“The Sermon on the Plain”
THe Gospel Truth • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsThe Sermon on the Plain is much like the Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes, Woes and Admonitions guide the reader/listener toward a view of the Kingdom citizen.
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“The Sermon on the Plain” Pt 1
Series: “The Gospel Truth”
Text: Lk 6:17-36
Introduction: (What?)
There is a lot of similarity between Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6. Some think that both are different views of the same event, “The Sermon on the Mount”. Others consider this to be a separate event in a different location but dealing with essentially the same content. Suffice it to say both are presenting the teachings of Jesus and are worthy of our attention. In this message Jesus gave a template for the Christian life. Lay this teaching across your life and see how you measure up.
Examination: (Why?)
1. Be-Attitudes
Luke, in the Sermon on the Plain included “a great number of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.” The implication is that while Jesus was addressing His disciples primarily, there was a large number of people listening in. These people had not come for a sermon, but rather to be healed from their diseases and delivered from spiritual bondage. But they got more than they sought.
The Sermon on the Mount was addressed to Jesus’ disciples (Mt 5:1-2) “When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew used a definite article (the) which was designed to apply to anyone. Luke used the pronoun “you” which makes application personal.
Lk 6:20-23 “Then looking up at his disciples, he said: Blessed (It is important for us to know the meaning of the word “blessed”. One commentator noted that this is not a blessing invoked on someone, but rather it is the recognition that one is already bless-ed.) are you who are poor, (The word “poor” refers to spiritual poverty rather than material poverty. There is no blessing in being materially poor, however the one who recognizes his/her spiritual poverty is open to receiving spiritual riches from God. To put it another way, the one who realizes their spiritual poverty recognizes that they are already bless-ed. I’ve often noticed that the so-called “down and out” are easier to reach with the gospel than the those who have much and don’t see the need for anything more) because the kingdom of God is yours. The “kingdom of God”, which Jesus told His followers to seek to bring on earth (Your Kingdom come, Your will be done) has more meaning for the one who recognizes that they are bereft and needy. They understand that “this world is not my home”. In Isa 66:2b we find an explanation of just who the poor that Jesus addressed are; “I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at my word.”
Blessed are you who are hungry now, (This does not refer to physical hunger, but rather a hunger and thirst for righteousness. This person longs to see truth and justice prevail. They want to see the good guy win.) because you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now, (because of injustice, evil and sin that prevails in the world) because you will laugh. (when justice prevails and the righteous win. This reminds me of the old adage “he who laughs last, laughs best.” That is a saying that means the final winner will have more glory than someone who was winning in the beginning but ultimately lost.
Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil because of the Son of Man. (You should not go around looking to be persecuted. If you are a faithful follower of Jesus, the persecution will hunt you down just as it did Jesus.) “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. Take note—your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.” In other words, you are in good company if you are persecuted for following Jesus. The lost world will treat you just as the OT lost world treated the prophets. Paul expressed the reality of this in Ro. 5:3 “And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,” and in Col 1:24 “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church.”
If these things are true in your life, you are already blessed. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, “happy---with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition---and to be envied.” When your life exudes these characteristics, lost people will be astounded and many will ask, “what is it that makes you so happy?” Then you can tell your story.
2. Woes
Lk 6:24-26 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort.
Woe (unrelenting sorrow, pain, and agony, that cannot be relieved. It crushes a person) to you who are now full, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who are now laughing, for you will mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets.”
These next three verses are a counter-balance to the “bless-eds” we just read. Blessed vs woe; poor vs rich; hungry vs full and when people hate you vs when all people speak well of you. The gist of this passage seems to be “you can have it now or you can have it later, but not both ways.” Those who chose to follow Jesus during His earthly ministry all had to give up something significant, but He wanted them to know that there were better days ahead.
They may have lost an earthly inheritance, but when they realize what they have gained in eternity they will rejoice.
• They may have sorrow now, but when they realize their heavenly reward, they will laugh.
• They may be hungry now, but when they see the spread God will present before them in eternity, they will be fully satisfied.
• They may be hated now, but when they understand the reward of that, they will leap for joy.
This relates to Jesus’s statement about how difficult it is for a rich, self-satisfied person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Salvation is available through grace alone, by faith alone in Christ alone. There is no grace+ or faith+ or Christ+. The tendency of the rich, both in Jesus’s day and in our day, is to trust their wealth almost as much as they trust God. The call of Jesus to “Follow Me” (which is the only invitation He ever gave) necessitates leaving behind whatever you trusted in before. However, As He told Peter in Matt 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.”
Mark put it this way in Mark 10:30 “who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and eternal life in the age to come.” Notice that all the “things” you have sacrificed will be restored 100 X but WITH PERSECUTIONS. You gain spiritual brothers, sisters, mothers and children when you are in the family of God. Jesus said in Mark 3:34-35 “Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.””
3. Love Your Enemies
In the following verses Jesus gave four assignments to His followers and then elaborated on them.
Lk 6:27-36 ““But I say to you who listen: Love (unconditionally) your enemies, do what is good (no “tit-for-tat) to those who hate you, bless (say only good things to and about) those who curse you, pray for (that God will bless them with what they need most) those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. (How you measure what you do) If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. (reflecting His moral character) For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Your measurement for showing mercy is the mercy of God.
Application: (How should I respond to this message?)
This teaching is only for those who have surrendered to Christ. If you haven’t, today is your best opportunity. “Lord Jesus, I give you my life.”
Who do you need to love, forgive, bless, pray for or do good for? Make a list and begin working your way through it.
What are you clinging to in this life that is hampering your whole-heartedly following Jesus?