Trust & Obey, Week 3: Luke 6, Part 2
The picture above shows the text of two of Jesus’ Beatitudes. From memory, can you say any of the others?
As the picture points out, you can find the text of the Beatitudes in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which is Matthew chapters 5–7. The Beatitudes are found in Matthew 5:3–12. Turn there and read them. What do you notice?
They each begin with the same word: “blessed.” This week we are studying the other version of the Beatitudes, found in Luke 6:20–22. What we will find in Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, is that they also start with the word “blessed.” However, there is a very interesting difference between Luke’s version and Matthew’s version. Here is Luke’s version. See if you can spot the difference.
“Looking at his disciples, [Jesus] said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”
What is the difference? How are Luke’s Beatitudes different from the more familiar version in Matthew?
In Luke, Jesus teaches a much more earthy, physical “Blesseds.” Matthew’s version is more spiritual. Here are some examples:
Matthew 5, verse 3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
But in Luke 6, verse 20, “Blessed are the poor.”
Matthew 5, verse 6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”
But in Luke 6, verse 21, “Blessed are you who hunger now.”
Matthew 5, verse 4, “Blessed are those who mourn.”
Compare that with Luke 6, verse 21, second line, “Blessed are you who weep now.”
I’ll admit, that Beatitude is nearly the same in Matthew and Luke. But Luke’s is more physical, visceral. Weeping rather than mourning. And Luke adds “now.”
If you keep reading Matthew’s version, you’ll see his Beatitudes include some down-to-earth examples too, such as meekness, mercy, and peacemaking.
It seems to me that Matthew’s final beatitude “Blessed are those who are persecuted…insulted” is nearly identical to Luke chapter 6, verse 22, “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude and insult you, and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.”
Overall, though, while Matthew’s are more spiritual, the Beatitudes in Luke have a physicality about them. Before we continue our study of Jesus’ Beatitudes in Luke, consider what Jesus might be saying by emphasizing the physical, real life stuff people are going through. What difficulties are you going through? Poverty? Pain? Sadness? Insult? Broken relationships?
In this passage, Jesus is speaking directly to you. What he says is shocking. We find out more in the next post.
Engaging Scripture 