THE GREAT PARADOX

LUKE 6:20-36


      In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus directed the teaching to the disciples. All the world would know the truth of Jesus Christ by the transformed lives of His disciples (Jn. 13:35, 17:21).


      David Smith called the Sermon “the ordination of the twelve.” Endnote Smith said, “Jesus was not enunciating a general code of Christian ethics but instructing the Twelve how they should comport themselves as the heralds of His Kingdom.” Endnote


      In this sermon, Jesus equipped the saints (Eph. 4:12) that those twelve might go and make disciples. Jesus’ teaching on discipleship totally contradicted the faith practiced by other teachers.

 

•          New paradigm

•          New paradox (American College Dictionary: “a statement or proposition seemingly self-contradictory or absurd”)


      Jesus’ words sounded like “bombshells.” Endnote The Twelve heard Jesus “take the accepted standards and turn them upside down.” Endnote


      David Smith wrote, “He pronounced them ‘blessed,’ not because they would have places by His throne in Jerusalem, but because they would be poor, lonely, sorrowful, despised, and persecuted. Every sentence of His benediction was in Jewish ears an astounding paradox.” Endnote


  I. Four blessings (6:20-23)


      The phrase “Blessed. . .” meant “everything which was necessary for the perfectly happy life.” Endnote John MacArthur wrote, “The things of the world become fuel for pride, lust, and self-satisfaction–the enemies not only of righteousness but of happiness.” Endnote


      A. Poverty (total dependence on God; Lk. 4:18, 6:20, 7:22, 14:13-21, 16:20-22, 18:22, 19:8, 21:3)


      The poor represent those with a sense of need for God. The poor respond to the “good news” of Jesus. John MacArthur stated, “The poor in spirit are those who recognize their total spiritual destitution and their complete dependence on God.” Endnote


      Only the poor in spirit can enter the kingdom of God.


2 Cor. 8:9 [ESV]. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.


      B. Hunger (complete satisfaction in Christ; Lk. 1:53)


      Puritan Thomas Watson wrote, “He has most need of righteousness that least wants it.” Endnote John MacArthur wrote, “The person who genuinely hungers and thirsts for God’s righteousness finds it so satisfying that he wants more and more.” Endnote


Ps. 34:8 [ESV]. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!


Ps. 107:9 [ESV]. For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.


Phil. 4:12 [GNB]. I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little.


      Those not satisfied in Christ turn to empty substitutes.


Jer. 2:13 [NIV]. “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.


      A. W. Tozer wrote this prayer in the book The Pursuit of God, “ O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.” Endnote


      A. B. Simpson said, “Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord.” Endnote One hymn writer said, “Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest; Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best; This all my prayer shall be; more love O Christ, to Thee, More love to Thee! More love to Thee!” Endnote Lloyd-Jones commented, “There are so many things that I cannot condemn in and of themselves. But if I find I spend too much of my time with them, and that somehow I want God and spiritual things less and less, then, if I am hungering and thirsting after righteousness, I shall avoid them.” Endnote


Like the woman at the well I was seeking,

For things that could not satisfy;

And then I heard my Savior speaking;

"Draw from My well that never shall run dry".


Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.

Bread of Heaven feed me till I want no more;

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.


There a millions in this world who are craving,

The pleasure earthly things afford;

But none can match the wondrous treasure;

That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.


So, brother, if the things this world gave you,

Leave hungers that won't pass away;

My blessed Lord will come and save you;

If you kneel to Him and humbly pray.


      C. Weeping (sweet fellowship with Christ; Lk. 19:41; Jn. 16:20)


Ps. 30:5b [MKJV]. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.


      John MacArthur wrote, “Throughout history a basic axiom of the world has been that favorable things bring happiness, whereas unfavorable things bring unhappiness.” Endnote John MacArthur said, “Happiness comes to sad people because their godly sadness leads to God’s comfort.” Endnote


Is. 61:3a. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;


      The Lord draws near the broken in heart (Is. 53:3). Heaven will heal all of earth’s sorrow.


      Often, God must crush with sorrow before the fragrance of joy comes out (Ex. 30:6). M. R. DeHaan wrote, “It is true of most men of God who have really been used of the Lord that somewhere in their lives there was a crisis, a test in which they were broken.” Endnote


Ps. 34:18. The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.


      D. Persecution (great reward in heaven; )


      Jesus reserved the applause of heaven for disciples persecuted for Jesus’ name.

•          Hated by men (Mt. 10:22; Jn. 15:18; 1 Jn. 3:13)

•          Separated from inclusion (2 Cor. 6:17)

•          Shamed with reproach (Mt. 27:44; 1 Pet. 4:14)

•          Scorned as contemptible (Mt. 5:10-11)


      The martyrs of the church will receive a crown of life. Augustine said that the “blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Heaven will be sweet for the persecuted (Rev. 6:9).


Acts 5:41. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.


2 Tim. 3:12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.


1 Pet. 4:16. Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.


      John MacArthur said, “To keep quiet about the gospel, especially the truth that apart from its saving power men remain in their sins and are destined for hell, will cost us nothing. To go along with the world, to laugh at its jokes, to enjoy its entertainment, to smile when it mocks God and takes His name in vain, and to be ashamed to take a stand for Christ will not bring persecution.” Endnote


      The Emperor threatened John Chrysostom with banishment if the pastor did not cease uncompromising preaching. Chrysostom responded, “Sire, you cannot banish me, for the world is my Father’s house.” “Then I will slay you,” Emperor Arcadius said. “‘Nay, but you cannot, for my life is hid with Christ in God,” Chrysostom answered. “Your treasures will be confiscated” the emperor threatened, to which John replied, “Sire, that cannot be, either. My treasures are in heaven, where none can break through and steal.” “Then I will drive you from man, and you will have no friends left!” the emperor warned. “That you cannot do, either,” answered John, “for I have a Friend in heaven who has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’” Endnote


 II. Four woes (6:24-26)


      A. Rich (live as if God does not exist; Lk. 12:16, 16:19, 18:23-25)


      The rich enjoy their pleasures now whereas the poor anticipate riches in eternity.


Prov. 11:7 [GNB]. When the wicked die, their hope dies with them. Confidence placed in riches comes to nothing.


      A London newspaper offered a prize for the best definition of money. The paper awarded the prize to a young man who defined it as “an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven and as a universal provider of everything except happiness.”


      Andrew Carnegie said, “Some men think that poverty is a dreadful burden and that wealth leads to happiness. What do they know about it? They know only one side; they imagine the other. I have lived both, and I know there is very little in wealth that can add to human happiness beyond the small comforts of life. Millionaires who laugh are rare. My experience is that wealth is apt to take the smiles away.”


Prov. 30:8. Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:


      B. Full (never lacked for anything; Lk. 1:53)


      One day the roles of the rich and poor will reverse as illustrated by the rich man and Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-22). Jesus characterized hell as a place of continual want.


      C. Laugh (avoid seriousness and silence)


      The world swaps genuine joy for offensive jokes and laughs at the misfortune of others (demeaning humor). The world’s humor comes from shock, sex (jest–Eph. 5:4) or substance (drunkenness). The lost will one day wail.


      D. Popular (trade truth for opinions)


      True disciples cannot soft-peddle a pleasing message at the compromise of truth. False prophets test the wind of popularity before taking a position.


[MSG]. "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests--look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.


      James S. Stewart wrote, “From the days of Amos and Isaiah to the present, ‘prophesy unto us smooth things’ has been an ever-recurring demand.” Endnote


      The papacy condemned Savonarola of Italy for his preaching. As he left Saint Mark’s where he preached his last sermon, people threw rocks. One angry man wrenched Savonarola’s arm from its socket. Yet, the preacher went fearlessly to the gallows. Endnote


III. Uncalculated love (6:27-36)


      Jesus demanded a love that walked the second-mile. Jesus called for a love without limits that towered above normality. Jesus set the goal as perfect love like God’s.


      A. Enemy (opponents of the gospel)


      The Master’s plan of evangelism embraced a new attitude toward those closed to the gospel.

•          Love those who oppose (Rom. 12:20)

•          Serve those who hate (Jn. 17:14)

•          Bless those who curse (Rom. 12:14; 1 Cor. 4:12)

•          Pray for those who accuse (1 Pet. 3:16)


      The disciples’ uncharacteristic response to enemies would make the gospel believable. When disciples suffer injustice (and they will), they must not retaliate in kind (Prov. 25:21).


      A disciple cannot pray for an enemy and hate him at the same time. Instead, Jesus’ disciples would view enemies through the Father’s eyes of love, never wishing for their punishment.


      B. Authority (those who test a Christian’s reaction)


      Christ’s disciples must resist retaliation when wronged.

•          Violate (Lk. 22:64; Acts 23:2-3)

•          Confiscate (Lk. 23:34; Jn. 13:4; Acts 7:58)

•          Donate (Lk. 3:11)


      John MacArthur said, “Turning the other cheek symbolizes the nonavenging, non retaliatory, humble, and gentle spirit that is to characterize kingdom citizens. . . .” Endnote


      The law forbad a man to take another's cloak overnight (Ex. 22:26), but disciples surrendered even that right.


      Robertson said, “Jesus means that we are not to despair about getting the money back. We are to help the apparently hopeless cases.” Endnote


      C. Unworthy (undeserving a Christlike response)


      Jesus said that a disciple would go beyond the requirements without a resentful spirit. The gospel demanded “the extra thing.” Endnote

•          Deeds for others (Jn. 13:15)

•          Kindness for sinners (Lk. 7:39)

•          Good for evil (1 Pet. 2:23)

•          Gifts for free (Mt. 10:8)

•          Grace for ungrateful (Eph. 4:32)


      The reward came by doing the uncommon thing. The Pharisees only associated with those who agreed together in the condemnation of others.


      The golden rule meant to reciprocate Christlikeness regardless of the treatment–to respond like Christ without any expectation of reward.


      D. Unlovely (objects of God’s mercy)


      Barclay said, “It is God with whom we must compare ourselves.” Endnote Jesus called for disciples to demonstrate God’s mercy (Lk. 10:37).


      Those who contemplate the depth of mercy received from God find it easy to shed mercy on sinners (Lk. 7:47). Nothing shows maturity in Christ more than compassion on the unlovely.


Ps. 103:8. The LORD [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.