The Sermon on the Plain (1) Blessings and Woes (Luke 6:17-26)
Blessing or being blessed is an interesting concept that we often misunderstand. In the Old Testament, the word for “bless” involves the idea of invoking or bestowing divine favor. However, it is also the word for “kneel” or “worship.” In the New Testament, the word for blessed means “happy,” “contented,” or “fortunate.”
In our culture today, and in English, we don’t talk a whole lot about blessing, but we do obsess over “happiness.” In our obsession, I think we miss the point altogether.
Happiness, and for that matter blessing, is not something to pursue. Or, to put it better, it can be an aim, but it is not something we aim for directly. If you chase “happiness” you are guaranteed to be disappointed. Instead, it is in pursuing other things—purpose, meaning, helping others, good relationships, that we stumble upon happiness. Ironically, the less we focus on ourselves the more happiness and contentment we find.
As Jesus begins this major teaching in Luke 6, He proclaims four blessings and four woes. This presents a vision of the world where there are two types of people… those that belong to God and those that reject Him. However, it is not the behavior or actions of the people that determine what group they belong to, but rather their attitudes.
“Blessed are you who are poor,” refers to more than just monetary status. In the Bible it indicates a complete reliance on God. It would be possible (although challenging perhaps) to have money and still reflect a pious poverty attitude of dependance on God. It is easily possible to have no money and not rely on God or trust Him to meet your needs. “Blessed are you who are hungry,” is similar. If you don’t have enough food, you are going to be hungry. However, even those who are well fed can desire more of God and pursue Him. “Blessed are you who weep,” continues the paradoxical description of true happiness. Even if God’s people are sad now in this sinful broken world, they can be happy knowing that they will find joy in eternity. Taken together, these three characteristics describe a people who are not content in this world. The final blessing ties this attitude directly in the way these people belong to God. “Blessed are you when people hate you… exclude you… revile you… on account of the Son of Man.” Taken together, Jesus’s key to happiness is in not belonging, not fitting in, not being happy with the fallen world as it is.
The four woes—against people who are rich, full, laughing, and who fit into the world—present the contrasting group of people. By the world’s standards, they are happy. But they are not destined for eternal happiness, blessing.
You do not gain admittance into the people of God by simply rejecting society, money, and being hungry and sad. These are the descriptions of the people who already belong to God. Jesus is speaking to His disciples AND the crowds. Anyone can become a blessed person. Choose to trust Jesus and follow His ways. What those ways look like are described in the rest of the sermon.
In our culture today, and in English, we don’t talk a whole lot about blessing, but we do obsess over “happiness.” In our obsession, I think we miss the point altogether.
Happiness, and for that matter blessing, is not something to pursue. Or, to put it better, it can be an aim, but it is not something we aim for directly. If you chase “happiness” you are guaranteed to be disappointed. Instead, it is in pursuing other things—purpose, meaning, helping others, good relationships, that we stumble upon happiness. Ironically, the less we focus on ourselves the more happiness and contentment we find.
As Jesus begins this major teaching in Luke 6, He proclaims four blessings and four woes. This presents a vision of the world where there are two types of people… those that belong to God and those that reject Him. However, it is not the behavior or actions of the people that determine what group they belong to, but rather their attitudes.
“Blessed are you who are poor,” refers to more than just monetary status. In the Bible it indicates a complete reliance on God. It would be possible (although challenging perhaps) to have money and still reflect a pious poverty attitude of dependance on God. It is easily possible to have no money and not rely on God or trust Him to meet your needs. “Blessed are you who are hungry,” is similar. If you don’t have enough food, you are going to be hungry. However, even those who are well fed can desire more of God and pursue Him. “Blessed are you who weep,” continues the paradoxical description of true happiness. Even if God’s people are sad now in this sinful broken world, they can be happy knowing that they will find joy in eternity. Taken together, these three characteristics describe a people who are not content in this world. The final blessing ties this attitude directly in the way these people belong to God. “Blessed are you when people hate you… exclude you… revile you… on account of the Son of Man.” Taken together, Jesus’s key to happiness is in not belonging, not fitting in, not being happy with the fallen world as it is.
The four woes—against people who are rich, full, laughing, and who fit into the world—present the contrasting group of people. By the world’s standards, they are happy. But they are not destined for eternal happiness, blessing.
You do not gain admittance into the people of God by simply rejecting society, money, and being hungry and sad. These are the descriptions of the people who already belong to God. Jesus is speaking to His disciples AND the crowds. Anyone can become a blessed person. Choose to trust Jesus and follow His ways. What those ways look like are described in the rest of the sermon.
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