25 Plain Speaking — Bibleluke

The passage of Jesus' teaching set out in Luke chapter 6 is often called the ‘Sermon on the Plain’ to distinguish it from the more well known ‘Sermon on the Mount’ recorded in Matthews' gospel. Whereas in Matthew, Jesus appears to have withdrawn from the crowds and spoken to a small group of disciples who sought him out, here he comes to speak to a large number of people in a level place.

There are similarities and differences between the two passages of teaching. Jesus is speaking the same message about the Kingdom of God, and this suggests that he repeated the same message continually, adapting it to fit his audience.

The passage starts in the same way as recorded by Matthew, with 'Blessed are the poor....' but has four blessings and four woes, whereas Matthew records eight blessings. Luke records some of the teaching from the Sermon on the Mount later in his gospel in different contexts. However, the same underlying purpose and structure applies to both.

The purpose of both 'sermons' is a re-interpretation of the law to explain how people are to live in the Kingdom of God. The Matthew passage follows the calling of the disciples, the beginnings of the church. In Luke, the passage follows the calling of the 12 apostles, the church as the new 'Israel'. They start with blessings, the way to live that brings well-being, happiness and fulfilment. Woes are spoken at funerals regretting a life lost, and reflect the way to live that robs a person of the joy of life.

The structure follows a rabbinical method of teaching familiar to the audience at that time. In Matthew, the eight blessings are elaborated in reverse order, the eighth first followed by the seventh etc. Similarly, here the passage can be understood from back to front. It starts with seemingly impossible instructions that we are not going to be able to fulfil, e.g. 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you...'. This only becomes possible through hearing Jesus and building our lives on his foundation, allowing Jesus to change our heart to bring forth goodness. It is this that will have the surprising effect of changing the way we live and relate to others even when faced with hatred and rejection. Jesus is freeing us from establishing society by trying to keep laws that we will not find possible to keep. Establishing his kingdom does not come from trying our best, but by Jesus, the Word changing our heart and being the foundation on which our life is built.

When we act out of a changed heart we will have integrity, new attitudes in the way we interact with others. This results in adjusting what we consider as important and instils a deep longing for a better society.

Blessings and Woes

Jesus begins his teaching by setting out some conundrums, putting questions into the minds of his hearers. He seems to promote the opposite of our usual ambitions and feelings. Is it really better to be poor, sad and hungry than rich, happy and satisfied? Is it better to be insulted than respected by others? He then goes on seemingly to require us to live in ways that are impossible, such as reacting positively to our enemies.

There must be more to this, or it does not make sense, e.g. Is Jesus really saying that we need to try and make ourselves sad? Should we put on a pretence and smile outwardly whilst seething inside? It is important to get an understanding of the full teaching and not lift some of these familiar passages in isolation. Jesus is commenting on the existing problems in society and explaining how he will introduce a much better one. He wants us to obtain an understanding of this new way of living and how much better it will be. Those who are comfortable now will not be prepared to change for something better. They will isolate themselves from others and fight to keep what is theirs. It is those who are poor and hungry who will want a better society.

'Blessed' is sometimes translated as 'happy'. However, happiness itself is difficult to define. It involves a sense of well-being, of fulfilment and contentment. The bible states that this comes from walking with God, living life as He intends us to live it.

'Woe' is translated as 'alas' or 'sadly'. Woe is used as a word of regret said at the funeral of a person whose life has been unfulfilled. 'Woe' is used as a prophetic warning to change the way we live as, apart from God, this inevitably will lead to sadness and unfulfilled lives.

Blessed are the poor - See Study The Poor? and Good News for the Poor.

The history of the people was that everyone has an inheritance in the land, enabling them to make provision for life. The poor are those who have been disinherited, often associated with slavery. Poverty here is less about lacking wealth and more about dis-inheritance, being excluded from the means to make provision for life.

The good news Jesus is bringing is for the poor, those marginalised and excluded from society. He condemns the religious leaders who are the ones who exclude people. It is to those that are marginalised that Jesus brings the good news.

The bible uses Jubilee as the expression of life. The basis is different, equality of life and opportunity, reality instead of a surface veneer. See Jubilee Favourable Year.

Background

Luke chapter 6 verses 20 to 49 - 'The Sermon on the Plain' - And turning his (Jesus’) gaze toward his disciples, he began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. "Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracise you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure -pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." And he also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart”.

"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."

Whereas in Matthew, Jesus appears to have withdrawn from the crowds and spoken to a small group of disciples who sought him out, here he comes to speak to a large number of people in a level place (Luke chapter 6 verses 17 to 19).

The Matthew passage follows the calling of the disciples (Matthew chapter 4 verses 18 to 22).

In Matthew, the eight blessings are elaborated in reverse order, the eighth first followed by the seventh etc. Similarly, here the passage can be understood from back to front. It starts with seemingly impossible instructions that we are not going to be able to fulfil, e.g. 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you...'. This only becomes possible through hearing Jesus and building our lives on his foundation (Luke chapter 6 verses 47,48), allowing Jesus to change our heart to bring forth goodness (verse 45). It is this that will have the surprising effect of changing the way we live and relate to others even when faced with hatred and rejection. Jesus is freeing us from establishing society by trying to keep laws that we will not find possible to keep. Establishing his kingdom does not come from trying our best, but by Jesus, the Word (John chapter 1 verses 1 to 4), changing our heart and being the foundation on which our life is built.

When we act out of a changed heart we will have integrity (Luke chapter 6 verses 39 to 42) and new attitudes in the way we interact with others (verses 37,38, 27). This results in adjusting what we consider as important and instils a deep longing for a better society.

'Woe' is translated as 'alas' or 'sadly'. Woe is used as a word of regret said at the funeral of a person whose life has been unfulfilled (1 Kings chapter 13 verse 30; 1 Samuel chapter 4 verses 7,8; Isaiah chapter 1 verse 4; Luke chapter 17 verses 1,2).

The good news Jesus is bringing is for the poor (Luke chapter 4 verse 18), those marginalised and excluded from society. He condemns the religious leaders who are the ones who exclude people (Luke chapter 5 verse 30). It is to those that are marginalised that Jesus brings the good news (Luke chapter 4 verse 18, 6 verse 20, 7 verse 22, 14 verse 13).