Luke 6:12-49
Setting of the Sermon (6:17-19)
Matt. 5 is covered in vv.20-36, and Matt. 7 is covered in v.38-end. The contents of Matt. 6 are not covered here because it is specifically the purview of Matthew to bring out the relation of the Messiah to the law.
vv.17-19 Before the sermon, the Lord heals all who came. There was to be no distraction during His sermon. Similar to how the Lord made the disciples comfortable in Jn. 13 before teaching them.
vv.20-23 Some of the blesseds that touch on earthly blessing are left out in Luke, as it is more moral, whereas Matthew focuses more on the kingdom of heaven. He tells them at the get go how the path will be. The advice for blessedness here is opposite to the world’s advice. The blessed path is one of suffering, weeping, hunger, and reproach. What!?!? But there is a blessedness to walking in fellowship with the rejected Son of man, and there is a reward awaiting us, not on earth, but “in heaven”!
Each of the four blesseds are “Blessed are ye”… the disciples. The poverty, etc. were all because of their choice to associate with the Messiah who was rejected.
The rewards are a paradox… very counter intuitive (2 Cor. 6:1-10). Son of man is His title in rejection. He is preparing them for what is ahead.
The blesseds are connected with a loss from following the Son of man. The Woes are connected with a present advantage due to not following the Son of man. Something chosen instead of or at the expense of Him.
For those who choose to follow the Lord, the best is yet to come. For those who reject Him the best is now.
Taking the mote of our brothers eye might seem like an altruistic thing to do, but if you have a beam in your eye is does more harm than good. Same with leading a blind person… not helpful if you are blind!