Painting a Picture – Luke 6:20-31

A text – Luke 6:20-31

²⁰ Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹  Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.  ²²  Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.               ²³ Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. ²⁴  But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. ²⁵  Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.  ²⁶  Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. ²⁷  But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; ²⁸  bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.  ²⁹ If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.  ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again.  ³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you.

A recommendation:

We have two Luke texts this week because we have two worship opportunities: The 21st Sunday after Pentecost and All Saints Day. This passage for All Saints Day sounds very familiar. It is Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew – but in Luke it takes place on a level place, a plain. It is shorter, too, but just as striking. Jesus is giving the crowds who were curious about him one long message or sermon that includes everything he has been teaching about what God wants for human beings and their life together.

He promises everything that Jesus’s mother Mary’s song, the Magnificat, longed for – the powerful to be emptied of power, the poor to be well fed and cared for. All of the attributes of the God Mary had come to know are on display here. And more, Jesus wants his hearers to be good to one another. He wants them to serve one another. He wants generosity and goodness lived out among his followers, so that people will understand their lives are reflecting the character of God, their heavenly father.

How often do we think about how our lives and our behavior are seen by others as a reflection of the character of God? How might we? And if someone asks why we are doing a good and generous thing, how often might we actually say, “Because my God is good and generous”? That’s what I imagine Jesus was trying to teach the people who gathered around him: our heavenly Father is like this; our heavenly Father’s kingdom is like this; our heavenly Father looks on your good and generous deeds and smiles upon you. The Sermon on the Mount/on the Plain – words that paint a picture of what God is like: good and generous.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for Jesus, our best and clearest picture of you. Help us to remember that his words are not some lofty unachievable dream for human beings but a picture of how you are, forever and always. Help us to live into your character whenever we can.  Amen.