Luke 6 - Jesus' Model for Ministry, We Might Want to Try It!

Click Here to Read or Listen to Luke 6

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus continues to battle with the Pharisees over the true intent of the Mosaic law. This time it was over the Sabbath. The Pharisees turned the Sabbath laws into legalistic rituals and forbade all kinds of activities on the Sabbath. Later Jesus will say, "The Sabbath is not made for man, but man made for the Sabbath." Simply put God gave us the Sabbath as a way to rest from work and be replenished by spending time with him. 

Jesus uses two examples to teach how the Pharisees were misconstruing the Sabbath. First, the disciples were rubbing grains into their hands on the kernels so they could eat. The Pharisees took offense to this, until Jesus reminded him that even David and his companions ate consecrated bread in the temple when they needed nourishment to stay fit for battle. 

Also, he illustrates the principle when a man comes in with a shriveled hand. The Pharisees were looking for a way to accuse Jesus. By healing the man, he would be "working" on the Sabbath. Jesus knew what they were thinking, so in this case he had the man stand up in front of everyone and he healed him. Then, Jesus asked them a very poignant question, 

“I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

The religious leaders watched Jesus closely, but with no heart of love for Him. We can watch Jesus, but still be far from our hearts from Him. - Guzik 

In His question to the religious leaders, Jesus emphasized the truth about the Sabbath. There is never a wrong day to do something truly good. - Guzik

Instead of being happy for the man, they used it as an opportunity to get at Jesus. It showed the true condition of their hearts. 

The Twelve Apostles

In Judaism, the numbers of completeness were 7 and 12 and 10. There were twelve tribes of Israel,10 commandments, and now 12 apostles. The word "apostle" means "messenger", or "the one who is sent". And the end of Jesus' time with the disciples, he will say to them, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you!" - John 20:21

Note he "called" his disciples. Jesus calls us and we follow him. In this case the disciples left "everything to follow Jesus".  Note also that Jesus spent all night praying before he called his disciples. This was no small decision, so Jesus needed to be in deep prayer for the wisdom on who to call. I don't think I have ever spent all night in prayer over something. Jesus spent copious amounts in prayer. It also showed his humility, humanity, and reliance on His Father. 

Blessings and Woes

This is Luke's version of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6-8). Commentators called it the "Sermon on the Plain". A huge group from Galilee, Judah, and Jerusalem came to Jesus to hear his teaching, be healed of diseases, and to have evil spirits cast out. This was the big three of Jesus' ministry. Teaching, healing, and deliverance. He taught about the kingdom and then showed what it looked like.

If this was Jesus' method and model don't you think we ought to attempt to use it? Do people need any of the three less today? Often we spend a lot of time on teaching and preaching but not much time demonstrating the power of the kingdom of God. Some churches have a time of ministry every service. We have prayer teams at our church, as people come up for communion, but I think we go better at this. 

There was so much power coming out of Jesus that people just wanted to touch him. Now that's some power. Jesus then spent most of his time teaching on blessings and woes. These are very similar to Matthew's beatitudes, but there is more emphasis on tangible things. For instance Matthew says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit", and Luke says, "Blessed are the poor". Matthew says, "Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for righteousness", and Luke says, "Blessed are you who are hungry now." 

Part of the reason for this is that Matthew is written for a more Jewish audience, and Luke's audience was the Gentiles, as he followed Paul's mission to the Gentiles. 

Blessed: Jesus promised blessing to His disciples, promising that the poor in spirit are blessed. The idea behind the ancient Greek word for blessed is “happy,” but in the truest, godly sense of the word, not in our modern sense of merely being comfortable or entertained at the moment. - Guzik

Love for Enemies

Jesus' teaching was totally radically. Love your enemies. If someone slaps you on the cheek turn the other one. Give without expecting anything in return. Loving others who love you is easy, but when you love those who don't love you now that is true love. Of course, Jesus is talking about the same love that he shows us and will demonstrate when he dies on the cross. Jesus loved us even when we were yet sinners he died for us. 

Judging Others

One of the easiest thing to do is to judge others. Why do we judge others? Usually because it makes us feel better about ourselves. But Jesus has a sure cure for judgmentalism. He says with the same judgment you use with others apply to yourself. With the measure you use it will be measured unto you. Of course, if Jesus were to judge us for what we deserve we would be in deep trouble. But instead of giving us what we deserve, Jesus gives us grace. Grace is getting what you don't deserve. When we realize how much grace God has for us, it's hard to be judgmental. 

A Tree and Its Fruit

The problem with the religious leaders in Jesus' time was even through they were supposed to represent God there was nothing about them that resembled God. They were judgmental, critical, hypocritical, and legalistic. Jesus used the example of a good tree which brings good fruit. When there is no fruit when has to go to the source. Without any roots there are no fruits. The Pharisees were lacking any fruit, which showed their true heart condition. 

Is there fruit in your life? The fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Against these Paul says in Galatians 5:22, there is no law. 

The Wise and Foolish Builders

The wise man built his house upon a rock, so when the rains came down the house on the rock stood firm. The foolish man built his house upon the sand, so when the rains came down the house on the sand fell. down. What was the difference? The difference was the quality of the foundation. Then Jesus likens the wise builder, who built his house on the rock, to a man who not only listened to his words but put them into practice. 

Jesus is saying it is not just hearing His word that makes you a rock solid Christian, but it is putting it into practice. As you put God's Word into practice, into daily application in your life, your life will be built on a rock. When the crises come in your life, you will stand firm on the ROCK!