Sermons On Luke 6 39-45

Truths to Live By: May 19 Treat others as they should treat you

A devotional Bible Study blog to daily meditate on the understanding and application of the commands of Scriptures. Read one a day, then review weekly. Jesus said, "If you love me, obey my commandments" (John 14:15). The heart cry of God is expressed in Deut 5:29, "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!" Lets study these commands together and be the answer to God's desire!    The “Golden Rule” is not the gospel. That is, no one will go to heaven by following the Golden Rule or the Sermon on the Mount. These sermons are policies for living out the Christ-life today. The teachings in this context focus on attitudes: our attitude toward circumstances (Luke 6:20-26), people (Luke 6:27-38), ourselves (Luke 6:39-45), and God (Luke 6:46-49). We must look at these instructions as a series of standards for today. These are Christ-like dispositions, not a legal duty. Do we want to be like Him?     Luke had been describing how we are to demonstrate God’s unconditional love in our attitudes towards others: (1) love your enemies (6:27a); (2) do good to those who hate you (6:27b); (3) bless those who curse you (6:28a); (4) pray for those who mistreat you (6:28b); (5) do not retaliate (6:29a); (6) give freely (6:29b-30); and treat others the way you want to be treated (6:31). These are the distinctive marks of a follower of Jesus. The disciples were exhorted to have the same merciful attitude towards others that God displayed toward them.     Relationships are built on trust, that is, a trust that each party will protect the interests and needs of the other. People love those who love them in return. When you love your enemies they may feel guilty in their resistance, and respond with greater rejection and hatred – as Christ suffered (Rom 5:7-8). On the other hand, some will respond to our love with the measure of love we demonstrated to them (6:37-38).     Some have claimed that Buddha, Confucius and a few rabbinical writings prior to Christ contained the same teaching. However, their statements occur only in the negative: “Don’t do to someone else what you wouldn’t want him to do to you.” But no positive or proactive action is contemplated. Jesus requires his disciples to initiate beneficial actions toward others.

The Gospel of Luke, a commentary on the Greek text

The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church: The biblical period

The Oxford companion to Christian thought

Preaching the Lectionary, The Word of God for the Church Today

Help! I'm Leading a Children's Sermon, Volume One: Advent to Transfiguration Sunday