Luke 6

1.       Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath        (vs 1 -11)

a)       Edges of fields not harvested By farmer – left for travelers and poor (Duet. 23:25 Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28)

b)      God created the Sabbath for man’s benefit.  So he can recharge – spiritually as well as physically.

c)       Not harvesting or doing daily work on Sabbath, simply eating.

d)      God concerned about what people SHOULD be doing (advancing His Kingdom) on Sabbath – Pharisees concerned with what they said man SHOULDN’T be doing (following rules. Not necessarily helping fellow man).

e)      Jesus cleverly trapped them (of course) by reminding them that their king - David and his men  used the sacred Bread Of The Presence for their food when they were in need fleeing from Saul. (1 Samuel 21:1-6) – man’s need more import than set of rules as long as Kingdom being advanced.

f)       By Jesus saying He was “Lord of the Sabbath” He was saying He created it and could thus overrule their dogma. The creation is never greater than The Creator – He was indeed overruling the Pharisees.

g)      Religious leaders used man with withered hand to try to trap Jesus - didn't care about helping man with withered hand.

h)      Jesus’ point was is there is ever a wrong time to show compassion or do good?

i)        The Pharisees zeal for the Law made them plot murder – clearly against the Law. 

·         Started plotting His death

·         Danger already starting for Jesus

·         Always in prayer – sustain strength – dangerous times – critical decisions

j)        Chose disciples as a man – stayed connected, seek God’s counsel like we all must

·         Disciples were  students who followed teacher

2.       Blessings and Woes       (vs 17 – 26)

a)      From now on Jesus includes disciples in everything He does.

b)      Beatitudes not a list of “don't s”, but is a list of “dos” with implied consequences, hope and encouragement.

c)       Teaching about spiritual matters – not military. People thought Messiah would be military leader.

d)     Some think this is same “Sermon On The Mount” as recorded in Matthew (maybe so – I don't think so. Luke says “on a level place”). I think Jesus prob. taught this message many times.  He was an itinerant preacher. Always on move.

e)      People thought they coming to be healed. Most only wanted Jesus' benefits … welfare program, Jesus turns it into a Bible study and heeled them out of compassion.

f)       The purpose is to reveal Kingdom

·         Spiritual Kingdom

·         Not only about salvation – expectations of Kingdom

·         Love - Sum of Jesus’ (God’s) very being

 (I Tim 1:11, Mat. 25:34 ) you are blessed RIGHT NOW

·         Addresses people in need – “poor in spirit” dependent on God – EVERYBODY IS - regardless of financial status!

     g)      It has been said if you took all the good advice for how to live ever uttered by any philosopher, psychiatrist or counselor, took out the foolishness and boiled it all down to the real essentials, you would be left with a poor imitation of this great sermon.

         3.     Love for Enemies           (vs 27 – 36)

a)      Simple – very hard

b)      Particularly relevant because soldiers, messengers of the king or in this case of the emperor, could demand that the individual give them any item they wanted. They could make these demands under the auspices of need for official business, refusal = insult to king.

c)       His very essence – was showing His true love and compassion by healing that multitude and I would say His very presence.

d)      Loving your enemies benefits you more than your enemy – same with forgiveness

e)      This is also a Kingdom principle of forgiveness. 

4.        Judging Others                                (vs 37 – 42)

a)      Very misunderstood – we use judgment every day.

b)      We are to help others and be non-judgmental in the sense that you are to judge no one’s individual sin (this applies only spiritually – God established nations with rules and rulers so man could govern himself) – judge or improve yourself – help and pray for your neighbor.

c)       Vs 38 misused all the time also. PREACHERS use it all the time for TAKING OFFERINGS -  JESUS is clearly speaking of MERCY to others.  (principle of sowing and reaping – Kingdom principle)               

5         A Tree and Its Fruit         (vs 43 – 45)

a)      Jesus speaking here of what a person says verses what they do. He is saying what you do is what you believe. Again, the only person to be held accountable is yourself to yourself. (Luke 7:37) 

6.        The Wise and Foolish Builders                (vs 46 – 49)

a)      Jesus again teaching what the Kingdom is like – teaching advantages of coming to Kingdom

b)      Teaching coming to Kingdom out of compassion -  God wants all to come to saving knowledge (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

c)       A little harder possibly but with much  greater reward (coming to Kingdom)

·         must use good judgment