A Lofty Sermon From a Level Place. Pt.1 Luke 6:20-26
The Son: Meeting Jesus through Luke • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Our text before us this morning is Jesus second recorded sermon in the book of Luke. This one does not take place in a synagogue but outside in the Judean countryside. The crowd gathered to hear Jesus on this day consisted of three group: his recently appointed 12 apostles, the larger crowd of disciples, and the even larger crowd of uncommitted onlookers (which would have included the religious establishment). But, this sermon was not directed to the uncommitted onlookers, but vs. 20 indicates to us it was primarily directed toward his Apostles and disciples. These disciples were at varying levels of commitment and understanding in their faith, but they all were committed followers of Jesus.
This is not a sermon on christian ethics, but instead a sermon on salvation. Not about how to be saved but on the attitudes and behaviors of those who are saved.
There is some debate surrounding this sermon in Lukes gospel. The predominant view is that Luke is presenting a more condensed version of Jesus Sermon on the Mount. Some think because there are some minor variants between the two that perhaps Lukes account is a different sermon which repeated the same themes. But they are far too similar for that to be the case. It is far more likely that Luke chose to just record a condensed version and Matthew decided to record a more detailed version.
My sermon notes that I preach from vs. the notes you take of my sermon.
We will be covering Lukes rendition of “The Sermon on the Plain” or as I’ve titled it “A Lofty Sermon From a Level Place” in five parts. Today, we are going to cover vs. 20-26 where Luke reveals for us:
Four blessings to the Believer. (v.20-23)
Four woes to the wicked. (v.24-26)
Each blessing has a promised benefit connected to it and each woe a promised threat.
Let’s begin to unpack these blessings and woes together this morning.
1.) Four blessings to the believer. (v.20-23)
1.) Four blessings to the believer. (v.20-23)
Blessed- refers to those who are in the most beneficial and favored position. Those who experience the true well being that comes from a right relationship with God. It is often translated as happy but it’s more than just a superficial emotion.
God calling people “blessed” is a statement of fact. These people are already blessed now and will receive future blessing.
A.) The blessing and promise of being poor. (v.20)
Poor- to crouch and cower like a beggar and is most often used to describe someone who is completely destitute and entirely dependent on others for support. They are on the bottom rungs of society.
1.) Jesus isn’t speaking of physical poverty here.
Physical poverty is never mentioned as a blessing in scripture. In fact in Proverbs 30:8-9 a righteous man is said to cry out to God begging for him to be kept from poverty so that He wouldn't be tempted to steal and profane the name of the Lord.
8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me;
9 Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.
Jesus isn't somehow teaching that those in actual poverty are somehow blessed. Their condition is far from blessing.
Matthew’s parallel account of this sermon shed some light on this by saying
Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,...
The blessed are those who understand their the spiritual poverty of their soul apart from Christ. They know they are spiritually bankrupt and cannot obtain God’s favor on their own. Their good works, morality and religious rituals are powerless to secure genuine righteousness.
To the jews in Christ day, and many today admitting your own spiritual deficiency is unthinkable. They were proud and self righteous people. Nationally they saw themselves as full of good works, that their religious observances and lineage from Abraham had earned them entrance into the Kingdom of God.
They were much like the church of Laodicea who said:
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
2.) The promise: “Yours is the kingdom of God.”
This promise is more than just some future eschatological presence in God’s kingdom. Though that’s a part of it. All those who have come to Christ as savior will one day have a part in his future kingdom. But, this is a present reality.
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
We already possess the blessings of eternal life, grace, mercy, forgiveness, joy, hope, future security, peace, comfort, love, and the righteousness of Christ. All of these are Kingdom blessings that we presently enjoy.
B.) The blessing and promise of the hungry. (v.21a)
1.) Once again, Jesus is speaking in a spiritual sense.
Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,...
This is not the kind of hunger that results from a lack of food. However, just as physical poverty and hunger go hand in hand; so to does spiritual poverty and spiritual hunger.
Jesus is speaking of those who have an intense, deep and all consuming hunger for God.
Those who are impoverished and starving spiritual beggars longing to receive righteousness that they cannot attain on their own.
Those who are like the Psalmist when he said:
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
or King David when he penned
1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
2.) The promise: “you shall be filled.”
You shall be filled- Its a word that is most often connected to the fattening of animals who eat until they can’t eat anymore. When connected to humans it means eat until you are satisfied.
The promise is that those who truly hunger for righteousness will be completely and fully satisfied with the righteousness of Christ.
Psalm 23:1 (NKJV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.(have all I need.)
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
In Jeremiah 31:4 the Lord declares:
14 I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.”
C.) The blessing and promise to the weeping. (v.21b)
1.) This is the emotional breakdown that follows when a person realizes they are spiritually bankrupt and starving for the righteousness that only can be provided by Christ.
Matthew 5:4 (NKJV)
4 Blessed are those who mourn,...
This is the sorrow of repentance. The kind that Paul says leads to salvation.
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Its the kind of sorrow that comes from humbling yourself before almighty God in desperation over your sin.
2.) The promise: “you shall laugh.”
Laughter comes from expressing joy and relief. The kind of relief that comes from knowing your sins have been forgiven.
5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Much like his promise to the poor this promise is both a present reality and an eschatological longing. For we one day will dwell in the presence of our king and will spend eternity in joy and relief for having our sins forgiven.
D.) The blessing and promise to the persecuted. (v.22-23)
1.) This is actually physical persecution.
This final beatitude is a bit different from the rest. The first three blessings and promises had to do with how the sinner sees himself. But this last one has to do with how the world sees us.
Their are four verbs that are used here hate, exclude, revile, cast out. These four verbs sum up the kind of persecution every child of God experiences on varying levels from unbelievers and the unbelieving world system.
This last thing only happens once the work of the first three have been accomplished. Genuine salvation has already occured, resulting in changed lives. It is now those changed lives that stand out as a rebuke to those who are not believers. Because of this, there is a hostile reaction from the world.
This serves as a bit of a prediction. You see the apostles and many there present to hear Jesus preach this sermon would go on to experience this very persecution. As will all of us in some way.
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2.) The promise: “your reward is great in heaven.”
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
This is a two part promise.
We can rejoice and leap for joy because we know we will be rewarded in heaven one day. We have an otherworldly perspective that allows us to endure these things.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
The second part of this promise is not just our future reward but our earthly association with those heroes of the faith in the past. Jesus told his audience that they persecuted the prophets. This put them in good company. But, for us, those are not just the Old Testament prophets but those Apostles and New Testament saints who went before us.
Enduring suffering, hostility and persecution is a mark that a person possesses genuine faith. A person will not endure persecution for something they do not deeply hold to.
22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
2.) Four woes to the wicked. (v.24-26)
2.) Four woes to the wicked. (v.24-26)
These “woes” are placed on those who reject Christ and stand in direct contrast to the blessings experienced by those who are genuine believers.
A.) The woe and threat of judgement on the rich. (v.24)
1.) Not a pronouncement on the materially rich.
Being wealthy is not sinful. There are many solid and godly examples of men God used in scripture who were materially wealthy.
In fact Deuteronomy 8:18 tells us that it is God who grants material wealth to people.
18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Wealth is never pronounced as sinful in scripture. It is the love of wealth that is sinful.
The “rich” here are those who think they are spiritually rich. Those who think their good deeds are sufficient to garner salvation.
2.) The curse: “you have received your consolation.”
The curse is that they have received all of the reward for their self righteous deeds already in this life and their is no reward that awaits them. What awaits them in eternity on the torments of hell in ceaseless and comfortless torments.
Story of the rich man and Lazarus
25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
B.) The woe and threat of judgement on those who are full. (v.25a)
1.) These are those who are fully satisfied with their self-righteousness.
These are those who imagine they have everything they need and lack nothing.
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
They see no need for God and his righteousness. They are fully and completely self sufficient.
2.) The curse: “you shall hunger.”
For all of eternity these people will experience the eternal gnawing, never ending hunger of a lost soul in hell apart from christ.
C.) The woe and threat of Judgement on those who laugh now. (v.25b)
1.) These are those who are content and smugly smile with their religious achievements and superficial morality. They think they are looking toward eternal bliss in heaven on their own merits.
2.) The curse: “you shall mourn and weep.”
The all to scary reality is that there are many who think they deserve a spot in the Lords eternal kingdom who will miss out.
11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
D.) The woe and threat upon the popular. (v.26)
1.) The false disciples are linked to false prophets.
Those who refuse to acknowledge their own spiritual poverty and self righteousness. Those who are falsely content in their own good deeds often enjoy the love of others who enjoy having their ears tickled by false prophets.
The world enjoys hearing that they are good enough and moral enough to earn heaven
2.) The curse “you will share their fate.”
Those who trust in themselves will enjoy the same fate of eternity in hell as those who preached to them that they could rely on themselves.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
There are only two types of people in this world.
Those who trust in Christ. The spiritually poor, hungry, sorrowful and rejected who cry out to the Lord for forgiveness and mercy offered through the sacrifice of Christ on calvary and his resurrection. These are those who are blessed with eternal reward.
or
There are those who see themselves as full, rich, happy and accepted by the world. They will be doomed to an eternity of poverty, emptiness, sorrow and judgment if they don’t turn to Christ.
Which one are you?