Sixth Sunday after Epiphany: Gospel, Luke 6:17-26                 

Luke 6:17-26

Those familiar with the “offices” which the Savior holds are used to hearing Jesus described as “Prophet, Priest, and King.” Glorious all, He fills them perfectly and leaves nothing wanting. Our gospel reading this week draws back the curtain on Jesus in His role as prophet as Luke gives us his version of Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount,” sometimes actually referred to here as the “Sermon on the Plain.” No doubt, these are two distinct occurrences in the ministry of Jesus, but cardinal themes surface in both.

Jesus speaks in Luke both blessing and woe. The two messages which flowed normally from the mouths of God’s prophets were weal and woe, blessing and curse. While Matthew’s version reveals only the “weal,” Luke’s contains both. And from the mouth of the prophet, curse was feared. Why? Because the people of the Lord knew God’s Word to be both powerful and efficient. In other words it accomplished what was declared. Isaiah helps us with that. (cf. 55:10-11)

So Jesus pronounces the attitudes of the heart that bring blessing … that ARE blessing. And of course, Jesus Himself is the only one who truly lives content as a poor man, who truly hungers for righteousness, and who weeps rightly over sin. But dear Luke includes the revealing of God’s heart toward those who live with no need of the goodness of the Lord. And there are many such among us every day. Woe to them! 

It is not for you and me to pronounce woe to our neighbors. But it is placed upon us to announce that our Lord is present and calls all to repentance that they might be the recipients of forgiveness, life, and salvation. May we so heed the words of our Lord, that He would be able to look upon our neighbors and announce in gospel sweetness, “Blessed are you.”