Verse 12 There is growing hostility to Jesus’ ministry and this is how He dealt with that. What a great example for us when we are met with hostility in our household, in our work, in our church, in our friendships, neighborhood, community. Jesus when to God for prayer all night long.

Verse 13 -16 These disciples (which means followers of Jesus. You and I are disciples of Jesus too.) were named apostles because they actually walked with Jesus when He was on this earth. They were picked to travel with Him, learn from Him, and be given the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel message. Notice Simon Peter is now known as just Peter. There is another Simon, Simon the Zealot, who is also called to be an apostle. There are also two named Judas. One is actually named Thaddeus, according to Mark 3:18 and The other is known as Judas Iscariot. It’s important to know the difference here because Judas Iscariot will betray Jesus in a big way that leads to Jesus’ arrest and death on the cross.

Verse 17-18 Jesus came down from the mountain to teach and heal. Notice here that it says people from Jerusalem came. Jerusalem is the epicenter of religion. They have the best religious teachers there. And remember how far away Jerusalem was from this area where Jesus is now. It took days to walk there. But these people came to hear Jesus and be healed. People were willing to go out of their way to hear Jesus speak. A note here for our lives today, that though Jesus is always higher than us, seated in Heaven, He comes down to be with us. He wants to teach us. He wants to heal.

In the book of Matthew, these next few verses are famous and known as the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is actually two chapters long in Matthew. It’s really, really good. Here in Luke we only get a snippet of about 30 verses. So I think we should take a quick detour after we finish Luke chapter 6 and turn to Matthew chapters 5-7 for the rest of the Sermon on the Mount.

Verse 20 The Beatitudes means “the blessings”. For Jesus’ followers, these are to be counted as blessings of divine favor. Those who recognize they are spiritually poor without Jesus will see God’s kingdom power and authority over every challenge in life. There will be many hardships and difficulties in following Christ (it’s harder to have self-control than to have unrestrained responses to life), but these beatitudes are designed to encourage us.

Verse 21 Those who are spiritually hungry for a relationship with God will receive satisfaction in their souls. And those who weep over their sin and are sorrowful for their wrongdoing, their sadness will be replaced with gladness and rejoicing.

Verse 22-23 Those who are persecuted and treated with hate and spite because of their witness to Jesus, will receive a reward in heaven that is greater than they can imagine. There will be people who will be spiteful and hateful toward believers because the doctrine of Jesus convicts and condemns their behavior. They will try to ex-communicate believers from the rest of the world and call the teaching offensive. They will try to make the world around them believe that believers are the problem and that their teaching isn’t biblical. This is incredible to hear because we see it daily. The world doesn’t want to be called out of the comfortable, familiar, convenient, complementary ways of sin in their lives because it means they are being told to change. And doing things differently than what we’ve always done is difficult. So they will try to turn the tension on believers by ridiculing and excluding them.

You cannot lose sharing the gospel message! Sharing Jesus earns you an even greater reward in heaven than you can ever imagine! None of our attempts to share the gospel are in vain. They are counted in heaven.

Verse 24 The following are “woes” or warnings of hardship that are coming to those who refuse to follow Jesus and change their ways. Though the world envies rich people, one day all those worldly riches will be gone and those who put their trust in their money will find it meaningless when they are found with no spiritual wealth in God. Instead of serving God with their riches, they served their desires for things, more money, more stuff. Jesus says woe to them because they’ve received all they are going to get in the stuff they placed their happiness in. The things of this world are only meant for convenience. They are not for us to turn and find comfort in. There is an end to this life when we all have to part from these things. And when everything is gone, those who find comfort in riches will only have hell left, which is misery and torment.

Verse 25 Those who fill up on this world, will discover their spiritual lack when they die. And those who spend their lives trying to be happy, striving to enjoy this life, and not struggle or be sad, will one day mourn when they find themselves with no relationship with God or eternal home after death.

Verse 26 Those who seek approval from people who don’t know God or seek flattering words said about them will find it useless. God’s approval is more important than people’s praise. Seek God’s favor and acceptance. Don’t try to appease people doing ungodly things just for a little praise from them. If we try to share the parts of God’s Word that we know will be acceptable to someone and fail to share the Truth that might sting or hurt and possibly make them reject us, then we are no better than the false prophets in the Old Testament. The ungodly people spoke well of false prophets during Old Testament times.

Prayer: Father, you see the hostility I am up against. Though this battle seems like it’s in flesh and blood, I know this is a spiritual battle that can only be fought with You, Holy Spirit. Break the strongholds, break the chains of these divisive spirits that have taken up residency in flesh and blood (name the person instead of ‘flesh and blood’ if you have people in your life struggling with a spirit of hostility, a spirit of divisiveness). We come in the power and love of Jesus and declare these strongholds have no home in (name) or on this earth. Only You, Jesus, we lift up and declare the throne of our lives belongs to. And we declare that over (name) as well. Their lives were bought and paid for by You, Jesus. This hostility has no grip on their hearts any longer. Jesus, you see in my own heart where I need healing over deep hurts. Jesus, touch me. Heal me with your power, Jesus. You alone, Jesus, have authority and power over every challenge in my life. Without You, I am nothing. With You, I have all I need in this life. I am hungry for You, God. Fill me, satisfy me, Jesus. I admit the sin in my life is keeping me trapped in even greater pain. Help me, Jesus, break the bondage of this sin so that I may live fully free in You and rejoice! Fill up those sad places with gladness that You have taken my place on the cross and covered my sin. You forgive me and draw near to have a relationship with me still. Thank you, Jesus. Help me not be held down in fear, but to confidently share You, Jesus, with others knowing my reward isn’t on this earth. I may never see the fruit of my labor here, but I know my God is keeping an eye on it all. He has my reward secure in heaven. Thank you, Jesus! Help me to stay focused on heaven, Jesus. Help me not look to be filled up with the things on this earth. Help me not look for people’s praise or approval, or seek out happiness here. Help me to sink into You, Jesus, for joy, for approval, to be filled up and satisfied. In Jesus’ name, Amen.