Word of Jesus Part 31

Luk 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

The book of Matthew adds poor in spirit meaning humble or with humility. It could indicate both as we could be poor in the sense that we refuse to follow the ways of the world to get rich and increased with goods. This would be a life of humility and choosing the greater riches of a life with God rather than seeking the riches of this life only. Those that leave all to follow Christ have to trust Him alone for their survival. They may not have riches in this life but they would be rich in the things that count.

We see the Lord's word to the church in Smyrna who were poor in material things but Jesus says they are rich in the spiritual things which are the only things that count in the long run.

Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Rev 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.


Luk 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

Those that suffer hunger because of their faith in Christ will be filled. Those that weep over sins and the lost world shall one day laugh with the joy they receive in Heaven.

Luk 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

They that live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer ridicule for what they believe. If one is shunned because of his faith, happy is he.

Luk 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

If you read Isaiah, Jeremiah and others, they were very negative in their preaching. They did not win any popularity contests in their day. They likely would not be accepted today. I could just see their critics now among the church crowd. They would be called, legalistic, dooms day prophets, out of touch with the times, negative, hate mongers and more.

Luk 6:24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

The rich have already received all the reward they will get; being only rich in this life but losing their souls for eternity.

Luk 6:25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

If we eat, drink and make merry always laughing and not caring for the lost, the suffering and those that are persecuted for righteousness sake, we will one day be the ones that mourn and weep.

Luk 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

If I was a modern day preacher that was popular and never spoken evil of, I think I would wonder what I was doing wrong. People who tell the truth are never accepted by the majority. I realize that there are cult leaders to whom society will not accept either so we can't assume because society hates them that they are of the truth but as a general rule, those the preach the truth according to the word of God is not well liked by the world or even the modern church world.

Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Nevertheless, we are to love those that oppose us and persecute us. This is impossible by our own strength. We have to walk in the spirit to be able to love our enemies.

Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

To learn to genuinely love with the true love of God (not the thing which the world calls love that compromises with sin) we begin by praying for those that oppose us. Our goal should be to see them saved from sin, not defeated.

Luk 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Luk 6:30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

Again I know this is not easy and it isn't an excuse to support deadbeats that will not work to provide for their families but Jesus said these words so we can't explain them away or take them lightly. I don't think this means as a country or society but as individuals. If an individual smites us, we are not to fight back. I don't think this means that if our whole country is attacked that we can't fight back and defend our family and countrymen. My opinion is that these passages may refer to our individual walk with the Lord. In our work to spread the gospel, if people come to ask for help, we are not to refuse.

We are to trust God for our provisions and not try to get them back. Not all will be able to really live by these words unless they surrender all things to God and live completely under His guidance. This describes a life totally given to God where material things matter very little if any to us.

Luk 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Treat others as you would want to be treated.

Luk 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

Every human being tends to love those that love them. It takes a little more of the spirit of God in our lives to love our enemies and those that hate us.

Luk 6:33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
Luk 6:34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Do good to your fellow workers, peers and friends even if they are not good to you. Lend without worrying about getting anything back. A great reward is promised to those who do these things.

Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Be as God who is quicker to forgive than to send judgment. He waits for us to repent and ask forgiveness.

Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Naturally we have to judge sin and not agree with sin but we are not to be judgmental to individuals and try to assume they have evil motives when we can't see their motives. Only God can see why they do what they do.

We have to have law and order and we have to judge those that kill, steal and are a threat to society. We have to teach the word of God and make judgments as to what is right and wrong. We are to judge with righteousness and not prejudice, greed, assumptions, gossip, backbiting, false accusations and the like. We must be very slow to condemn lest we condemn someone innocent and accuse our own brothers and sisters in the Lord. With what judgment we judge, we shall be judged. Give people the benefit of the doubt. We are to preach the gospel and let God do the convicting of sin and judging. We are to warn, God is to judge.

We can say adultery is wrong but we have to be careful not to accuse an individual of adultery if we don't know for sure. That is judging. We can say, stealing is wrong but be careful not to accuse someone of stealing. Its not wrong to say something is a sin according to the bible but it is judging if we point a finger at an individual and accuse him of breaking any law of God if we have not actually seen him do anything but are assuming that he did.

Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

This has proven to be true over and over again. If we give with a heart that loves to give. (not because we are pressured into giving) we shall receive.

Some have used this verse to support the prosperity doctrine. I believe sincerely that teaching that doctrine is wrong because the giving is centered on giving to the rich rather than the poor. Some have went so far as to instruct us to give to the richest ministers because he is in the will of God. This is not the words Jesus teaches. Today's prosperity doctrine exalts the receiver and makes the receiver rich. Devouring widows houses is not biblical giving. Oppressing the poor and threatening someone with financial ruin if they don't give is not what Jesus teaches. Jesus teaches giving willingly and giving to the poor. Read His warnings:

Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Jesus teaches giving to those that are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, prisoners. He does not teach us to give to the rich.

Luk 6:39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Luk 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
Luk 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Luk 6:42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

This is a good example of judging. We find fault with someone for something when we are doing something equally wrong or worse. We are to live right ourselves and live by the word, judging all things by the word and see clearly to help those that have fallen into error.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Meekness is the key. It is not wrong to gently point out an error which will harm the soul of the person doing the error. We just have to make sure we aren't guilty of the same thing or worse things. We have to make sure our motive is to help not to gloat and appear self righteous. We have to be sincerely concerned and not just want to nitpick at someone. The human tendency is to enjoy hearing of someone else's sin.  The human tendency is to love to tell someone else about that person's downfall or sin.  This is what we should avoid.

Luk 6:43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Luk 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

We know the true believers by their fruits.

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Those that continually sing, worship, pray and then turn around and ignore, make light of or change the words of Jesus, are not really serving the Lord. We can't ignore and take lightly the word of God and then claim to know God and be a Christian. 

Luk 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Words of Jesus 32