Luke: Justice to Mercy

Introduction

The Maccabean Revolt was a Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire, spanning from 167 BCE to 141 BCE. It was triggered by the oppressive policies of Seleucid King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who sought to impose Hellenistic culture and suppress Jewish religious practices. The revolt began in the Judean countryside, led by Mattathias, a priest, and later by his son Judas Maccabeus. Initially, the rebellion involved guerrilla warfare, targeting Seleucid officials and towns. Over time, the Maccabees formed a proper army, achieving significant victories, including the capture of Jerusalem in 164 BCE. This victory led to the cleansing and rededication of the Second Temple, an event commemorated by the festival of Hanukkah. The conflict continued even after Judas Maccabeus's death in 160 BCE, with his brothers Jonathan and Simon leading the resistance. By 141 BCE, the Maccabees secured Judean autonomy, marking the beginning of the Hasmonean kingdom. The revolt is remembered as a symbol of resistance against oppression and the fight for religious freedom. You can explore more about this fascinating historical event on Wikipedia or the World History Encyclopedia.

What events led to the Maccabean Revolt? The Maccabean Revolt was sparked by a series of events tied to the Seleucid Empire's policies under King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Here's a breakdown of the key events: Hellenization Policies: Antiochus IV sought to impose Hellenistic culture across his empire, including Judea. This included promoting Greek religion, language, and customs, which clashed with Jewish traditions. Religious Suppression: In 168 BCE, Antiochus IV banned Jewish religious practices, desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and erected an altar to Zeus within it. This act deeply offended the Jewish population. Internal Conflicts: There were divisions within the Jewish community, with some embracing Hellenization and others resisting. This internal strife further fueled tensions. Triggering Incident: The revolt began in 167 BCE when Mattathias, a Jewish priest, refused to offer a sacrifice to Greek gods and killed a Seleucid official. This act of defiance marked the start of the rebellion. These events set the stage for the Maccabean Revolt, which became a fight for religious freedom and cultural identity. Let me know if you'd like to explore any of these points further!

Was this in the mind of Jesus and the people of his day as Jesus says:

Read passage.

I. Justice

A. Unjust world

One of the things that stand out in the beatitude/woes, is how unjust our world can be

In many cases, as it was in Jesus’ day, the have’s have tended to oppress the have nots

It’s seems natural to want to assert our dominance over another in our broken, sinful nature

by the way, that’s what the animals do...

For some, this is the very reason they found themselves as havenots, but it’s not the only reason.

For some it was because of illness, that’s why we are seeing so many come to Jesus.

Others it’s because of choices

But what ever the case might be they were still humans created by God and did not deserve to be looked at or dealt with as less than

We tend, as humans, to not only look down on the havenots but often to take advantage of the weak, the outsider, the poor usually for the benefit of ourselves

ie. Abram and Sarai - Hagar

B. Righting of Wrongs

What Jesus is point to in the Beatitudes, is not that we must be poor to be blessed but rather that the “blessedness” of God’s kingdom is the righting of wrongs and the establishment of justice

We might think of justice simply in regards to crime but God’s justice is about how all people are treated, and particularly the have nots (disenfranchised etc)

Under Christ’s rule all will be treated equally, fairly and all have the same opportunity to enter his kingdom

But not all will, which can/does create tension and at times animosity

Luke 6:22 ESV

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!

This is important context for us to remember.

All that Jesus goes on to say in our passage needs to be understood in light of mistreatment because of Him or else what we have tended to do is say we are to be doormats to whoever mistreats us.

C. Not necessarily now

So our passage this morning recognizes this is the reality now

Jesus is talking to his disciples, though others are there

“Say to you who listen” - points to who he is speaking to

Isn’t everyone listening - listening is different than hearing

John 10:27 NIV

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

So, if we look to follow Jesus

Expect opposition

John 15:18–19 ESV

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Here’s how to follow Jesus in it

Again, probably difficult for us to understand, as until recent years, we’ve live comfortably as Christians

So let’s put our selves in the place of Christians in China, Iran etc for a moment

II. Enemies

Here’s how Jesus defines them:

hate you - to dislike intensely

curse you - invoke divine harm or evil upon someone or something

mistreat you - threaten, abuse, slander

more specific:

slap - not about physical harm but to dishonor

backhand to right cheek - medieval movies with glove

takes cloak - robber, soldier or borrower

Matthew 5:38–42 NASB95

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

Now Matthew separates this from Jesus teaching to love enemies

Luke puts them together

Again Matthew defines the one who mistreats, as one who persecutes because of following Jesus

Ultimately, it’s anyone who would look to demean, dehumanize or devalue you and particularly because of Jesus

Jesus says show love

So not only is this significant because our normal reaction is retaliation

Easy to love and give to those we love and know will give back to us

Jesus is calling us to a far deeper way to live

Because, as humans, we have treated God this way, as an enemy

Romans 5:6–11 NIV

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Key: Reconciliation

And this is significant because of how Jesus ends this section

III. Mercy

So Jesus says no retaliation but goodness, kindness and love

do what is good vs hate

bless vs curse

pray vs mistreatment

Luke 2. The Radical Demands of Discipleship

Hate has nowhere to go except inside. Love frees up energy. Consequently, the love of enemies and the Golden Rule are explicated by three points:

(1) We should not do good based on our expectation that we will be treated well (vv. 32–35a); (2) we have to act in light of our future hope and relationship with God (v. 35b); and (3) the ultimate basis for our behavior is the nature and deeds of God (v. 36).

The Golden Rule is, therefore, not given as good advice on how to succeed in the world. It contrasts with the counsel found in Sir 12:1–6: “If you do good, know to whom you do it, and you will be thanked for your good deeds. Do good to the devout, and you will be repaid—if not by them, certainly by the Most High.” Jesus rejects a system in which winning is built on the defeat of another human being and a system in which one exchanges good for good. If people love only those who love them in return, it is simply a business deal, tit for tat.

In other words, instead of hate for hate, curse for curse etc we are to show mercy

Mercy is love in action

vs 36 - be merciful - action word not an emotion

Why? Look at 35 and 36

Because this is how God has treated us, as his enemies.

How then?

Because of our relationship with the King - beatitudes

John 15:12–17 ESV

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

2. Promises of the Kingdom

yours is the kingdom

you shall be satisfied

you shall laugh

your reward is great in heaven

here Jesus says:

Your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High

Delayed gratification:

We know, see and believe for what is beyond our now.

Conclusion