The Truly Blessed Life is not blessed because of materialism.

The truly blessed life is counter what this world would define as blessed. In Luke 6, Jesus takes us through a list of blessings called the Beatitudes and a list of woes. But before we get to these beatitudes, the groundwork is laid for a new paradigm that would turn the Pharisees’ world upside down.

Happy Memorial Day! When we remember what others have done for us and what God has done for us, we live differently. We are blessed, indeed. What is a blessing to you? It might look different in the Kingdom of God. The beatitudes reveal true spiritual blessing in a world that is focused on external blessings. God’s law is not just rules to govern our sin but to change us from within.

In today’s reading, we are finishing the book of Luke, chapters 6-8. The Pharisees questioned Jesus on the Sabbath concerning him working on the Sabbath and accused Jesus of being unlawful.

Scripture of the Day: Luke 6:2-9

“But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”  Jesus answered them, “Haven’t you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry— 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat? He even gave some to those who were with him.” Then he told them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

8 But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. 9 Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”

Did God Break the Law?

God’s law allowed a person to pick the heads of grain by hand. We see an accommodation for this actually in God’s law in Deuteronomy 23:25, “If you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to their standing grain.” So the disciples did not do anything wrong as they picked the heads of grain. But the Pharisees’ interpretation of the law was based on their view, not God’s.

Answer a Question with a Question

Jesus answered their questions with questions and they did not have an answer. We talked about questions we have for God yesterday and how Job discovered that he was a fool to think he knew more than God or that he should ever question God. It is ironic that Jesus asked them if good or evil should be done on the Sabbath and the Bible describes the evil in their hearts after Jesus just did something good:

Luke 6:11 “They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.”

The Pharisees were misjudging Jesus according to his outward actions, but Jesus looked at their heart. Jesus then lays out this new covenant. To people who say we don’t have to live according to the OT, friends, the Old Covenant was fulfilled by Christ, but not abolished. The Ten commandments still stand and now with the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are held to an even higher standard. God examines our hearts.

God’s law is not just rules to govern our sin but to change us from within. God’s ways are not our ways. The Beatitudes spoken by Jesus in Luke 6:26 reveal a new attitude and way of thinking about things.

The Truly Blessed Life—The Beatitudes

Our entitled culture does not think it is a blessing to be poor, hungry, hated, or insulted. We think the woes Jesus describes are the blessed life. This calls for a heart and mindset change. The blessed life is not being fat and happy and comfortable. When we are living like that, we are ignorant of our spiritual mindfulness.

One commentary I read this morning had this to say about the beatitudes: “The Beatitudes are the eight declarations of blessedness spoken by Jesus. The Greek word translated “blessed” means “happy, blissful” or, literally, “to be enlarged.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses the word to refer to more than a superficial happiness; in this context, blessed refers to a state of spiritual well-being and prosperity.

The Beatitudes describe the ideal disciple and his rewards, both present and future. The person whom Jesus describes in this passage has a different quality of character and lifestyle than those still outside the kingdom.” (www.gotquestions.org).

Let’s look at these beatitudes:

The Truly Blessed Life Experiences Lack.

20 Then looking up at his disciples, he said: Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God is yours.

The Truly Blessed Life Experiences Hunger.

21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, because you will be filled.

The Truly Blessed Life Experiences Sorrow.

Blessed are you who weep now, because you will laugh.

The Truly Blessed Life Experiences hatred.

22 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. 23 “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.

Woe is Me.

The blessings (beatitudes) are curses to our world. God’s ways are upside down in a fallen world where the economy is based on pleasing man. And the woes are considered blessings in our culture.

Woe to the Self-Satisfied. This is what my Bible says. Because those who lack in any way will be satisfied in Christ rather than by temporary measures.

Woe to the Rich.

Luke 6:24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort.” When we have all we want down on this earth, we don’t see our need for God. But spiritual needs cannot be satisfied with the physical.

Woe to the Full.

Luke 6:25(a) 25 “Woe to you who are now full, for you will be hungry.” When we are full, we don’t ask God to help. We try to live on what we can provide.

Woe to those who are Laughing.

Luke 6:25(b) “Woe to you who are now laughing, for you will mourn and weep.” Laughter is good medicine. It is not bad to laugh, but when we surround ourselves with partners and live for this life, we miss the point and end up living for self rather than for the Kingdom of God.

Woe to those Who are Well Spoken Of.

Luke 6:26″ Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets.”

This is a paradigm shift friends. From a mindset focused on self to a Kingdom mindset.

Jesus then tells us to love our enemies and to not judge.

In Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built.”

How are you building, friends? God’s economy is different than man’s. If we say He is LORD, then we will live like He is Lord.

Application:

• God’s law is not just rules to govern our sin but to change us from within.
• When we have a question for God, He has a question for us.
• When Christ is LORD, then we change to His view, and lay down ours.
• God’s blessings are higher than any blessing in this world.
• The truly blessed life is blessed because of Christ’s sacrifice, not the world’s blessings.

 

7-Fold One-Year Bible Reading Plan

Day #146:Luke 6-8

Scripture of the Day: Luke 6:8-9

Listen: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Luke.6

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