Luke 6

I am amazed when I am preaching on the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew and reading last week on Luke 6.  There are many similar ideas found in both gospels. Last Sunday I was preaching on the ethics of being a Christian and that Jesus did not come to do away with the Law (Torah) but to fulfill it.  The first section on Luke 6 presents two stories of Jesus actions on the Sabbath.  The consequences for the Pharisees and scribes who believed in the literal words of the Torah without understanding the heart of the Law were appalled that Jesus would violate the basic principles of Sabbath.

I was reading from the Message regarding the healing of the man with a withered hand.  The Pharisees and scribes were trying to get Jesus to heal on the Sabbath.  Jesus confronts them with the statement, “What kind of action is better for the Sabbath to do good or to do evil?  Is it better to help someone or leave them helpless?”  Once again Jesus takes their literal translation of the word and goes to the heart of God’s Will.  I can only imagine them in the parking lot of the synagogue talking about this upstart who is doing away with tradition and does not care to follow the literal words on a scroll but instead will do what he wills in as far as healing someone who is hurting.  I would suggest that at times we all can become such literalists that we forget the underlying purpose of the law and of God’s Word. Even today we continue to value words on paper over the heart of God.

The chapter continues with the choosing of the 12 apostles.  Jesus then begins to train them into what it means to be a disciple.  This is the Sermon on the Plains.  There are similarities with Matthew but some significant differences.  Luke has instead of the Beatitudes, the blessings and woes.  He emphasizes not the poor in spirit but the poor.  As the Message says blessed are you when you’ve lost it all.  Blessed are you who are hungry (not for righteousness but actual hunger).  Then he goes on to woe onto you who are rich, well fed, and think you have it made.  This takes us back to Mary’s song in chapter 1 about God lifted up the poor and helpless and bringing down the rich and powerful.  This also reminds us of Jesus talking about his mission in chapter 4.

The rest of the chapter parallels Matthew.  I particularly like what the Message says about building your house.  Verse 48-49, “If you use my words only for a bible study and don’t work them into your life, then you are like a dumb carpenter who builds a house without building a foundation.”  How true that is.  Being a Christian is more than memorizing bible verses, it is about using those verses as a foundation in the way we live.

Luke 5

Following Jesus’ reception for his sermon, we begin for the next two chapters to see the call of the disciples.  The author practically quotes Mark 1-2 in chapter 5.  He does expand on the stories as well as share healing stories as well.

5:1-11 is the call story of Peter.  What is striking is how quickly Peter (Simon) recognizes Jesus.  Peter was likely the owner of several fishing boats as John and James were partners with him. So their willingness to pick up and leave their jobs and income makes the call story more powerful.  Remember that these men had done nothing outstanding to make Jesus call them to follow him.  They were not particularly astute, educated, and belonged to a lower status.  We continue to see the reversal of what the world would value and what Jesus values.  They would leave what little they have and to go into the future without knowing where it may lead.  Also in this section is the first miracle that did not involve healing or exorcism.  Jesus did not command the sea to produce the fish but like stories of manna in the wilderness, Elijah using oil and grain, he took the normal activities of the fishermen to produce abundance in extreme.  So it is with God using ordinary people, situations and settings to accomplish his purpose.

5:12-16 Healing of the Leper.  I would refer people to read Leviticus 13-14 to understand with greater depth about what is happening.  The first is that what we are talking about can be any kind of skin disease not just Hansen’s disease.  Because of the illness one was exiled outside the city.  One could not be with their family, could not worship in the synagogue or temple, and could not approach others.  Often they had to wear a bell or something to warn people that they were coming.  They depending on begging to be able to survive.  If they touched another person, than that person becomes unclean as well.  So when Jesus touches him, this was scandalous for not only healing and declaring him healed for only a priest could do that but it also made Jesus unclean so that he could not enter cities and had to remain in the wilderness for the set period of time.  So Jesus in his action so identifies with the leper, he is willing to suffer the same estrangement that the leper had suffered.  Another point in the healing stories is the estrangement that the sick or possessed suffered.  Healing was more than curing but also, and more importantly, involved restoration to family, community, and to worship.

5:17-26 Healing of the Paralyzed.  Following the healing story of the leper, we have yet another healing story.  Jesus was in a house with the Pharisees and the scribes teaching.  While there many came for healing.  This story has some significant themes regarding the ministry of Christ.  First the paralyzed man was unable to come to Jesus.  So four of his neighbors carried him so that he could be healed.  Jesus is amazed at their faith and the willingness to carry their friend.  Today we marvel at those who are willing to go the extra mile for others with no expectation of receiving anything in return.  No wonder Jesus was moved.

The second theme is that the one who can heal can also forgive.  Jesus is in the presence of the leaders of the church and yet they are unable to heal or be instrumental in forgiveness. So they react to Jesus’ statement “Your sins are forgiven.”  Note first the man never asked to be healed or forgiven.  Jesus is responding to his friend’s faithfulness.  Jesus responds to his critics by demonstrating that forgiveness is in the authority of the Son of Man (found in Daniel) and that forgiveness leads to healing.  When seeing the power of Jesus, they are amazed and glorify God.

Because the friends would not allow any obstacle to impede them, they received the blessing.  While the Pharisees and scribes were more concerned with the letter of the law they were frustrated.

Luke 5:27-32 Calling of Levi.  We have another call to story this time to Levi (Matthew).  Levi was a tax collector and often treated by his fellow Jews as a traitor working for the oppressors.  Sometimes we may have similar feelings toward IRS workers who work for the government.  Tax collectors made their living by not just collecting what was owed to Rome but also would charge more and keep the difference.  Thus they were seen also as sinners.  So those who wanted to be pure would not associate with them.  So anyone who would eat with them would be considered impure because of sharing a meal with them. Once again Jesus does the unthinkable.  He who was pure ate with sinners.  So the criticism made was Jesus being judged by the company he keeps.  So Jesus responds about that “those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

This call story is not just about Levi.  It is about Jesus’ call to all of us.  It matters not who we are or what we have done.  What matters is are we willing to surrender to Jesus?  Jesus did not handpick the righteous, most virtuous, or most popular to follow him. What is scandalous is that Jesus’ style of discipleship is not built on separation from sinners but by association with sinners.  Where do you think churches today would fall on the continuum of separation or association?

Luke 5:33-39 Fasting.  Fasting is an important spiritual discipline but again Jesus drives a wedge between the letter of the law and the heart of the law.  He goes on to add that there is something new that is happening and that the new will supersede the old.  He is stating that the Kingdom is greater than anything that has gone on before.  What does that say to us today as we look at our churches?  Do we worship our tradition so much that we lose sight of the continuing presence of God amongst us?  Do we so prefer the “old wine” that we are unwilling to see the “new wine”?  Jesus declared in chapter 4 that “the year of the Lord” is upon us.  So today how do we respond to Jesus?

Luke 4

                Luke continues his narrative following the baptism of Jesus and the interlude of the genealogy.  Today I will be using the Wesley Study Bible the CEB translation.  Chapter 4 addresses three main themes.  One is the temptation of Jesus, his first sermon to his home synagogue, and ending with healing stories.  Luke presents the Holy Spirit as an important aspect of his ministry and also of his birth.

                Following the baptism, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness.  He has just been blessed with the Spirit coming down to him from above.  Actually the idea of being led is misleading.  He was forcibly taken into the wilderness by the Spirit. Luke is presenting Jesus as needing to spend time in that wilderness to face his temptations.  He is there for 40 days fasting and praying.  The number 40 is probably not meant to be taken literally but an indication of a long time.  It does tie into the Hebrew Scriptures of the flood, Moses on Mount Sinai, Elijah in the mountains, the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness of Exodus.  Jesus was fasting which meant not eating anything from sunrise to sunset. Fasting was a spiritual discipline popular among the Jewish people as a means of honoring God.  There was no doubt that Jesus was not hungry and thirsty.

                The wilderness in scripture often is a time of contemplation, introspection, and quietness before God.  Luke speaks of this as do the other gospels to help us remember that we too need to take time to be with our Creator.  This is especially true today with the many distractions that we face.  When we are so distracted it is easy to fall into temptations rather than being aware of them.  When we take time to use the spiritual disciplines of attentiveness, prayer, and quietness, we can be more aware of where we are tempted and be able to resist that temptation.

                When the devil appears to test Jesus, he appeals first to Jesus’ physical needs of hunger, next to his psychological needs of approval and power, and finally to his spiritual needs.  Jesus is able to counter each suggestion from the Torah and the prophets.  What is interesting when tested about his spiritual power, the devil is able to quote Psalm 91:11-12.  One concern I have is to not use scripture in such a way as to support my agenda rather than God’s.  Too often I have seen Christian leaders’ proof text in order to justify their behavior.  They use snippets of scripture regardless of the original context.  Luke is pointing even the devil is able to do this.

                Following his temptations (note there is no comforting of angels and the foreshadowing of the devil’s return), he goes to his home in Galilee and Nazareth.  Note that he is observant and attends the synagogue on the Sabbath.  As people talk about all that he can do and his teaching in other synagogues, I can imagine the home folks can’t wait to hear him.  It is here that Luke presents in essence Jesus’ mission and vision statement by quoting from Isaiah 61:1-2; 58:6.  In the time of Jesus the teacher in the synagogue would sit down to teach. Initially the congregation were impressed but someone reminded them about isn’t this Joseph’s son.  How many times a person from the local community who has a history there is not respected or appreciated despite the expertise or the knowledge they have.

                No wonder Jesus “I assure you that no prophet is welcome in the prophet’s hometown (24).”  There have been many times in my career especially as a therapist that when some crisis would occur rather than using local resources, one would rather use someone who lived at least 50 miles away.  This is despite the awareness that the local person would have about the community.  This still happens today.

                Then Jesus continues to expand on the lack of trust in talking about Elijah with the widow and Elisha with Naaman.  It is then that the congregation becomes irate.  For both the widow and Naaman were unbelievers and Gentiles.  The people of the synagogue felt that the only ones deserving of God’s grace were the Jews.  From the Wesley Study Bible, “His hearers do not want to share their privileges with outsiders, but Jesus’ message is intentionally focused upon the marginal members of society, the poor, prisoners, blind, and oppressed. Wesley began a deliberate program of visiting prisons, the sick and the poor in 1730 at age 26.”[1]  The crowd are so angry that they seek to not just run him out of town but to kill him.  How often in history have Christians resorted to violence against those who were unbelievers.  Even today how people judge and condemn those who are different in their beliefs or unbelief.

                The chapter ends with a variety of healing stories.  Luke if he was a physician would use these to illustrate the healing ministry of Jesus.  What is interesting is the demons knew who Jesus was when those in his hometown or in the synagogues had no clue.  It continues to emphasize that Jesus is the Son of God which we were aware in Chapter 1, reinforced in Chapter2, declared in Chapter 3 at the baptism, and now by demons in Chapter 4.

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[1] Wesley Study Bible, pg. 1289