Luke 6:17-3817And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 18And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. 19And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. 20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. 27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:17‑38)
Many of the talks of the Lord Jesus were to the people out of doors; such multitudes came from all parts of the country that there would not have been room in a building. Many came to be cured, and “He healed all,” as so many times, but He taught them also, and we read His words now.
The people then did not know they listened to the One Who had created the earth and all things: how wondeul to hear Him away from the disturbances of the towns! We can see what wisdom there was in all He said, how well He knew the lives of the people and their thoughts, just as He knows ours also.
Some of His words seem meant for the disciples who believed Him, yet all should believe, and they heard His plain words. He explained that if they were poor, hungry, weeping, and hated by men for the sake of the Son of man, they would most surely be blessed.
The law told that one who hurt another should be equally punished by him, but here Jesus gave “new ways” as He had before told there would be.
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you, pray for them which despitefully use you.”
This is not the natural way of any, but the way for those who follow the Lord Jesus, and the way of the kinom or rule of God,
“He is kind unto the unthankful and evil.”
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
All this showed that there would be wrongs and evil to suffer, but that the Lord would be a just judge, who would see all, and reward. He is the one who gives “good measure” of blessing for all done for Him; He told the people, “Give, and. it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall be given into your bosom” (vs. 38).
The law said they were to have just standards of weights and measure, then each man in his work or business was to use such exact and just measure, not to carry with him smaller measures, for gain to himself. Those who follow the Lord, would do even better than the “just” measure, they would “give”, which means, something not expected to be paid for. Men might never return the gift, or good measure, but the Lord will, His return will be “running over.” Even in this world His blessings of added peace and joy fully repay all done for Him.
Read of the just weights (Lev. 19:35, 3635Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. 36Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. (Leviticus 19:35‑36); Deut. 25:13-1513Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. 14Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. 15But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (Deuteronomy 25:13‑15)).
So the words of the Lord Jesus are higher and fuller than the law to Moses: they show He may be honored in all the every day life of those who want to follow Him, but He did not promise lives free from trials, but that the reward of God would he sure. Many boys and girls must have been in the great company listening to the Lord, and understood His teaching, which is as true for us.
ML 02/11/1945