utilize your imagination, apply your passions!
12. Individuality:
  
  In the Reader’s Digest was published the following item: Label found in the pocket of a new suit jacket:
  Inspected by No.28-you can trust me, I’m under 30.
  
  Readers have brought to our attention a number of other No. 28 inspection tickets found in the pockets of slacks purchased in various parts of the country. Samples:
  Inspected by No.28. If you don’t find this slip, please inform us immediately
  Inspected by No.28, who was inspected by No. 27.
  Inspected by No.28. Numbers 1-27 are on vacation.
  Inspected by No.28. This is strictly a moonlighting job.
  Inspected by No.28. If you meet somebody suspicious, swallow this.
13. Don’t forget:
  1. He worked inward, rather than outward!
  2. He worked Intensively, not extensively.
  3. He stamped Himself on a few, then sent them out to reach many.
  4. He wrote not a line that endured, but much on human hearts.

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Verses 1-16

Intro:
1. Outline: Sabbath-tage; & Team Eclectic!
SABBATHTAGE! (1-11)
1. LORD OF THE SABBATH! (1-5)
2. Keeping the Sabbath was near the top of the list of Pharisaic virtues. But wasn’t keeping the Sabbath also important to Christ?
  1. Was Jesus throwing off the 4^th commandment?
  2. The difference? The Pharisees enjoyed heir own rigid definition & requirements. Jesus kept the Sabbath as was intended.
    1. Jesus was Jewish & honored the Law.
    2. The habit of Jesus was to observe the Sabbath as a day of worship in the synagogues.2.2.2.2.1.The Sabbath/rest was principally for worship, not just for rests sake.
  3. Jesus’ failure to comply with the minute restrictions of the Pharisaic observance brought conflict & confrontation.
3. Let me unfold the problem:
  1. About 200 yrs before Christ there arose what was known as The Great Synagogue. It took the 10 commandments & the whole Law of Moses & added interpretations.
    1. Not by teaching the inner spirit of them, but by adding to them other commandments.
    2. Ex: this Sabbath question. The Great Synagogue had given 39 prohibitions to interpret “thou shall do no manner of work”
    3. Those prohibitions were called Abhoth(fathers).
    4. Then they added Toldoth(descendants/i.e. descendants of Abhoth)
    5. 1 of the Abhoth prohibitions said, “Reaping is work”.
    6. Then the Toldoth(the rules to help you carry out the idea) it says, “plucking the ear of wheat is = to reaping, & rubbing in the hands is = to threshing.”
    7. So, the disciples by doing this act were breaking Toldoth,
      1. by breaking Toldoth they were breaking Abhoth,
      2. by breaking Abhoth they were breaking the Law. (G. Campbell Morgan, Luke; pg.82,83)
  2. This is what Jesus is constantly trampling over…human traditions! That start off w/good intentions, but always end up missing the heart of God!
4. He referred His critics to the example of David. When David was desperately hungry, he broke the law by eating the bread of the presence.
  1. If David could do this, how much more the Son of David?
  2. In the interest of survival David and his companions were allowed to be above the Law with the priest’s blessing.
  3. Christ and His companions were also above the man-made law which the Pharisees proclaimed.
5. Thus, [1] Circumstances justified practice.
  1. Larger obligations overruled lesser.
  2. Ceremonial observance is less important than meeting human needs
6. HEALING ON THE SABBATH! (6-11)
7. (6,7) They just knew that’s who he would be attracted to. The one person that was hurting the most!
  1. Do you see it? – They just knew He couldn’t pass up compassion. “What an unconscious compliment to our Lord!”
8. (9) Is that fair Jesus? To do nothing for this man was to do him evil or likened unto killing him??? [same anytime someone’s hurting?]
  1. Here God was speaking to my lackadaisical hard-heart.
  2. Brian, “Can you just say I’m concerned for your hand, what happened?”
    1. Is it finances? No insurance? No doctor?(Haiti)
    2. I can ask, “Eske muen kabob prie po oh?” (Can I pray for you?)
  3. I believe Jesus is saying here, “you are either acting in some way for the person’s recovery, or you are acting for the perpetuation of his misery.”
  4. May it be our new goal to never leave anyone how you found them. When we depart from them may their soul be lifted up, encouraged, or brought before the throne of God!
9. Jesus, armed w/principles goes to the heart of the subject!
10. Q: Which principle do you live by?
  1. Do you live by the Pharisees principle “Is it lawful”, or Jesus’ principle “Is it loving”? (Here This!)
  2. Q: Does it feel like compromise to ask Is it loving?
  3. Q: Does it feel more holy to ask Is it lawful?
  4. Q: Does it feel wimpy to ask Is it loving?
  5. Q: Do you feel more bold to ask Is it lawful?
11. The Pharisees had transformed a day of blessing into a day of bondage. [It takes great skill to do that!]
  1. Original intent? To provide a day of rest for the children of Israel that would free the people from the tyranny of a life of unending toil. (Shepherd’s Notes; pg.23)
  2. God gave it for the good of humanity! – How mean of God to not want man to work 24/7’s???
  3. It was a principle that is far older than Judaism. It goes back to Genesis, to the 7^th day in the creative process.
  4. But notice this…it was the 1^st day of human existence!
    1. Thus man’s 1^st day was his Sabbath day! (G. Campbell Morgan, Luke; pg.84)
12. It is always right to do good, & to meet human need, for loves fulfills the law!
  1. Rom.13:8 “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
  2. Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
13. Christ makes their intention public & whets expectation.
  1. Thus He heals him! (a) Relieving the man’s suffering & (b) exposing the enemies nastiness!
14. (11) Now they were more than critics...they were enemies!
15. Ps: Jesus did 7 such miracles on the Sabbath so they’d get the point!
  1. In short, Sabbath is for man, & Christ is Lord of both!
TEAM ECLECTIC! (12-16)
1. Jesus while on earth had 3 methods of work: [1] Performing miracles [2] Teaching [3] Raising up his successors.
  1. Now, another landmark in Jesus’ earthly ministry.
  2. Jesus in the limitations of His humanity, was unable to do it alone.
  3. The work was extending & pressing.
  4. His Vision was so far-reaching that it was essential to provide not only for the present, but for the future.
2. Out of His many disciples He picks only 12.
  1. Q: I wonder what were the issues that went along with those not picked?
  2. He didn’t pick the influential, the powerful, the learned or the wise. But good men, simple men, impressionable men(open/easy to mold).
3. Jesus chose 12 apostles to: Serve w/Him during His ministry & to provide leadership for the church.
  1. Maybe 12, to correspond w/the 12 tribes of OT Israel.
  2. These were picked from those Jesus knew personally (Acts 1:21,22)
4. This big decision, only after He prayed all night.
  1. If there was One who might have lived w/o prayer it would have been our spotless Lord!
  2. But He sought communion with His Father.
  3. It was right after enemies had been enraged.
  4. It was for intercession for those He was choosing.
  5. It was an example for us.
  6. He refreshed Himself in prayer.
  7. Prayer was the gate of His new enterprise.
5. The term disciple & apostle are often used interchangeably in referring to these men.
  1. But a Disciple is a learner or follower.
  2. An Apostle generally refers to a person who is sent w/a special message or commission.
6. “also Named apostles” – they are still disciples(learners); they are still ministers(servants); & now apostles(sent/missionaries).
7. I wonder how much they understood?
  1. Q: Did they realize they would be inheriting His work?
  2. Q: That they would be possessing His Spirit?
  3. Q: That they were called to transmit His character to others?
    1. Q: Have we comprehended these 3?
8. Q: Does it encourage you that Jesus had so much patience with them, educating them, bearing with their worldly hopes, & clumsy mistakes?
  1. Their training was His constant care. And so is ours! J
9. Jesus uses every sort of individuality! (Adapted from “Luke” Thomas Griffith; pg.119.)
  1. Are you determined, adventurous, original, a born leader type…He will chasten you & make you steadfast…like Peter.
  2. Are you a keen observer, a deep thinker, maybe leadership isn’t your #1 gift…He will use you for insight & teaching others-like John
  3. Are you full of questions, even doubt, & move forward w/hesitation, Jesus can train intellectual questioners & use them to bless others…like Thomas or Nathanael.
  4. Are you a practical man/woman, familiar w/public affairs?…Christ will avail Himself of your administrative ability…like Matthew & Judas (sorry to link you w/Judas, but he was the Treasure for the group).
  5. Do you have directness, straightforwardness, a self-reliance about you?...Jesus will take these & enable you to give assurance & confidence to others…like James & Andrew.
  6. Do you have an unimaginative, ordinary, & sluggish temperament?…Christ will utilize your good points & energize you in His service…like Philip.
  7. Are you unknown, inconspicuous, unimportant?…Christ can use you also, “you in your small corner, me in mine”…like “the other James, the other Simon, & the other Judas”. [They didn’t even bear an exclusive name]
  8. Team Eclectic!
10. Therefore, let each be himself & do his/her best.
  1. Not desire to be someone else!
  2. But be all he/she is, & do all he/she can.
  3. Christ’s grace was necessary for each, giving them power to think, to go, to do, or to speak.
  4. When I get to heaven I’m not going to be asked, “why were you not Moses?” But I hope not to hear, “why weren’t you Brian? The Brian I meant you to be!”
11. I’ve seen 1^st hand how God has used this in our own church staff:
  1. We have a very diverse staff: we have the deep thinkers, those who keep us sane with humor, some especially gifted to deal with so much hurting, some w/analytical minds, some that even love numbers?, some w/strong personalities, some with soft.
  2. Q: Are you being all that God designed you to be? – Use your gifts, utilize your imagination, apply your passions!
12. Individuality:
  
  In the Reader’s Digest was published the following item: Label found in the pocket of a new suit jacket:
  Inspected by No.28-you can trust me, I’m under 30.
  
  Readers have brought to our attention a number of other No. 28 inspection tickets found in the pockets of slacks purchased in various parts of the country. Samples:
  Inspected by No.28. If you don’t find this slip, please inform us immediately
  Inspected by No.28, who was inspected by No. 27.
  Inspected by No.28. Numbers 1-27 are on vacation.
  Inspected by No.28. This is strictly a moonlighting job.
  Inspected by No.28. If you meet somebody suspicious, swallow this.
13. Don’t forget:
  1. He worked inward, rather than outward!
  2. He worked Intensively, not extensively.
  3. He stamped Himself on a few, then sent them out to reach many.
  4. He wrote not a line that endured, but much on human hearts.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 17-36

Intro:
1. The Pineapple Upside Down Cake: I wouldn’t have thought of it, but boy is it tasty! (who 1^st thought to flip it upside-down?)
  1. Jesus describes His kingdom upside down from all other kingdoms.
    1. The beatitudes & woes are opposite.
    2. It is the Great Reversal!
2. Some have called this “The Constitution of His Kingdom” others “a Portrait of Jesus”.
  1. It is certain that this Sermon has definite application for us today!
  2. These truths are all repeated in the NT epistles for the church today
  3. See Jesus’ own ending, in whom He says it’s for! Mt.7:24-27.
    1. Not just those that heard His words, but those that’ll hear His sayings! (vs.24)
    2. If it’s only for the “Millennium” then what about Lk.6:22?
3. Everyone of us is pursuing after Happiness!
  1. Even Our Constitution guarantees the Pursuit of Happiness!
  2. Jesus tells us how to find Happiness! – “Happy/blessed are you…”
  3. Jesus’ Constitution points out the Pathway to Happiness, as He describes the “attitudes” which lead to happiness!
4. Outline: [1] The Plain Sermon [2] The Main Sermon [3] Summed up Sermon.
THE “PLAIN” SERMON! (17-26)
1. Jesus now descends from the mount of Election(where He picked apostles).
  1. He had a marvelous ministry of healing. Physical & spiritual.
2. This is different from Matthews Sermon on the Mount. This is Luke’s Sermon on the Plain!
  1. The differences include: location & occasion(mount vs. level place); content(both have diff content the other doesn’t have); & listeners(disciples vs. disciples + many others).
3. BEATITUDES! (17-23)
4. So, happy are: the poor, the hungry, those who weep, & when you’re hated/excluded/reviled/& your name is smeared. (Wow really?)
5. (20) Blessed are you who…are Self-assertive! Aggressive! Confident! Esteem yourself! – NOPE! Blessed are you poor!
  1. “Men & women who are supremely conscious of their own spiritual poverty; of their own unworthiness; who are mastered by a great humility!” (G. Campbell Morgan)
  2. Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones said, “This one is first because it is obviously the key to all that follows!”
  3. This one speaks of emptying, while the rest are a manifestation of a fullness.
    1. We can’t be filled unless we’re emptied!
6. (21) Hunger – Matthew gives the fuller account…Hunger & thirst for righteousness!
  1. In their heart & soul there burns a consuming passion for righteousness! (Morgan)
7. Weep now(unique to Luke) - “If you want to know someone’s character, find out what makes him laugh & what makes him weep!”
  1. What we laugh at & what we weep over indicates our values of life & values are a part of maturity.
  2. Ninevah/8th cent. BC - wept & they were comforted [Jonah 3:8,9]
    1. The miracle of the big guppy steals the stage, but the greater miracle was the largest revival of all time, “All of Ninevah!”
8. (22,23) Exclude = to mark off from by boundary, to excommunicate from the congregation as well as from social interaction. (LKGNT)
9. Q: Are American Christians even persecuted? No, & Yes!
  1. No! - There is no comparison to the Biblical persecution & the earlier churches experience! {some call it “Hang Nail” pers.}
    1. We live in the midst of an easy going, popular kind of religion, that is acceptable to the world, maybe because it involves no Conviction & no Cross!
  2. Yes! - American Christians are persecuted daily!
    1. Christianity is attacked everywhere! {In politics; often w/church building projects(not ours); public Preaching & outreach; in our Schools(discrimination) - in every subject, w/evolution, w/morals(or the lack of them), their hero’s(sport figures, & rock stars); the attack on the family structure}
    2. Spurg, “Persecution of the tongue is more common, but not less cruel than that of the hand!”
10. Ok how do we gain happiness from this???
  1. #1 - Realize that is a privilege to be persecuted for Jesus sake.
  2. #2 - Realize this is evidence that we’re living like Him.
  3. #3 - Realize that the fellowship of his sufferings(Phil.3:10) is the closest fellowship possible w/God!
    1. When we are in the furnace, the Son of God is there w/us!
  4. #4 - Realize when the stones are flying we have opportunity to be our best witness! (Stephen w/Saul - Look at the results!!!)
  5. #5 - Realize persecution gives me the opportunity to grow!
    1. “It has a way of driving us to God!”
11. This joy isn’t worked up, it is the gift of the H.S.
12. Note: contrast between the prophets(23) & the false prophets(26).
  1. To the persecuted “blessed” to the patronized “woe”!
13. WOES! (24-26)
14. Woe on the counterparts of the happy: the rich, the well-fed, the merry, & the popular.
  1. Here, He seems to be addressing others in the crowd.
15. (24-6) Received = (used in a commercial sense) to acknowledge the receipt of full payment.
  1. Beyond the present possession of riches, these people have nothing to hope for. (LKGNT)
THE “MAIN” SERMON! (i.e. Love) (27-36)
1. Love is the heart of Jesus’ teachings, & these teachings are crucial to understanding what He meant. (Shepherd’s Notes; pg.25)
  1. He makes it clear you can’t say, “but I don’t feel like loving my enemy nor doing him/her good.”
    1. Because He defines love as action, not emotion!
2. RULES FOR KINGDOM LIFE! (27-36)
3. Jesus emphasized the true spiritual values of life in contrast to the false values of the Pharisees.
  1. “Comfortable living is not always Christian living.” (www)
  2. Here is the law of love operating against hatred!
    1. So, here’s how to behave yourself when you are hated.
4. (27,28) Yes, God’s people have their enemies, even as Jesus did; & we must be Christlike in how we treat them. (Warren Wiersbe; With the Word; pg.673)
  1. We are not to merely cease to hate, then live in a cold neutrality; But we are to love where hatred seemed inevitable!
  2. We must be giving & forgiving; & we must pray for them, not that God would destroy them, but that He would change them!
  3. “The best way to conquer an enemy is to make him a friend!!!”
5. Jesus defines our enemies as: those who “curse us, hate us, & exploit us selfishly!”
  1. Since Christian Love is an “act of the will” & not simply “an emotion”, he has the rt. to command us to Love our enemies!
6. When we pray for our enemies we find it easier to love them!
  1. It takes the “Poison” out of our Attitudes!
7. The world’s policy is “give nothing for nothing”, or the Latin “quid pro quo”(something for something). [Hand rubs “1 for 1?”]
8. (29-30) Returning good for good, or evil for evil, is the ordinary rule of man.
  1. Beneath this is returning evil for good…which is devilish!
  2. Above it there is the returning good for evil…which is Divine! (Pulpit Commentary; Luke; pg.147.)
9. This “Lex Talionis”(law of retaliation) is from Ex.21:23-25 “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” (context, woman w/child hurt while men were fighting)
  1. This law kept people from taking the law into their own hands.
  2. Jesus replaces this law w/an Attitude! - Be willing to suffer loss yourself rather than cause another to suffer!
10. Balance is “when” to “give a kiss for a punch”–Jesus himself didn’t offer to be hit a 2^nd time in Jn.18:22,23 but firmly rebuked the one who struck Him.
  1. “And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
SUMMED UP SERMON(i.e. Golden Rule)! (31)
1. (31) The Golden Rule:
  1. This was often quoted in the negative!
    1. Tobit 4:14 “Do to no one what you yourself disgrace!”
  2. It was also used by: Hillel, Philo, Socrates, & Confucius.
    1. It’s also found in many religions.
  3. Jesus puts it in the positive form!
    1. Wiersbe said, “We should no more build our theology on the golden rule, than we should build our astronomy on Twinkle, Twinkle, little Star!”
  4. This great truth is simply a principle that ought to govern our attitudes towards others!
    1. The Golden Rule is a pocket knife always ready to be used, even in sudden emergencies when there is not time to ask advice from a friend, or to consult a book!
  5. Note: It is also Jesus saying to His true followers, “Take the initiative!”
    1. Husbands, wives, whoever is the Christian take the initiative!
    2. “Do the good for them that you want done for you!”
  6. You can only obey this if you are love-mastered!
2. (32-34) Now He gives illustration of that rule!
3. “Even a dog will salute a dog!” (Spurg)
4. What credit is that to you?(3 x’s) (charis = thanks, favor, grace)
5. (35,36) Stop not at the easier love, but go on to the harder; & do this because God does it even to the unthankful & evil!
  1. Bonhoeffer asks, “Who needs Love more than the one who is consumed w/hatred for us. - Who in other words deserves our Love more than our enemy? - Where is Love more glorified than where she dwells in the midst of her enemies!”
  2. But, to Love our Enemy is not Natural! [Exactly! It’s Supernatural!]
6. Jesus the perfect example – He loved His enemies(Judas/friend); He did good to them that hated Him; He blessed them that cursed Him(thief); He prayed for them that spitefully used Him(Father forgive them…); He reviled not when they gambled for His garment they stole from Him.
7. He is kind to the unthankful evil – This is called “common grace w/o common gratitude!

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Verses 17-36

Intro:
1. The Pineapple Upside Down Cake: I wouldn’t have thought of it, but boy is it tasty! (who 1^st thought to flip it upside-down?)
  1. Jesus describes His kingdom upside down from all other kingdoms.
    1. The beatitudes & woes are opposite.
    2. It is the Great Reversal!
2. Some have called this “The Constitution of His Kingdom” others “a Portrait of Jesus”.
  1. It is certain that this Sermon has definite application for us today!
  2. These truths are all repeated in the NT epistles for the church today
  3. See Jesus’ own ending, in whom He says it’s for! Mt.7:24-27.
    1. Not just those that heard His words, but those that’ll hear His sayings! (vs.24)
    2. If it’s only for the “Millennium” then what about Lk.6:22?
3. Everyone of us is pursuing after Happiness!
  1. Even Our Constitution guarantees the Pursuit of Happiness!
  2. Jesus tells us how to find Happiness! – “Happy/blessed are you…”
  3. Jesus’ Constitution points out the Pathway to Happiness, as He describes the “attitudes” which lead to happiness!
4. Outline: [1] The Plain Sermon [2] The Main Sermon [3] Summed up Sermon.
THE “PLAIN” SERMON! (17-26)
1. Jesus now descends from the mount of Election(where He picked apostles).
  1. He had a marvelous ministry of healing. Physical & spiritual.
2. This is different from Matthews Sermon on the Mount. This is Luke’s Sermon on the Plain!
  1. The differences include: location & occasion(mount vs. level place); content(both have diff content the other doesn’t have); & listeners(disciples vs. disciples + many others).
3. BEATITUDES! (17-23)
4. So, happy are: the poor, the hungry, those who weep, & when you’re hated/excluded/reviled/& your name is smeared. (Wow really?)
5. (20) Blessed are you who…are Self-assertive! Aggressive! Confident! Esteem yourself! – NOPE! Blessed are you poor!
  1. “Men & women who are supremely conscious of their own spiritual poverty; of their own unworthiness; who are mastered by a great humility!” (G. Campbell Morgan)
  2. Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones said, “This one is first because it is obviously the key to all that follows!”
  3. This one speaks of emptying, while the rest are a manifestation of a fullness.
    1. We can’t be filled unless we’re emptied!
6. (21) Hunger – Matthew gives the fuller account…Hunger & thirst for righteousness!
  1. In their heart & soul there burns a consuming passion for righteousness! (Morgan)
7. Weep now(unique to Luke) - “If you want to know someone’s character, find out what makes him laugh & what makes him weep!”
  1. What we laugh at & what we weep over indicates our values of life & values are a part of maturity.
  2. Ninevah/8th cent. BC - wept & they were comforted [Jonah 3:8,9]
    1. The miracle of the big guppy steals the stage, but the greater miracle was the largest revival of all time, “All of Ninevah!”
8. (22,23) Exclude = to mark off from by boundary, to excommunicate from the congregation as well as from social interaction. (LKGNT)
9. Q: Are American Christians even persecuted? No, & Yes!
  1. No! - There is no comparison to the Biblical persecution & the earlier churches experience! {some call it “Hang Nail” pers.}
    1. We live in the midst of an easy going, popular kind of religion, that is acceptable to the world, maybe because it involves no Conviction & no Cross!
  2. Yes! - American Christians are persecuted daily!
    1. Christianity is attacked everywhere! {In politics; often w/church building projects(not ours); public Preaching & outreach; in our Schools(discrimination) - in every subject, w/evolution, w/morals(or the lack of them), their hero’s(sport figures, & rock stars); the attack on the family structure}
    2. Spurg, “Persecution of the tongue is more common, but not less cruel than that of the hand!”
10. Ok how do we gain happiness from this???
  1. #1 - Realize that is a privilege to be persecuted for Jesus sake.
  2. #2 - Realize this is evidence that we’re living like Him.
  3. #3 - Realize that the fellowship of his sufferings(Phil.3:10) is the closest fellowship possible w/God!
    1. When we are in the furnace, the Son of God is there w/us!
  4. #4 - Realize when the stones are flying we have opportunity to be our best witness! (Stephen w/Saul - Look at the results!!!)
  5. #5 - Realize persecution gives me the opportunity to grow!
    1. “It has a way of driving us to God!”
11. This joy isn’t worked up, it is the gift of the H.S.
12. Note: contrast between the prophets(23) & the false prophets(26).
  1. To the persecuted “blessed” to the patronized “woe”!
13. WOES! (24-26)
14. Woe on the counterparts of the happy: the rich, the well-fed, the merry, & the popular.
  1. Here, He seems to be addressing others in the crowd.
15. (24-6) Received = (used in a commercial sense) to acknowledge the receipt of full payment.
  1. Beyond the present possession of riches, these people have nothing to hope for. (LKGNT)
THE “MAIN” SERMON! (i.e. Love) (27-36)
1. Love is the heart of Jesus’ teachings, & these teachings are crucial to understanding what He meant. (Shepherd’s Notes; pg.25)
  1. He makes it clear you can’t say, “but I don’t feel like loving my enemy nor doing him/her good.”
    1. Because He defines love as action, not emotion!
2. RULES FOR KINGDOM LIFE! (27-36)
3. Jesus emphasized the true spiritual values of life in contrast to the false values of the Pharisees.
  1. “Comfortable living is not always Christian living.” (www)
  2. Here is the law of love operating against hatred!
    1. So, here’s how to behave yourself when you are hated.
4. (27,28) Yes, God’s people have their enemies, even as Jesus did; & we must be Christlike in how we treat them. (Warren Wiersbe; With the Word; pg.673)
  1. We are not to merely cease to hate, then live in a cold neutrality; But we are to love where hatred seemed inevitable!
  2. We must be giving & forgiving; & we must pray for them, not that God would destroy them, but that He would change them!
  3. “The best way to conquer an enemy is to make him a friend!!!”
5. Jesus defines our enemies as: those who “curse us, hate us, & exploit us selfishly!”
  1. Since Christian Love is an “act of the will” & not simply “an emotion”, he has the rt. to command us to Love our enemies!
6. When we pray for our enemies we find it easier to love them!
  1. It takes the “Poison” out of our Attitudes!
7. The world’s policy is “give nothing for nothing”, or the Latin “quid pro quo”(something for something). [Hand rubs “1 for 1?”]
8. (29-30) Returning good for good, or evil for evil, is the ordinary rule of man.
  1. Beneath this is returning evil for good…which is devilish!
  2. Above it there is the returning good for evil…which is Divine! (Pulpit Commentary; Luke; pg.147.)
9. This “Lex Talionis”(law of retaliation) is from Ex.21:23-25 “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” (context, woman w/child hurt while men were fighting)
  1. This law kept people from taking the law into their own hands.
  2. Jesus replaces this law w/an Attitude! - Be willing to suffer loss yourself rather than cause another to suffer!
10. Balance is “when” to “give a kiss for a punch”–Jesus himself didn’t offer to be hit a 2^nd time in Jn.18:22,23 but firmly rebuked the one who struck Him.
  1. “And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
SUMMED UP SERMON(i.e. Golden Rule)! (31)
1. (31) The Golden Rule:
  1. This was often quoted in the negative!
    1. Tobit 4:14 “Do to no one what you yourself disgrace!”
  2. It was also used by: Hillel, Philo, Socrates, & Confucius.
    1. It’s also found in many religions.
  3. Jesus puts it in the positive form!
    1. Wiersbe said, “We should no more build our theology on the golden rule, than we should build our astronomy on Twinkle, Twinkle, little Star!”
  4. This great truth is simply a principle that ought to govern our attitudes towards others!
    1. The Golden Rule is a pocket knife always ready to be used, even in sudden emergencies when there is not time to ask advice from a friend, or to consult a book!
  5. Note: It is also Jesus saying to His true followers, “Take the initiative!”
    1. Husbands, wives, whoever is the Christian take the initiative!
    2. “Do the good for them that you want done for you!”
  6. You can only obey this if you are love-mastered!
2. (32-34) Now He gives illustration of that rule!
3. “Even a dog will salute a dog!” (Spurg)
4. What credit is that to you?(3 x’s) (charis = thanks, favor, grace)
5. (35,36) Stop not at the easier love, but go on to the harder; & do this because God does it even to the unthankful & evil!
  1. Bonhoeffer asks, “Who needs Love more than the one who is consumed w/hatred for us. - Who in other words deserves our Love more than our enemy? - Where is Love more glorified than where she dwells in the midst of her enemies!”
  2. But, to Love our Enemy is not Natural! [Exactly! It’s Supernatural!]
6. Jesus the perfect example – He loved His enemies(Judas/friend); He did good to them that hated Him; He blessed them that cursed Him(thief); He prayed for them that spitefully used Him(Father forgive them…); He reviled not when they gambled for His garment they stole from Him.
7. He is kind to the unthankful evil – This is called “common grace w/o common gratitude!

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Verses 37-49

Intro:
1. Last week we looked at Jesus’ sermon on the plain(17).
  1. We looked at having right attitudes in the beatitudes.
  2. And we learned that if we retaliate on our enemy we’d be living on the low level of the world. But if we love them, do good to them, bless them, & pray for them, then we rise to a higher level & glorify the Lord.
2. This may be an instance of the Jewish method of preaching. The Jews called preaching Charaz, which means stringing beads.
  1. The Rabbis held that the preacher must never linger more than a few moments on any topic but, in order to maintain interest, must move quickly from one topic to another. Jewish preaching, therefore, often gives us the impression of being disconnected. (The Gospel of Luke. 2000, c1975 (W. Barclay, lecturer in the University of Glasgow, Ed.). The Daily study Bible series)
  2. May we find & enjoy the beauty of each pearl in this passage!
3. Prayer:
QUADRUPLE COMMANDS! (37,38)
1. JUDGE NOT! (37a)
2. Judge – Forbidding the habit of criticism.
  1. To be a critic, to have criticism, to criticize, to discriminate.
  2. Jesus doesn’t mean that we are not to form opinions, but not to form them rashly or unfairly!
3. CONDEMN NOT! (37b)
4. This is telling someone, or some group(Samaritans), that they are beyond the mercy of God. [or like the Pharisees did to the tax collectors]
5. RESENT NOT! (37c)
6. Forgive comes from an Old English word that literally means “to abstain from giving.”
  1. The underlying idea is of giving up resentment or a claim. (Encarta Dict.)
  2. Context seems to mean we should give away much forgiveness, & we’ll receive much in return!
7. HOARD NOT! (38)
8. We should always give with pure motives, "hoping for nothing again"[6:35]; yet God does promise, "He that gives unto the poor shall not lack!"
9. "The grass is not greener on that side of the fence. And the grass is not greener on this side of the fence. The grass is greener where you water it." [Frank Fried; Bible Illus]
10. A missionary tells of a woman in India holding in her arms a weak, whining infant, while at her side stood a beautiful, healthy child. The man of God saw her walk to the banks of the Ganges River and throw the robust youngster to the crocodiles as an offering, and then turn toward home again still clutching the sickly child to her bosom. Tears were running down her cheeks when he stopped to question her concerning her shocking actions; however, she proudly replied in defense of her conduct, "O sir, we always give our gods the best!"
11. “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, & running over.”
  1. The picture here is of grain poured into a container, pressed down & then shaken so that every little corner is filled & the grain poured in until it’s run over. [LKGNT; pg.155]
12. Bosom – the fold of a garment as it extends beyond & droop over the belt. (Manners & Customs of the Bible; pg.504)
  1. It was used as we use pockets today. Except sometimes larger items were placed in it, like…
  2. A nursing child - Numb.11:12 “…Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child…”2.12.3. A little lamb - 2 Sam.12:2,3 (Nathan’s parable for David) “The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.”2.12.4. God’s children J - Is.40:11 “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.”
    1. God says, “you’re safe in my pocket little one!”
    2. It was the safest spot! – i.e. Passport (front pocket/or carrier)
13. Many years ago two young men were working their way through Stanford University. At one point their money was almost gone, so they decided to engage the great pianist Paderewski for a concert and use the profits for board and tuition. Paderewski's manager asked for a guarantee of $2,000. The students worked hard to promote the concert, but they came up $400 short. After the performance, they went to the musician, gave him all the money they had raised, and promised to pay the $400 as soon as they could. It appeared that their college days were over. "No, boys, that won't do," said the pianist. "take out of this $1,600 all your expenses, and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Let me have the rest." Years passed. Paderewski became prime minister of Poland following World War I. Thousands of his countrymen were starving. Only one man could help, the head of the U.S. Food and Relief Bureau. Paderewski's appeal to him brought thousands of tons of food. Later he met the American statesman to thank him. "That's all right," replied Herbert Hoover. "Besides, you don't remember, but you helped me once when I was a student in college."
TWO PARABLES, TWO ILLUSTRATIONS! (39-42)
1. TWO PARABLES! (39,40)
2. (39) If we are blind to God’s way of living, & attempt to lead others, both we & they will fall into a pit.
3. (40) Q: So how does a person live this kind of life? (37,38)
  1. Follow a person that knows how to live!
  2. Because everyone who has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
    1. Be like his teacher – (lit. “reach his teachers level”)
  3. Q: Parents how will your children learn to live Jesus’ way?
  4. Read John 13:13-17.
4. TWO ILLUSTRATIONS! (41,42)
5. This is an example of the humor of Jesus.
  1. He must have been smiling when he taught this hyperbole.
  2. Show glasses I made back when I 1^st taught Luke.
    1. [Here, let me get that dust speck out of your eye!] {Honda Dealership}
6. We have no right to criticize, unless we ourselves are free of faults.
  1. Thus, we have no right to criticize at all!
  2. (Barclay) “there is so much bad in the best of us, and so much good in the worst of us, that it becomes any of us, to find fault with the rest of us.”
7. “Faults are like the headlights of a car; those of others seem more glaring than your own.”
  1. It’s like a skunk walking up to anyone & telling them, “you smell horrible!”
8. This is like our current proverb of “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!”
9. Hypocrite – A contrast to the intentional politeness of “brother”.
10. See, Christianity is a way of life that is learned from Christian models!
  1. We have no right to criticize or instruct another, about how to live until we are sure that our lives are in harmony w/Christ.
TWO TREES & TWO PEOPLE! (43-45)
1. The Tree! (43,44)
2. The fruit of each tree reveals its actual character. It is the final test. (Robertson, A. Word Pictures in the New Testament.)
  1. Good people or evil people reveal their inner attitudes & values by their actions & words!
3. Remember the series All in the Family? - Edith, in her own way, was kind of a saintly person. Archie complaining, as Archie commonly did said to her, "That's you all right. Edith, the Good. You'll stoop to anything to be good. You never make nobody mad. You think it's easy living with a saint? Even when you cheat you don't cheat to win. You cheat to lose. Edith you ain't human." Edith says, "That's a terrible thing to say, Archie Bunker. I am just as human as you are." Archie retorts, "Oh, yeah? Then prove you're just as human as me. Do something rotten."
4. A present day proverb, “For no good laundry detergent leaves stains on a shirt collar, nor does an inferior detergent get these stains out; for each product is known by its effectiveness. For cleanliness is not obtained from dirt, nor is softness obtained from industrial cleansers.” [Carl Carlozzi, Pocket Parables; Bible Illustrator]
5. Have you learned to walk your talk?
  1. Do people see a harmony between what you say & what you do?
  2. Between what you claim to be & what you are?
  3. Is there an alignment between your belief & your behavior!
  4. Between conviction & action? (Excerpts taken from Visioneering by Andy Stanley; pg.179.)
  5. Keep your heart right w/God, & the Lord will produce the good fruit in your life.
6. The Treasury! (45)
7. Build your character & U will be able to help others when they have spiritual needs
8. "A young man who devoted himself to ideological and moral problems... had been hoping to be further stimulated by meeting Socrates. But contact with this intellectual "giant" so overawed him that he scarcely dared to open his mouth to speak or to ask a question. So they walked side by side for a while without conversation. Then Socrates suddenly broke the silence and said kindly but briefly to his young companion, 'Speak, that I may "see" you.'
  1. In this short sentence lies the deep recognition of the connection between a person’s character and his word.
9. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart” (NIV)
  1. Jesus says, The words of their lips are in the final analysis the product of their hearts. (The Gospel of Luke. (W. Barclay) The Daily study Bible series.)
  2. Always our speech betrays us!
10. I believe in the Freedom of Religion in our Country…but why don’t we show by our lives the superiority of Christianity, that it produces better men & women!
  1. Instead, the world looks on at Christianity as if it were looking in the mirror. (i.e. no difference)
11. TWO BUILDINGS & TWO STORMS! (46-49)
  1. LORD, LORD! (46,47)
  2. Lord, Lord – Repeating a person’s name in Hebrew is an expression of intimacy.
    1. When God speaks to Abraham at Mount Moriah, as he is about to plunge the knife into the breast of Isaac, He says, “Abraham, Abraham.” (Gen. 22:11)
    2. When God encourages Jacob in his old age to take the trip to Egypt, He says, “Jacob, Jacob” (Gen. 46:2).
    3. Moses from the burning bush: “Moses, Moses,” (Ex. 3:4)
    4. The call of Samuel in the night, “Samuel, Samuel” (1 Sam.3:10).
    5. Consider David’s cry of agony, “Absalom, Absalom,”. (2 Sam.18:33)
    6. Jesus’ cry of desolation on the cross, “My God, my God.” (Matt 27:46).
    7. When Jesus confronted Martha, “Martha, Martha” (Lk.10:41)
    8. When He warned Peter, “Simon, Simon” (Lk.22:31)
    9. And when He wept over Jerusalem, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem” (Matt 23:37).
      1. In each case we find the word repeated for intimacy’s sake. (10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Tavletalk, April, 1990, pg.18.)
  3. So, how do we grow as Jesus’ disciples & in our capacity to model His life?
    1. We must hear Jesus’ words & do them.
    2. Hearing is necessary, but if it stands alone, it is deficient!
  4. Judas knew the vocabulary, but he did not do the will of God; & when the storm came, his house fell! (Warren Wiersbe; With The Word; pg.673.)
    1. Those that call Jesus “Lord” are not really His unless they practice what He tells them to do!!!
  5. (47) He that comes to me (that’s surrender); he that hears my sayings (that’s discipleship); He that does them(that’s obedience). [Griffith Thomas, pg.92]
12. HEAR & DO! (48)
13. Dug deep – (Lit.) “dug & went deep, & laid the foundation on bedrock”.
14. HEAR & DO..NOTHING! (49)
15. He couldn’t be bothered to dig down. The sand was much more attractive & much less trouble.
  1. Ever take short cuts & pay for it later?
  2. My old patio cover. I cheated on wood size. Larry brought Dean Bowman over to see if it could be “beefed up”. Dean told Larry as soon as I walked around the corner, “that’s coming down”. [I wanted him to build on what I had/“no way”!]
16. “Happy is the man who sees things, not in the light of the moment, but in the light of eternity!”
17. Once we learn the hard way is often the best way, & the long way is often the right way, then we will find that our lives are established upon the teaching of Jesus & no storms will ever shake them. (Barclay)
18. When it floods in Haiti some of the poorest of houses literally melt, because they have no foundation. They are made of sticks & mud & thus literally just wash away. (I don’t use that as an analogy of the poor in any way, just as an example of the illustration here)
19. Ruin – a breech in a dam. As a medical term, “laceration,” “rupture”.
20. In your next storm will you stand firm or fall flat?
  1. What we are building is tested today by the storms of life, but there will be a final & greater testing at the judgment seat of Christ.
21. This seems to be another promise from Christ that storms, floods, & strong winds will be blowing upon the lives of even those w/the right foundation!
  1. The storm of cancer upon a family member; the hurricane of debt upon your business; the tornado of Satan himself spinning family relationships into turmoil; staggering often from 1 disaster to another.
22. Realize, God has a greater purpose than our immediate comfort!
  1. Can you see “beyond the physical, beyond the emotional, beyond the temporary, beyond the material, beyond the visible, even beyond the grave?” (Anne Graham Lotz; Why; pg.52.) [as Mary/Martha had to do w/Laz]
23. Cling to the truth, “I will not be shaken, for I’m founded on Jesus, my Bedrock!”

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Verses 37-49

Intro:
1. Last week we looked at Jesus’ sermon on the plain(17).
  1. We looked at having right attitudes in the beatitudes.
  2. And we learned that if we retaliate on our enemy we’d be living on the low level of the world. But if we love them, do good to them, bless them, & pray for them, then we rise to a higher level & glorify the Lord.
2. This may be an instance of the Jewish method of preaching. The Jews called preaching Charaz, which means stringing beads.
  1. The Rabbis held that the preacher must never linger more than a few moments on any topic but, in order to maintain interest, must move quickly from one topic to another. Jewish preaching, therefore, often gives us the impression of being disconnected. (The Gospel of Luke. 2000, c1975 (W. Barclay, lecturer in the University of Glasgow, Ed.). The Daily study Bible series)
  2. May we find & enjoy the beauty of each pearl in this passage!
3. Prayer:
QUADRUPLE COMMANDS! (37,38)
1. JUDGE NOT! (37a)
2. Judge – Forbidding the habit of criticism.
  1. To be a critic, to have criticism, to criticize, to discriminate.
  2. Jesus doesn’t mean that we are not to form opinions, but not to form them rashly or unfairly!
3. CONDEMN NOT! (37b)
4. This is telling someone, or some group(Samaritans), that they are beyond the mercy of God. [or like the Pharisees did to the tax collectors]
5. RESENT NOT! (37c)
6. Forgive comes from an Old English word that literally means “to abstain from giving.”
  1. The underlying idea is of giving up resentment or a claim. (Encarta Dict.)
  2. Context seems to mean we should give away much forgiveness, & we’ll receive much in return!
7. HOARD NOT! (38)
8. We should always give with pure motives, "hoping for nothing again"[6:35]; yet God does promise, "He that gives unto the poor shall not lack!"
9. "The grass is not greener on that side of the fence. And the grass is not greener on this side of the fence. The grass is greener where you water it." [Frank Fried; Bible Illus]
10. A missionary tells of a woman in India holding in her arms a weak, whining infant, while at her side stood a beautiful, healthy child. The man of God saw her walk to the banks of the Ganges River and throw the robust youngster to the crocodiles as an offering, and then turn toward home again still clutching the sickly child to her bosom. Tears were running down her cheeks when he stopped to question her concerning her shocking actions; however, she proudly replied in defense of her conduct, "O sir, we always give our gods the best!"
11. “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, & running over.”
  1. The picture here is of grain poured into a container, pressed down & then shaken so that every little corner is filled & the grain poured in until it’s run over. [LKGNT; pg.155]
12. Bosom – the fold of a garment as it extends beyond & droop over the belt. (Manners & Customs of the Bible; pg.504)
  1. It was used as we use pockets today. Except sometimes larger items were placed in it, like…
  2. A nursing child - Numb.11:12 “…Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child…”2.12.3. A little lamb - 2 Sam.12:2,3 (Nathan’s parable for David) “The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.”2.12.4. God’s children J - Is.40:11 “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.”
    1. God says, “you’re safe in my pocket little one!”
    2. It was the safest spot! – i.e. Passport (front pocket/or carrier)
13. Many years ago two young men were working their way through Stanford University. At one point their money was almost gone, so they decided to engage the great pianist Paderewski for a concert and use the profits for board and tuition. Paderewski's manager asked for a guarantee of $2,000. The students worked hard to promote the concert, but they came up $400 short. After the performance, they went to the musician, gave him all the money they had raised, and promised to pay the $400 as soon as they could. It appeared that their college days were over. "No, boys, that won't do," said the pianist. "take out of this $1,600 all your expenses, and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Let me have the rest." Years passed. Paderewski became prime minister of Poland following World War I. Thousands of his countrymen were starving. Only one man could help, the head of the U.S. Food and Relief Bureau. Paderewski's appeal to him brought thousands of tons of food. Later he met the American statesman to thank him. "That's all right," replied Herbert Hoover. "Besides, you don't remember, but you helped me once when I was a student in college."
TWO PARABLES, TWO ILLUSTRATIONS! (39-42)
1. TWO PARABLES! (39,40)
2. (39) If we are blind to God’s way of living, & attempt to lead others, both we & they will fall into a pit.
3. (40) Q: So how does a person live this kind of life? (37,38)
  1. Follow a person that knows how to live!
  2. Because everyone who has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
    1. Be like his teacher – (lit. “reach his teachers level”)
  3. Q: Parents how will your children learn to live Jesus’ way?
  4. Read John 13:13-17.
4. TWO ILLUSTRATIONS! (41,42)
5. This is an example of the humor of Jesus.
  1. He must have been smiling when he taught this hyperbole.
  2. Show glasses I made back when I 1^st taught Luke.
    1. [Here, let me get that dust speck out of your eye!] {Honda Dealership}
6. We have no right to criticize, unless we ourselves are free of faults.
  1. Thus, we have no right to criticize at all!
  2. (Barclay) “there is so much bad in the best of us, and so much good in the worst of us, that it becomes any of us, to find fault with the rest of us.”
7. “Faults are like the headlights of a car; those of others seem more glaring than your own.”
  1. It’s like a skunk walking up to anyone & telling them, “you smell horrible!”
8. This is like our current proverb of “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!”
9. Hypocrite – A contrast to the intentional politeness of “brother”.
10. See, Christianity is a way of life that is learned from Christian models!
  1. We have no right to criticize or instruct another, about how to live until we are sure that our lives are in harmony w/Christ.
TWO TREES & TWO PEOPLE! (43-45)
1. The Tree! (43,44)
2. The fruit of each tree reveals its actual character. It is the final test. (Robertson, A. Word Pictures in the New Testament.)
  1. Good people or evil people reveal their inner attitudes & values by their actions & words!
3. Remember the series All in the Family? - Edith, in her own way, was kind of a saintly person. Archie complaining, as Archie commonly did said to her, "That's you all right. Edith, the Good. You'll stoop to anything to be good. You never make nobody mad. You think it's easy living with a saint? Even when you cheat you don't cheat to win. You cheat to lose. Edith you ain't human." Edith says, "That's a terrible thing to say, Archie Bunker. I am just as human as you are." Archie retorts, "Oh, yeah? Then prove you're just as human as me. Do something rotten."
4. A present day proverb, “For no good laundry detergent leaves stains on a shirt collar, nor does an inferior detergent get these stains out; for each product is known by its effectiveness. For cleanliness is not obtained from dirt, nor is softness obtained from industrial cleansers.” [Carl Carlozzi, Pocket Parables; Bible Illustrator]
5. Have you learned to walk your talk?
  1. Do people see a harmony between what you say & what you do?
  2. Between what you claim to be & what you are?
  3. Is there an alignment between your belief & your behavior!
  4. Between conviction & action? (Excerpts taken from Visioneering by Andy Stanley; pg.179.)
  5. Keep your heart right w/God, & the Lord will produce the good fruit in your life.
6. The Treasury! (45)
7. Build your character & U will be able to help others when they have spiritual needs
8. "A young man who devoted himself to ideological and moral problems... had been hoping to be further stimulated by meeting Socrates. But contact with this intellectual "giant" so overawed him that he scarcely dared to open his mouth to speak or to ask a question. So they walked side by side for a while without conversation. Then Socrates suddenly broke the silence and said kindly but briefly to his young companion, 'Speak, that I may "see" you.'
  1. In this short sentence lies the deep recognition of the connection between a person’s character and his word.
9. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart” (NIV)
  1. Jesus says, The words of their lips are in the final analysis the product of their hearts. (The Gospel of Luke. (W. Barclay) The Daily study Bible series.)
  2. Always our speech betrays us!
10. I believe in the Freedom of Religion in our Country…but why don’t we show by our lives the superiority of Christianity, that it produces better men & women!
  1. Instead, the world looks on at Christianity as if it were looking in the mirror. (i.e. no difference)
11. TWO BUILDINGS & TWO STORMS! (46-49)
  1. LORD, LORD! (46,47)
  2. Lord, Lord – Repeating a person’s name in Hebrew is an expression of intimacy.
    1. When God speaks to Abraham at Mount Moriah, as he is about to plunge the knife into the breast of Isaac, He says, “Abraham, Abraham.” (Gen. 22:11)
    2. When God encourages Jacob in his old age to take the trip to Egypt, He says, “Jacob, Jacob” (Gen. 46:2).
    3. Moses from the burning bush: “Moses, Moses,” (Ex. 3:4)
    4. The call of Samuel in the night, “Samuel, Samuel” (1 Sam.3:10).
    5. Consider David’s cry of agony, “Absalom, Absalom,”. (2 Sam.18:33)
    6. Jesus’ cry of desolation on the cross, “My God, my God.” (Matt 27:46).
    7. When Jesus confronted Martha, “Martha, Martha” (Lk.10:41)
    8. When He warned Peter, “Simon, Simon” (Lk.22:31)
    9. And when He wept over Jerusalem, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem” (Matt 23:37).
      1. In each case we find the word repeated for intimacy’s sake. (10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Tavletalk, April, 1990, pg.18.)
  3. So, how do we grow as Jesus’ disciples & in our capacity to model His life?
    1. We must hear Jesus’ words & do them.
    2. Hearing is necessary, but if it stands alone, it is deficient!
  4. Judas knew the vocabulary, but he did not do the will of God; & when the storm came, his house fell! (Warren Wiersbe; With The Word; pg.673.)
    1. Those that call Jesus “Lord” are not really His unless they practice what He tells them to do!!!
  5. (47) He that comes to me (that’s surrender); he that hears my sayings (that’s discipleship); He that does them(that’s obedience). [Griffith Thomas, pg.92]
12. HEAR & DO! (48)
13. Dug deep – (Lit.) “dug & went deep, & laid the foundation on bedrock”.
14. HEAR & DO..NOTHING! (49)
15. He couldn’t be bothered to dig down. The sand was much more attractive & much less trouble.
  1. Ever take short cuts & pay for it later?
  2. My old patio cover. I cheated on wood size. Larry brought Dean Bowman over to see if it could be “beefed up”. Dean told Larry as soon as I walked around the corner, “that’s coming down”. [I wanted him to build on what I had/“no way”!]
16. “Happy is the man who sees things, not in the light of the moment, but in the light of eternity!”
17. Once we learn the hard way is often the best way, & the long way is often the right way, then we will find that our lives are established upon the teaching of Jesus & no storms will ever shake them. (Barclay)
18. When it floods in Haiti some of the poorest of houses literally melt, because they have no foundation. They are made of sticks & mud & thus literally just wash away. (I don’t use that as an analogy of the poor in any way, just as an example of the illustration here)
19. Ruin – a breech in a dam. As a medical term, “laceration,” “rupture”.
20. In your next storm will you stand firm or fall flat?
  1. What we are building is tested today by the storms of life, but there will be a final & greater testing at the judgment seat of Christ.
21. This seems to be another promise from Christ that storms, floods, & strong winds will be blowing upon the lives of even those w/the right foundation!
  1. The storm of cancer upon a family member; the hurricane of debt upon your business; the tornado of Satan himself spinning family relationships into turmoil; staggering often from 1 disaster to another.
22. Realize, God has a greater purpose than our immediate comfort!
  1. Can you see “beyond the physical, beyond the emotional, beyond the temporary, beyond the material, beyond the visible, even beyond the grave?” (Anne Graham Lotz; Why; pg.52.) [as Mary/Martha had to do w/Laz]
23. Cling to the truth, “I will not be shaken, for I’m founded on Jesus, my Bedrock!”

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Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.

Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Luke 6". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/luke-6.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesLuke 6

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-16

Verses 1-16

Verses 17-36

Verses 17-36

Verses 37-49

Verses 37-49

Bible Commentaries
Luke 6