549. Gospel of Luke - Chapter 6 (#2) - Jesus Healed All Who Came to Him - May 9, 2024

[00:00:06] Welcome to Wisdom Today. My name is Bill Kelley and I'll be your host. In this podcast, we will be exploring the book of Proverbs.

[00:00:15] Let's open and pray. Father God, I thank you for anyone listening to this podcast today. Lord, I pray that you give everyone ears to hear and a heart to receive everything you have in store for them today.

[00:00:33] I ask this in Jesus' name, amen. This is Proverbs 9 beginning in verse 1.

[00:01:03] Let him turn in here. As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed, for sake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.

[00:01:22] He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer lest he hate you. Rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

[00:01:41] Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a just man and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

[00:01:59] For by me your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone.

[00:02:15] A foolish woman is clamorous. She is simple and knows nothing, for she sits at the door of her house on a seat by the highest places of the city to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way.

[00:02:34] Whoever is simple, let him turn in here, and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell.

[00:02:58] Friends, today I'd like to key in on verse 9. And Proverbs 9, verse 9 tells us this. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a just man and he will increase in learning.

[00:03:20] Friends, we will take a closer look at that verse prior to closing today. But what I'd like to do is to continue where we left off yesterday. And yesterday we began chapter 6 of Luke and we left off with verse 16.

[00:03:37] So we are going to pick up today in Luke chapter 6 beginning in verse 17.

[00:04:07] Friends, the first point that I would like to bring up today is Jesus healed all who came.

[00:04:17] Friends, the first point that I would like to bring up today is Jesus healed all who came to him. Let me read verse 19 again.

[00:04:48] Friends, that last verse is so powerful. I want you to think about that. There was something about the presence of Jesus and when he was in his element.

[00:05:13] In other words, when he was in a crowd, when people were seeking him and wanting him and looking for him to heal them.

[00:05:25] That is when he was the most present and that is when the most power came out of him. Because that is why Jesus was sent. Jesus was sent to heal those who needed healing.

[00:05:44] To give them power, to give them hope of the future.

[00:05:50] I am reading out of the Nelson study Bible. What I'd like to do is read the commentary for verse 17.

[00:05:58] A level place probably refers to a plateau on a mountain. The setting and the contents of the sermon that follows suggest that Luke is providing a shorter version of the sermon on the mount.

[00:06:20] Omitting those portions that have to do with the law. Points of similarities between Matthew's account given in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke's account here is number one.

[00:06:38] Both begin with a series of B attitudes.

[00:06:44] Number two, both contains Jesus' teaching on loving one's enemies.

[00:06:52] And three, both end with the parable of the two builders. The theme of the sermon is the disciples walk.

[00:07:03] Now when I say disciples walk, friends, this particular portion of Scripture is for us to do as well.

[00:07:13] The audience for the sermon consisted of both disciples and the great multitude.

[00:07:22] Jesus did not restrict his remarks simply to those who believed. Tire and sighting.

[00:07:29] Jesus' fame extended even into gentile regions. The people were drawn by his teaching and his healing ministry.

[00:07:43] Let's go on to verse 20.

[00:07:46] Then he lifted his eyes up toward his disciples and said,

[00:07:53] Now I want to stop for just a minute because that comment tells us that this sermon is primarily directed toward his disciples.

[00:08:07] Blessed are you poor for yours is the kingdom of God.

[00:08:13] Blessed are you who hunger now for you shall be filled.

[00:08:19] Blessed are you who weep now for you shall laugh.

[00:08:26] Blessed are you when men hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and cast out your name as evil for the son of man's sake.

[00:08:43] Rejoice in that day and leap for joy for indeed your reward is great in heaven.

[00:08:52] For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

[00:08:57] So friends, the second point I'd like to bring up today is if you are a follower of Jesus, you will experience rejection.

[00:09:10] That is a key component because that is something you need to ask yourself if you are willing to do.

[00:09:19] One of the verses in one of the Proverbs says the fear of man brings a snare.

[00:09:28] So friends, are you going to be fearful of what man thinks about you or what God thinks about you?

[00:09:38] Now I'm going to go over a few bits of commentary here beginning in verse 20.

[00:09:45] Though Jesus was speaking to the entire crowd, the beatitudes of verses 20 through 23 were directed to the disciples.

[00:09:57] Blessed means happy, referring to the special joy and favor that comes upon those who experience God's grace and that pertains to us today.

[00:10:14] Poor and the kingdom of God.

[00:10:18] In general, the disciples of Jesus were not wealthy.

[00:10:24] They were poor men who had come humbly to trust in God.

[00:10:31] All of the promises of God's rule both now and in the future belong to such disciples.

[00:10:40] And friends, we are his disciples today.

[00:10:47] If you've received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, there is something that God has in store for you that he would like for you to do.

[00:10:58] Some of you still may not know who that is.

[00:11:01] And the only way you're going to find that out is to get to know God more and his son Jesus more.

[00:11:10] And the only way that can happen is to get into the scriptures and begin to dig in and find out more about him.

[00:11:19] And friends, as you draw near to Jesus, he is going to draw near to you.

[00:11:26] The closer you get to Jesus, the more intimate he is going to be with you and he will reveal to you what he has for you to do.

[00:11:40] Let's look at the commentary for verse 21.

[00:11:44] The reason for the hunger and poverty is found in verse 22.

[00:11:50] Persecution.

[00:11:52] Jesus promised that God would provide the disciples with all the sustenance they needed.

[00:12:01] Weep and laugh.

[00:12:04] Any present suffering will be turned into joy.

[00:12:10] And friends, that is a promise for us today as well.

[00:12:14] Even if we suffer while we are here on earth, there will be a day.

[00:12:24] Maybe it's not until we get to heaven that there will be a day when we will be joyful.

[00:12:32] Let's look at verse 22.

[00:12:34] Hate, exclude and revile you.

[00:12:39] Now friends, those are three things that we don't particularly want to hear.

[00:12:47] And when we hear that people are going to hate us, that people are going to exclude you,

[00:12:54] that people are going to revile you and make fun of you,

[00:12:59] it could be very easy to jump ship here.

[00:13:02] It could be.

[00:13:04] But the bottom line is who are we trying to please?

[00:13:09] Are we trying to please man or are we trying to please God?

[00:13:17] Here is the cause of the disciples' precarious condition.

[00:13:23] Persecution for the son of man's sake.

[00:13:28] And there we're talking about Jesus.

[00:13:32] And listen to what I'm about to say.

[00:13:35] Identification with Jesus usually leads to rejection and hardship.

[00:13:43] But the disciple who has left all to follow Jesus understands what placing Jesus first in your life means.

[00:13:54] He or she also recognizes that God is aware of all suffering.

[00:14:03] Now let's go to verse 24.

[00:14:06] But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

[00:14:13] Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger.

[00:14:19] Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

[00:14:27] Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

[00:14:38] Friends, the third point I'd like to bring up today is that Jesus pronounces woes to those who are rich and wealthy here on earth.

[00:14:53] Let's look at the commentary for verse 24.

[00:14:57] The woes of verses 24 through 26 contrast with the bee attitudes of verses 20 through 23.

[00:15:08] A woe is a cry of pain that results from misfortune.

[00:15:16] Just as God presented blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience in Deuteronomy chapter 28,

[00:15:25] Jesus presented blessings and woes to his disciples who were anticipating the kingdom of God.

[00:15:36] The same blessings and woes apply to believers today when their works are evaluated.

[00:15:45] You who are rich have received your consolation.

[00:15:52] The background for this remark is found in Mary's song of praise.

[00:15:59] All that the rich receive is what they acquire on earth.

[00:16:05] Friends, you can't take anything with you when you leave this earth.

[00:16:10] Luke records many of Jesus' critical remarks about the wealthy.

[00:16:16] Their wealth typically blinds them to their spiritual poverty and their need for salvation.

[00:16:25] And friends, we still encounter the same things today.

[00:16:30] Sometimes the hardest people to reach are those who are well off financially and have plenty of money.

[00:16:40] Life is good for them. They have everything they need or so they think.

[00:16:48] Maybe monetarily they have everything they need, but spiritually they are barren and hurting.

[00:16:59] But a lot of times it will take some special event in their life to make them come to the realization of their spiritual barrenness.

[00:17:12] As long as they have all the wealth and can buy anything they want, many times they will not recognize their need.

[00:17:23] Friends, before we close today I'd like to go back to our proverb of the day.

[00:17:31] Proverb 9 verse 9 says this,

[00:17:37] Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser.

[00:17:43] Friends, my instruction to you is to continue to do all that you can to continue learning and building on everything that you have learned your entire life.

[00:18:02] Never stop learning and receiving wisdom.

[00:18:08] Teach a just man and he will increase in learning.

[00:18:16] Friends, that is such a powerful verse and my call to action today has to do with verse 9.

[00:18:25] Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser.

[00:18:31] Teach a just man and he will increase in learning.

[00:18:35] So my question to everyone listening today is that you, are you still trying to learn and are you still acquiring wisdom?

[00:18:50] Friends, never stop reading.

[00:18:54] Never stop learning.

[00:18:57] Always continue and strive to become more and more like Jesus.

[00:19:05] Friends, I will never end a podcast without giving anyone an opportunity to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

[00:19:14] If there is anyone listening today and you've never taken that step, I invite you to repeat a simple prayer after me today.

[00:19:22] Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and in need of a Savior.

[00:19:28] I believe that you are the Son of God.

[00:19:31] I believe that you came to earth and died on a cross for me and were buried.

[00:19:38] On the third day you rose from the dead and now sit at the right hand of God the Father.

[00:19:46] Jesus, thank you for forgiving me of all of my sins.

[00:19:51] I invite you to come into my heart.

[00:19:53] I ask that you lead me and guide me from this point forward.

[00:19:58] I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

[00:20:01] Friends, if any of you repeated that prayer, I ask you to do a simple thing for me today.

[00:20:08] Go on my webpage wisdomtodaybk.com.

[00:20:13] If you would, there is a contact tab.

[00:20:16] Simply click on that tab.

[00:20:18] Give me your information.

[00:20:20] Let me know you said that prayer.

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[00:20:24] In addition, for anyone listening today and if you've enjoyed this podcast,

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[00:20:54] Thank you so much for listening and tuning in today.

[00:20:58] Now may the Lord bless you and keep you.

[00:21:02] The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

[00:21:06] The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

[00:21:12] Friends, please join me again tomorrow as we close out the week with wisdomtodaybk.com.