LUKE 6:17-49 LOOKING AT HIS DISCIPLES When the Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples came down from the mountain to a level plain, there was a great number of people waiting for Him to heal them. Some were those who had come to learn from Him, and others considered Him to be a magician who did spectacular things. The virtue of His Person was not diminished in any way because of the blessing His healing power had toward those needy people. He is God and was not controlled by people in any way, so in this time and place He healed them all. Other times He withheld that blessing "because of their unbelief."
The disciples, including more than the twelve He has just appointed as apostles, were the focus of His message this time, even though the message was similar to what He had spoken another time on the mountain. Kingdom principles are not limited are not limited to one group of people even though they have a special application when first given. When teaching is repeated, it means these instructions are very important and those who hear them need to take them personally. These blessings describe the standards of conduct expected by disciples who are learners and followers of the Lord. To follow "in His steps" is expected of those who "name the name of Christ." Christian principles are not only for a few in the place of leadership among God's people. When the Lord repeated this teaching, it made the fact clear that these were to be applied to more than the Jews. There is no particular virtue in being rich or in being deliberately poor. The poverty that has value in a learner who has the "yoke" of Christ upon him or her is that of true modesty, humility and meekness that endears one who speaks for God to the heart of a genuine seeker after salvation. To hunger for righteousness indicates a passionate desire for Christ-likeness in the life of one learning from, and following Him. The holy laughter of one who has found their joy in the Lord follows the relief of God working for them in difficult times in life. Some things have to be expected in this world, and one is that darkness and light do not mix. Those who "love darkness rather than light" will not love those are "to shine as lights in the world." There are certain characteristics that are unmistakable when one follows the Lord, and are seen and recognized for their value all down through the ages.
The contrast to the blessings were the woes the Lord rightly pronounced on those who were looking on and hearing what He said to His disciples. The rich, well-fed, popular and well-thought of people needed to consider the end of the matter rather than the feeling that contentment, popularity and flattery brings. There is an increasing indifference toward towards Christianity that is real as people seek for the feeling of "comfort" in spiritual things and the "seeker-friendly" approach to the Gospel. The world does not want the followers of Christ to sound warnings, separate from the "acceptable" sins or to be significantly different from those who are around us. False prophets seek the praise of men rather than God's "well done."
Kingdom principles don't only affect me personally, but there are public evidences that reveal the law of life God expects. His plan is evidence of love operating in full view as opposed to the practice of hatred that is prevalent. We are to love, to do good, to bless and pray for our enemies. To many people this attitude seems to be totally unrealistic and impractical. To those who learn of Him and follow Him, this is expected of us and He gives us the power to obey His commands. Grace ("what thank") has the power to overcome and out-perform justice and equality. When one is in fellowship with our heavenly Father, there is the assurance He is able to give us what is needed to demonstrate His mercy.
Such principles applied personally and publicly will enable one to rightly help another who has a problem to deal with and guide them to be able to know what is right. If these kingdom principles are not followed, we have no right or ability to say or do anything until we remove the huge log that is blinding us to our own failures. A blind guide cannot safely lead blind people. One who has not learned cannot teach others. A tree with no principle of good fruit in it cannot bear good fruit. It needs good life in it in order to bear good fruit. A bad tree can only bear bad fruit. Only a good tree with the kind of life God has given to it to bear good fruit can be of any assistance to those who have need of its blessing. We need to look for, and follow, those who know more about faith than we do, and listen to their guidance. We may fail in our attempts to fulfill our duty but that does not make us a hypocrite. Religious behavior to gain attention and a following is hypocrisy. What we say and do reveals who we really are.
"Come," "hear" and "do" are words that should go together. To say, "Lord, Lord," and deny that in reality has eternal consequences that can never be changed. To want salvation and so "come" is not all that is involved. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." But one can want what is right, and know what is right, but to do what is right is another matter. To "not do" and put into practice the truth of what we know is true, is to lose one's soul forever. To some people the outward form is enough they think. When the crisis times of life and death come, they are hopelessly lost. The foundation of God's Word is not just for our information but is what our faith in Christ is built upon, and truth never fails.
What value has instructions when they are not obeyed. What is the real worth of teaching; If one is not going to listen with faith to what is said? Or if it is considered only meddlesome preaching? When the learner is in training, he needs to trust his Master Who knows every turn in life's way. To ignore what He teaches leads to certain disaster, Pay attention to every word He does say.
God begins by reaching to our mind and heart, And from there we begin to grow. We can't jump to the end without faith at the start, As growth progresses then it starts to show. Into the public eye the learner then steps, And soon it is easy to see Who his Teacher is as each event, then gets Him closer to what God intends him to be.
Line upon line, and precept upon precept, His life then his Master reveals. Development in grace is what we expect To give understanding to what was concealed. Even though the learner is not like those around, Some things stand out in him. Whatever he says and wherever he is found, There is no desire on his part to commit sin.
He calls Jesus, "Lord," but in public his words - Can be trusted because appropriately, He walks humbly before men, obeying his Lord, Speaking careful words, and circumspectly He moves through life leaving behind evidence of faith - Even though to some it seems he is wasting his time. Ultimately the strength of his character and his grace Shows the foundation on which he has built is just fine.
"As a learner Father, I want to continually grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my desire that in some way today I can show saints or sinners - or both, the value of having put into practice the principles of Thy kingdom so people will be attracted to the Savior. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."