GOSPEL OF LUKE Chapter 6 - Sermon on the Plain

Luke 6:2,5,9  No Slave to Sabbath

Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing that, breaking a Sabbath rule?”… Then he said, “The Son of Man is no slave to the Sabbath; he’s in charge.”…  “Let me ask you something: What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?” (MSG)

I am reading a book right now called The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning.  In it he speaks of the Gospel of Grace…or those who live by the grace of God, rather than the law of God.  When we get caught up in the legal rights and wrongs and forget the intent, we are no longer ‘Lord of the Sabbath’.  What kind of action DOES suit the Sabbath best?  Perhaps a lack of action is just as bad. To me, any action that affirms individuals as beloved children of God is Sabbath worthy.  How do I regard my Sabbath?  Do I use it for good?  Does Sabbath has to be a certain day?  Should every day be a Sabbath to the Lord in our hearts?

 Luke 6: 12-16    Choosing Twelve

¹² At that time Jesus went up a hill to pray and spent the whole night there praying to God. ¹³ When day came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles: ¹⁴ Simon (whom he named Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, ¹⁵ Matthew and Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon (who was called the Patriot),¹⁶ Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became the traitor.  GNT

      Jesus had crowds following him…all considered disciples.  But from this very diverse lot of followers, he picked twelve to be his special apostles.  I looked up the differences in the words apostle and disciple online.  I found an apostle is ‘a messenger or ambassador; someone who champions reform, a belief, or a cause.’  A disciple is a follower of a mentor or teacher; who accepts and helps spread the teachings.’  Sounds to me that in the appointment, Jesus was laying the groundwork for a switch in job description from fan to cheerleader.  There is more responsibility of ACTION to be an apostle.  What am I?  Disciple or apostle?  Do I say the word or encourage, promote and LIVE it?? 

   

The rest of Luke 6 is similar to Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, only this is the Sermon on the Plain

Luke 6:20-21  Beatitudes

You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all.
God’s kingdom is there for the finding.
You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry.
Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal.
You’re blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.   MSG

The Beautitudes (or at least the abbreviated Luke version of four!) – where Jesus turns everything around.  Who is blessed? Not the rich or the privileged, the educated and laughing, but the poor, the lost, the persecuted, the hungry, the despised.   The ragamuffins as Manning would say!  These are those for whom the Gospel of Grace comes.  These are those God calls to him.  Jesus affirms the worthiness and dignity of those society shuns.  Can we not do the same?

 

Luke 6:31  Golden Rule

 Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! MSG

     Do unto others as we would have them do to us.  Treat others with the respect you expect.  To love as Jesus would have us love, we have to broaden our circle beyond the safe confines of our inner world and expand to a world of hurt and despair.  Reach out and touch someone!  I love Peterson’s Message here – take the initiative!  Don’t wait!  Be proactive and serve others. 

Luke 6:35 Love Your Enemies

 I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. MSG

     Love your enemies.  I don’t have other translations at hand this morning, but I imagine love those who do you wrong, love those you don’t like, love those who are different from you in theology, ideals, and standards.  This may extend to a smile, an unexpected act of charity or service, anything done with no expectation of return.  It is like inviting the ragamuffins to dinner, knowing the invitation will not come back.  When we love, we have no room for fear, and it is fear that leads to ‘enemy status’.  What is one small way I can ‘love an enemy’ today?

Luke 6:38 Generosity of Giving

Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.”  (CEB)

Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”  (MSG)

     For some reason sugar came to mind in this verse.  White sugar and brown sugar.  I consider white ordinary, brown a good portion.  If I give away my white sugar (you know, the neighbor at the door asking for a cup of sugar?), I will receive back brown sugar, packed down into the cup and overflowing.  When we give without measure, God blesses abundantly.  When we give without thought of tax deductions, percentages, and angles, we give from the heart.  And God blesses us more than we can anticipate or measure.

Luke 6:41-42  Specks and Logs

 “Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the log in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Please, brother, let me take that speck out of your eye,’ yet cannot even see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.  GNT

     What is it so easy to criticize the flaws we see in each other, while we have on blinders to the same sin in ourselves?  Specks and logs can blind us, but especially the personal logs!  What have I failed to see in myself? I am a ragamuffin just like everyone else.  I have flaws!  Who am I to judge?  That’s God’s job!  If I concentrate on affirming all I encounter, to be positive in all relationships, the specks and the logs diminish in size. 

Luke 6:48-49 Foundations

^48-49 “If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed      like a house of cards. It was a total loss.” MSG

     We are building here at Habitat.  The foundation of the house is critical.  Habitat doesn’t just GIVE a house to a person in need – that would create a house of cards.  The potential owner must invest hours of sweat equity and attend classes on budgeting, finances and home ownership. They must work and become part of the supportive Habitat community.  All are steps in building a strong foundation, one in which not just the house stands firm, but the owner has relationships and knowledge to withstand the floods of life.  

     Faith and trust in God build that same foundation and relationship, as well as the ability to weather the storms of life.  Each day spent in heartfelt prayer, study and active service is another nail affirming our foundation.  What kind of God-house am I building?