Sermon Tone Analysis

This is not the sermon on the mount although they are very similar.

It has the beatitudes just like the sermon on the mount but the things that are going on beforehand are different and in the sermon on the mount Jesus is addressing the spiritual side of things, in Luke Jesus seems to be addressing the sociological side of things.

The oppressed were coming to Jesus.

Luke approaches this sermon in a way to speak to those who were oppressed, God hasn’t forgotten the poor, the hungry, those who mourn.

On the flip side of the coin those who are the cause of oppression now must watch out.

Blessed

The pronouncements of blessings and woe’s was a technique used by the old testament prophets.

Blessed is not the same as happy.

Happy is an attitude, blessed is a state of being or a condition.

It is possible for someone to feel no happiness yet be in a state of blessedness.

Luke begins with now and later statements.

Now and Later v.20-21

Remember Jesus is addressing crowds who have come out to

Now you are poor, but you will have heaven, you are hungry, but you be satisfied, you may weep, but you shall laugh.

It is a now and later look at things.

Now you have this later you will have that.

The blessed is a statement of reassurance.

Even though you are going through this doesn’t mean that God has cast you off God still loves you.

They had a outlook that if you had problems, God didn’t love you.

We don’t want to go on the other side and say that if you have money God doesn’t love you.

Riches and honor come from God.

Enjoy the gifts that God has given you.

If God so chooses to bless you with wealth, don’t think that it’s a curse and your going to hell.

But if you don’t have wealth, don’t think that you are unloved, you are blessed in other ways.

Same thing with laughter, we aren’t going to hell if we laugh, Laughing is a expression of joy, happiness.

Her and Abraham laughed in disbelief when God said they would have a son, now they laugh out of joy for God has brought them the promised son.

Blessed when people hate you v.22-23

Does God want us to just be hated?

No

Does God want you to be persecuted for being a stupid head?

NO!

In this culture, happiness comes from popularity.

The more people like you the happier you are.

Our desire needs to be to please Christ.

This life isn’t about a popularity contest, it’s about serving Jesus, it that what you are striving for?!

Speaking to the outcast, if people think you’re different because you trust in prayer, if people mock you for saying you have to pray about a decision, if people exclude you because you don’t join in with the things that are wrong.

You are blessed, that is to say, you are loved by God.

Now and Later Woe’s v.24-25

God isn’t mad at you if you have wealth, if you laugh or have food.

What God cares about is your heart.

Are you an oppressor?

Did you get rich by unjust gain?

Woe to the one who is corrupt.

No, if you have gain, make sure that it is gotten in an honorable way.

Be humble with your money.

Know that it is God who provides.

Be generous with what God has blessed you with.

Know your real treasure is in heaven, work for that treasure.

It’s not wrong to laugh for joy, but are we laughing at the expence of others?

The type of laughter that is at the expence of other people, possible at their downfall.

This is the type of laughter that is a woe and shouldn’t be among the people of God.

Woe when people speak well of you v.26

Kinda strange when we live in a world where we desire to be liked.

In 1 Tim and Titus we are called to be above reproach; so being of a good reputation, as an honorable person is a good thing.

This is what our world is doing.

Calling good evil and evil good.

When the culture doesn’t see how evil it is, and they like you, watch out.

If an evil culture can’t see the difference between you and them, watch out.

Seek heaven, don’t get so fixated with the things in this world that we forget we are living for eternity.