Luke 17:1-17

We have spent some time reading the Sermon on the Mount and seeing that Jesus’s message about blessings and woes, loving our enemies, judging correctly and without hypocrisy and good and bad trees were directed at you and me, his disciples. We have to first make sure that we are building on God’s Rock, that is Jesus and his word and not on the sand of our own or man’s foolish ideas.

Luke 7:1-17

Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 

He came down from the mountain on which he gave the Sermon the Mount to go again to Capernaum. Capernaum was one of the places where Jesus did miracles as we learned heard several months ago. But it was also one of the towns that Jesus later condemned because of unbelief and their rejection of him just like his home town of Nazereth had done. He could have done much more there and wanted to if they would have truly embraced him.

Matthew 11:21-24

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

I always remember something Keith Green said: « Always be afraid of getting more light ». It is possible to live in the light, receive miracles, enjoy God’s favour but still be unrepentant, unchanged and unbelieving at heart. Has my life truly changed since I became a Christian? As we heard last week from James, faith isn’t just head knowledge, it’s action. Am I growing in faith, as faith pleases the Lord, it shows relationship. 

These questions hit us hard; we don’t want to end up like the people of Capernaum. Thankfully faith is a simple thing, you don’t have to have a PhD. In today’s reading, we hear 2 stories of faith, simple ways we can build a relationship with the Lord.

Luke 7:2-6a

And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” Then Jesus went with them. 

I believe the elders got a good response from Jesus at least in part because the Centurion loved Israel. Israel is Jesus’s nation, the Jews are his people, and he identifies with and loves them. A lot of people throughout history have hated Israel and that is rising in our World today. People blame Israel for just abut everything, our generation is no different. A substantial part of the Church today have taken the side of Hamas and only a smaller percentage of Church leaders have supported Israel publicly and condemned Hamas.  The Church is guilty of persecuting the Jews and we can’t say that was just the Catholic Church. Martin Luther told his followers to set fire to the Jewish synagogues, their houses and schools. The Nazi executed Luther’s words on the “Night of Broken Glass”  on November 9^th – 10^th 1938 and we all know what followed during the war. I’m afraid that someone who is hostile towards Israel would find it difficult to love the real Jesus if they met him. They have been deceived and are deluded into thinking that they love God. It is so important to love and act favourably towards Israel as this Centurion did.

Luke 7:6b-8

And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

A second way is in a heart attitude of humility. The Centurion was a man with high standing in the land. He had authority over his soldiers and the Jews, and his attitude could have been that he would order Jesus to come and heal his servant. But he hidn’t use his position of power and approached Jesus very humbly instead.  When we don’t think we’re better than others, when we don’t think our way is necessarily the best but respect another point of view and are grateful for what the Lord has given us, then we are more likely to get a response from Jesus.

In addition, the Centurion had a simple faith. He simply believed that Jesus had the authority granted to heal his servant since he himself had been given authority from people above him. He related it to his own life and he made a simple application. If only we could keep our own faith this simple!

Luke 7:9-10

When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. 

Jesus didn’t call it simple faith though – he called it great faith! It was faith like a child. Jesus will treat Jew and Gentile in the same way based on faith. This is a third way to get a response from Jesus - our simple faith. We rely on the Lord to provide for us, we trust his way is the right way, we don’t complain when things get hard but instead thank the Lord he is leading us to a better place.

Even so, sometimes life batters us and our faith can reach an all time low. Maybe someone you know has been going though such a trial, they may say they have lost their faith. The next story is for you.

Luke 7:11-13

Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had  compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 

This was a very bad predicament for the woman. Not only was she a widow but now her son had died. Her grief was made worse by the fact that all her financial security was gone. Remember Jesus had only just taught blessed are those who mourn. Maybe it’s not a path any of us would choose for ourselves but the situation can be redeemed. Cry out to the Lord ! She was in a good position to get a response from Jesus, this is a fourth way to have our prayers answered.

Psalm 51:17

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

One day the Lord will wipe away all our tears. But even today, his heart is moved with compassion over the circumstances of our life. Jesus really cares about the situation you’re in. Others might only offer words, but the Lord is ready to act to help you in your trials.

Luke 7:14-15

Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. 

This was indeed a great miracle that brought great joy to the mother, and sent shockwaves around the region. It got a surprising response from the community as we’ve seen in other places in the Bible.

Luke 7:16-17

Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

When people encounter the unknown, it’s normal to feel out of our comfort zones. Fear is a common response. In addition, our flesh is hostile to God, so people don’t necessarily react enthusiastically to a move of God. An encounter with God, more than anything else, challenges our way of life and thinking and we are called to repent. Fear is not a bad thing if it brings about a change of behaviour and attitude in us and in this case the fear brought about worship which is a good thing.

As we heard at the beginning from Matthew though, ultimately the people of Capernaum rejected Jesus tragically. They didn’t trust the Lord because their fear was mixed with unrepentance and unbelief.

We will do well to hear what these 2 stories tell us about faith;

1. Love Israel
2. Be humble
3. Simple faith is great faith
4. Remember the Lord is compassionate to our cries

Is life weighing down on your mind, are you burdened by all the challenges you face. The old hymn goes;

“Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

For sure, each one of us will face circumstances in our life that could make us afraid and give up. But the only response is trust in the Lord, he will see you through.

Communion 23.11.25

As we have been going through the Gospel of Luke this year, we’ve been also reading quite a few passages from the Old Testament alongside to shed a light on the depth of Jesus ministry on Earth, though it’s just a little glimpse and there is so much more to learn, I’m sure. This week I was reading in Hebrews about Jesus being a Priest in the rank of Melchizedek and I thought it would make a good Communion today.

Hebrews 7:17

For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

This is a quote from Psalm 110:4.

We’ve probably all been in services in other churches where you have to go to the front to receive Communion from a priest. We don’t do that at PCC. When you take Communion here it’s a private moment between you and Lord directly. Elders don’t hand you the elements and speak words over you. It is not the intention that Elders stand between you and the Lord. Elders are at the front only to pray for the sick.

James 5:14-15

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Here is more from the passage I read in Hebrews this week;

Hebrews 7:22-28

by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

Jesus is our High Priest in Heaven, his sacrifice was perfect, he did not sin, so his sacrifice was not for himself, it was entirely for us. So, his sacrifice on the Cross is perfect forever!

Continuing into 

Hebrews 8:1-6

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

We are under a much better Covenant. Our confidence is in Christ’s perfect sacrifice who prays for us in Heaven. So we can go to the Father directly because of Him.

The only other place Melchizedek is only mentioned in the entire Old Testament is

Genesis14:17-20

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

The bread and the wine show that we have a meal with the Lord, because we are in fellowship with him. Meals together are what friends do. But we have something even better that is something holy, perfect, with our sins washed away, nothing between us and the Lord. Let’s pray.

Luke 6:27-36

Good morning everybody. I’ve been busy over this last week or so preparing the floor for sanding and varnishing. It is really hard work getting rid of the old glue and lino and it’s creating a lot of dust in the flat. I’ll be really happy when this process is done! At least it’s keeping me warm as the cold nights of winter draw closer.

Recapping from last week we began the Sermon on the Mount and learned the difference between a disciple and an apostle.

The Greek word for “disciple” simply refers to a learner and is used throughout the New Testament to refer to people who believed in Jesus and followed Him.

The Greek word for “apostle” literally means “one who is sent” and can refer to an ambassador or anyone sent on a mission. An apostle is given the authority of the one who sent him. All of the apostles were disciples—they were among the many believers in Jesus—but only a select group of disciples were chosen as the Twelve Apostles as described in this passage.

Luke 6:20-23

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. 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. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

We noted that Jesus lifted his eyes towards his disciples when he said this. This Sermon on the Mount was primarily directed at you and me in Church today.

Jesus was emphasising to his disciples in his sermon that a life following him would not be easy. They would suffer, some poor, some hungry, some sad, some hated and persecuted. And he indicated that a life without any trouble may in fact mean we remain in the World no different to the unbelievers. So yes, belonging to the Lord means we have enemies in the World. Firstly, we are a threat to the Kingdom of Darkness and because of that we find opposition in this World. Secondly, we are not liked because we challenge people in their sin. They want to suppress the knowledge of God, but our faith shines a light on darkness. But Jesus said, that if we do suffer persecution for his sake, then we should rejoice because we truly belong to Heaven and there is a great reward waiting for us there just like all the other believers who have suffered persecution throughout history.

Our natural response to persecution is fight or flight. The first natural response is to strike back and hurt the enemy. The second natural response is to run away. But Jesus calls us to do something completely different as we shall read today. The message today is short but hits hard.

Luke 6:27-29a

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also.

Some of us have been victim of a crime, that person is as an obvious enemy. But it’s not always easy to spot an enemy, they quite often wear camouflage or a disguise. In New Zealand we are more likely to encounter someone who keeps their hatred hidden. It might only surface when we hear to our surprise of criticism behind our backs.

Maybe at work or school is where we will most likely encounter someone who we don’t get along with. Sometimes it might be a relative who turns hostile.

Can you think of someone who talks behind your back, who opposes you in some way at work, who is unfriendly for no good reason, who swears at you, who takes advantage of you, who even hits you. We don’t tend to keep people like that in our lives. We cut them off.

But Jesus taught a different response. To do good to them in return, to bless them and pray for them. To treat them as we would a friend. To not fight back with violence or fly away from the situation but to respond with a positive action.

In fact Jesus taught non violent resistance. In the first example of turning the other cheek, we avoid both extremes of violently retaliating and passively permitting others to do whatever they want to us.

In Matthew’s version of the Sermon on the Mount, it says if someone strikes you on the right cheek. To strike you on the right cheek with the right hand is actually a back handed slap and was considered a real insult. Has anyone publicly insulted you? I think we can think of some occasions like that. Last week we spoke about going into the marketplace and speaking the Gospel, speaking from the Bible. Then you will definitely encounter hostility and insults. Jesus was teaching not to insult back or to passively accept it but to offer the other cheek. How can I respond differently next time? That’s something to reflect on. What would I do or say differently if I were treating them as a friend?

Luke 6:29b-30

And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

Here Jesus is teaching the response to greed is another positive action, generosity. By doing this, you are letting them know that you know what they did, forgive them and are treating them like your friend by giving them something else. If they have a heart, if God is working in their life, your kind gesture won’t go unnoticed. Often it won’t be gratefully received, that’s very hard to take. Perhaps it’s hard to think of a situation in your life when this would have applied. Maybe it happened with a relative once who took from you way more than they should have. How would could you have responded in a way that was even more generous to them? These are not easy questions! But Jesus helps us with his next statement.

Luke 6:31

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

Well you might say, I wouldn’t steal from them in the first place, that’s how I treat others how I want to be treated! But having already crossed that line, Jesus is teaching us what can I do that would show generosity to the offender. Erica Kirk did this when she publicly forgave her husband’s murderer.

Luke 6:32-36

“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

It’s easy to love people who are nice to us and who are a pleasure to be around.

Jesus said the the 2 most important commandments are to love the Lord Our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind and to love our neighbour as ourself. The Pharisees had classified neighbours as fellow Jews, they did not include people they didn’t like like the Samaritans. When they heard the parable of the Good Samaritan to love even our enemies they were shocked and even offended. Loving someone like us is easy, loving someone who hates us is not our normal human response.

Here’s the point of what Jesus was teaching. To love our enemies is to show we are like God our Father. He is kind to the unthankful, the evil, he shows mercy to the undeserving. We quickly forget that we are underserving also. We don’t deserve God’s kindness to us, but he forgave us at a time when we barely gave him a second thought when we were living only for ourselves.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Anyone need to pray for an enemy today?

Luke 6:12-26

Last week we looked at the Sabbath law and its true purpose to benefit us with life and health so we are free to love the Lord and not be bund up with legalistic rules about what we can and cannot do on those holy days. Mankind has a way of extending God’s Law beyond its original intention and this has happened from the very beginning. Do you recall how God told Adam not to eat from the fruit of the tree at the centre of the Garden but Eve later told the Serpent that they were not only not to eat it but not to even to touch it. I’m sure that extension of the Law was made up by Adam! Man’s interpretation of God’s Law is what leads to oppressive slavery and punishment as we see in the time of Jesus and notably in Islam today. Let’s move to the next passage in Luke 6.

Luke 6:12-16

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

Jesus was about to make a very important decision, one that would determine whether his mission on Earth would be a success or not. He needed to find the right men who would take his message and lay the foundations of the Church after he was gone. If he picked the wrong men, we would not be gathered here today. This was not something that could be done on a whim. Jesus prayed all night to his Father.

Often we make important decisions after a 5 minute prayer to the Lord. It’s not that we haven’t thought about it for some time. It’s that I haven’t prayed about it for any length of time as Jesus did. One night of prayer to determine 2 thousand years of church history to date. This was a critical night.

Jesus had quite a lot of disciples or followers at this stage. Every person who believes in Jesus is called His disciple. All were good, earnest people who loved the Lord. But not all were qualified for the mission Jesus would commission the apostles for.

Every apostle he would choose was a disciple, but not every disciple was an apostle.

The Greek word for “disciple” simply refers to a learner and is used throughout the New Testament to refer to people who believed in Jesus and followed Him.

The Greek word for “apostle” literally means “one who is sent” and can refer to an ambassador or anyone sent on a mission. An apostle is given the authority of the one who sent him. All of the apostles were disciples—they were among the many believers in Jesus—but only a select group of disciples were chosen as the Twelve Apostles as described in this passage.

That there is a select group of twelve apostles is seen in the foundations of the walls of the New Jerusalem as mentioned in Revelation: twelve foundations, each inscribed with a name of an apostle.

Revelation 21:14

Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Other men who are named “apostles” in the New Testament—although not members of the Twelve—include Matthias, Barnabas, Apollos, Timothy and Silas, Epaphroditus and two unnamed apostles in 2 Corinthians 8:23, possibly already included in the previous list). These men were “sent ones” in that they were chosen for specific work on behalf of the church, but they were not part of the Twelve who were hand-picked by Jesus. Jesus is also called an “apostle” in Hebrews 3:1 indicating that He was sent by and had the authority of His Father.

Who are the 12 apostles assuming Judas is excluded from this picture of the 12 foundations. I can only think Paul is the 12th man or substitute, I suspect that is where the term comes from in football and cricket!

Ephesians 4:11-16 speaks of apostles along with other church leaders whose role was to equip the believers for works of service. 

This is an important point. I recently saw a video by J Warner Wallace, the Cold Case Detective who converted to Christianity after being an atheist for many years. He said that we need to stop teaching in Churches and start training. In other words, to equip people so they can defend their faith and preach the Gospel in the marketplace. Almost all we do at PCC is teaching which helps us in day to day living but doesn’t really equip is to defend the Faith. To equip involves structured training, testing and practical application and regrouping when things don’t go to well in the battle.

The qualifications back then for being an apostle included 

1. having been with Christ during His ministry
2. having personally witnessed Jesus after His resurrection
3. having been empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles or signs. 

Paul was an exception to part of the qualifications. Although he did not accompany Jesus on His earthly journeys, Jesus made a special appearance to him on the road to Damascus and set him apart as an apostle to the Gentiles. This is why Paul compared his place among the other apostles as “one born at the wrong time” in 1 Corinthians 15:8. 

Some denominations teach there are no apostles in our World today on the basis there is no one who meets all the qualifications above. My position is I disagree with that even though I can’t think of an individual in our World today who meets all of those criteria. Maybe you can. Don’t tell me Brian Tamaki!

I disagree on the basis of the body of Christ and that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Don’t forget, some are gifted in prophecy and some in preaching and some are gifted in healing. So, I think a mission calling from the Lord to establish a church needs to have a combination of these gifts to be successful. It is a true saying that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole, however. If no one person meets all the qualifications to be an apostle, Mission teams are needed, that’s why I believe Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs. PCC can do that in Papatoetoe today. It is possible that by using our individual gifts together to have success. One mission headed by Jesus, one body working together, these are our core values in fact;

CORE VALUES OF PCC

1. We emphasise the “Body of Christ” Ministry and Mission with Jesus Christ as the Head.....
2.  .....each member exercising individual spiritual gift/s for the building of the Body and the Communication of the Gospel

But we need to be more organised than we have been if we are to go out into our community and have success. I agree with J Warner Wallace that the way we can do is by shifting from teaching to training and working more closely with the other groups we share this building with but that is something for discussion in the Leadership Team. But we also need to be sent out in the power of the Holy Spirit as the disciples were.

Luke 9:1-2

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

We are called together to preach the Kingdom of God and heal the sick and he sent them out in pairs not as individuals. It needs a team approach as I don’t think any of us individually have all the qualifications of an apostle as outlined before. The Gospel message needs to be delivered in power and with authority to defeat the devil in our community.

Back to today’s passage from Luke.

Luke 6:17-19

And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

See how there were 3 types of people in the crowd who came to Jesus;

1. The 12 apostles
2. A crowd of his disciples 
3. A great multitude of other followers of Jesus

Which category would you place yourself in today? Are you here to receive power from the Holy Spirit to go out into the Community like the apostles. Or to be taught like the disciples. Or to see the miracles like the followers, or maybe it’s just the company, the music and the food! 

Jesus delivered the full Gospel in power. That’s why we want to see for our churches to be full today. 

Luke 6:20-23

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. 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. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

Note this, Jesus lifted his eyes towards his disciples when he said this. There were many others in the crowd, but he was speaking directly to his disciples when he started this message, the famous Sermon on the Mount which you can also find in more detail in Matthew 5-7. Have you ever been in a service when everything the Preacher says seems to be about you. That’s the Lord speaking directly to you and you need to respond to his call straightaway. 

This Sermon on the Mount was primarily directed at the disciples; that’s you and me in Church today. We often think of so and so would hear this message it would be good. We need to hear it!

His disciples were blessed if they were poor. Isn’t this the very opposite of the Prosperity Gospel we hear today. 

Some of his disciples had left everything to follow Jesus. They were without regular jobs and sometimes they would go hungry. Jesus called them blessed.

Some of his disciples were weeping. Sad at their lost family and friends, sad because of the sin all around them, sad because of things that happened in their lives that seemed unjust and God was not present. Jesus called them blessed, God has not forgotten you either. The Bible says he will wipe away every tear from your eyes, joy and laughter are coming promises from the Lord.

And any disciple who is suffering persecution on whatever scale whether it be revulsion or exclusion or even facing death is going to be rewarded in the same way as the prophets and saints of old and what a crown awaits them. But remember Jesus was primarily speaking to his disciples when he went on to say.

Luke 6:24-26

“But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

This warning is not in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 but it’s in Luke so it’s an important detail. We miss this part, don’t we? At least I do.

This is a direct warning to those who receive the prosperity message of your best life now without balancing that with the message Jesus later gives in

Luke 9:23-27

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

If we are his disciples, it will cost us, there will be difficulties, it won’t be a life of luxury. There will be a cross we need to bear. We are following in the footsteps of Jesus who went to the Cross.

If we are ambitious to be apostles, to be sent out into the World to preach the Gospel and heal the sick it is a good desire. But we do well to soberly remember that all the apostles were martyred for the message they preached except for John and Judas of course. We need to count the cost.

This is the journey we have been on this year to step out, to leave our comfort zone and go into the World. Stepping out means letting go but it also means being equipped for success. That will happen before you leave, but it will also happen as you step out.

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Luke 6:1-11

While looking at the next passage from Luke, I must admit that I thought this might be difficult to relate to as it pertained to details on the Old Testament law on the Sabbath which have vanished in Christianity. I mean, as Christians we know to keep Sunday as a special day for the Lord but that’s about it. It seems to me that very little thought is given to the Sabbath in New Zealand. Not many Christians make any noise about the day being business as usual, few will take a stand when David Seymour tries again to open all business on Easter and Christmas Day. Former All Black Michael Jones brought the Sabbath to the attention of of the nation when he refused to play on Sunday’s and as Christians, we were happy he made this stand. But week to week the Sabbath is just not something we give priority to. So, passages like today about keeping the Sabbath don’t draw our attention. 

If New Zealand is at one of the scales on where it stands on the Sabbath, religion in Israel is at the other even to this day. While preparing for this week’s passage, I found this which is being taught by Orthodox Jews today.

These are the 39 categories of Sabbath Work prohibited by law.

1. Carrying	14. Ploughing	27. Chain-stitching
2. Burning	15. Planting	28. Warping
3. Extinguishing	16. Reaping	29. Weaving
4. Finishing	17. Harvesting	30. Unravelling
5. Writing	18. Threshing	31. Building
6. Erasing	19. Winnowing	32. Demolishing
7. Cooking	20. Selecting	33. Trapping
8. Washing	21. Sifting	34. Shearing
9. Sewing	22. Grinding	35. Slaughtering
10. Tearing	23. Kneading	36. Skinning
11. Knotting	24. Combing	37. Tanning
12. Untying	25. Spinning	38. Smoothing
13. Shaping	26. Dyeing	39. Marking

Just taking the 1st of the 39, the law on carrying. To understand how oppressive this law is, it states amongst other things

« This category absolutely forbids all carrying in the street. Even such trivial things as a key or a handkerchief must be left at home. Certainly, pocketbooks, purses, wallets and key-chains may not be carried. The only thing one may carry outdoors are things that are actually worn. »

It goes on to say

« Carrying in a private home is permitted on the Sabbath. It is only in a public domain that it is forbidden. The spirit of the law, however, forbids the carrying or handling of unnecessary objects, even indoors. The Sanhedrin therefore legislated the categories of Muktza, things which may not be handled on the Sabbath. These include such useless things as pebbles and stones. They also include things which may not be used on the Sabbath, such as pencils, candles and money. »

What do they know about the spirit of the law? Now I get it if the doctor tells you, you need complete rest to get well. Then life stops. But the spirit of the law is not to kill life but to promote life and health.

The Sabbath issue Jesus confronted was Religion on steroids, what we can see in these 39 laws. The Pharisees had invented so many laws about what was classed as work that the people were having to spend so much effort superstitiously avoiding the cracks in the pavement that they had no time to really love the Lord or anyone else, the 2 most important commandments.

• Suppose you wanted to cook a meal and drive your car to deliver it to a sick relative. Forbidden on both counts, law 2 on burning.
• Suppose you wanted to take notes in your quiet time with the Lord. Not allowed, law 5 on writing.
• Suppose you to make a cup of tea and a piece of toast to have while you had your quiet time with the Lord. Not allowed, law 7 on cooking.

Their religion tied you in knots.

How did this mess of confusion come about, remember all God had told Moses was;

Exodus 20:10-11

but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

The principle was that even the Lord rested from his work, so being made in his image, we also need to rest from our work. It is unhealthy to keep working day in, day out, not trusting the Lord that he will provide even on the days when there is lack. They had turned what was intended for blessing into a curse.

Exodus 16:29-30

See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” So the people rested on the seventh day.

Being made in his image, we also need to rest from our work. It is unhealthy to keep working day in, day out, not trusting the Lord that he will provide even on the days when there is lack.

The Lord provided enough bread on the 6th day for 2 days so the people of Israel did not need to work on the 7th day, they could keep it holy for the Lord. The truth is the Lord provides all we need; we should have learned this by now but some of us still struggle (I put myself in this category). As we heard earlier with the 39 laws, they continue in the way of the Pharisees and Sanhedrin to this day, having completely lost sight of what the law of the Sabbath was for which is for our benefit not detriment.

Now we come to our passage today.

Luke 6:1-2

Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

The “second Sabbath after the first” is the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Luke clearly records that Jesus and the disciples went through the grain fields on the second Sabbath which was the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, ie., just after Passover on the 14th of the 1st month (April).

Now the Pharisees had a real problem with the disciples breaking their Sabbath laws. Yes, they have a law for that. 

Law 17 of the 39 is on harvesting on the Sabbath and says.

« This includes all harvesting operations such as binding grain into sheaves or bales. Gathering fallen fruit into piles or placing them into baskets also falls under this heading. This is even true in a private enclosed yard where carrying is permitted. »

They classed harvesting as work, which I suppose is fine if it’s your paid job, but here they were applying it to the disciples picking some grain to feed themselves because they were hungry. It was very pedantic to the point of being ridiculous. On this basis, you couldn’t even go and pick fruit, herbs and vegetables from your own garden! In truth, the disciples were like priests, reliant on the donations and good will of others, no longer being in paid work.

Luke 6:3-5

But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Jesus in fact likened the disciples to priests.

What a powerful and provocative statement Jesus made when he said he was Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus is Lord of all which is something we should all be glad about. He has the final say on the Sabbath! It was not breaking the spirit of the law to eat something when they were hungry! If we understand that the law of the Sabbath is for our good, we know it is important to eat. The original commandment said that there would be enough manna on the 6th day for the 7th day as well. The Lord did not intend to force us to go hungry! He wanted us to learn by faith that the Lord will provide. We don’t need to work 24/7, it is very unhealthy to do that, every doctor agrees!

Luke 6:6-7

Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.

Here comes the rule book again.

Law 22 of the 39 on Grinding says

« Its spirit also forbids the grating of cheeses and vegetables and the grinding of fish and meat, as well as herbs used for medicine. The Sanhedrin therefore legislated to forbid the use of all nonvital medicines and treatments except for a sick person. An initial exception, however, was made in cases of acute pain and actual illness, where necessary medical treatments may be used. Where life is actually in danger, the Sabbath may be violated in any necessary manner. Our sages teach us that it is better to violate one Sabbath in order that another may live to keep many. »

So, they had a problem with Jesus healing a man whose right hand was withered. His life wasn’t in danger, he wasn’t in pain, and they probably thought it’s not urgent and could wait for another day. They were completely indifferent to his lifetime of suffering. But God is not like that, he is not indifferent to our pain just because of a law! The Sabbath is the perfect day for healing to happen, but the Pharisees were so bound by the law, they couldn’t see it. Frowns came on their faces as they watched and waited to ambush Jesus.

Luke 6:8-9

But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”

Jesus knows our thoughts as we’ve highlighted before. He knows if we are hostile in our hearts towards him and he knew the Pharisees were hostile. So, he gave them a question asking about the spirit of the law, whether it was ultimately to do good and to save life or not. Not one of them could say a word.

Luke 6:10-11

And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

They were filled with rage because they had made up a God who is extremely harsh and judgmental, beyond anything taught by Scripture, not reflecting the everlasting love and mercy of the Lord in any way.

What we observe throughout history is that religious zeal without the grace of God leads to violence. This was true of the Pharisees, it is true of Islam, it is true in Hinduism, it is true even in Christianity as we saw in Northern Ireland. The devil is the accuser of the Brethren, and he uses the law to condemn us and justify violence, remember he is a liar and a murderer from the beginning. The word Hamas itself means violence.

The law brings only punishment and death.

But Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, and he gives us grace and mercy, healing and life in him.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6

And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Praise the Lord! We are the ministers of the New Covenant, the Old Covenant is passed away! This should give us a lot of pause to reflect. Are there any rules I have introduced that go beyond what Scripture intended? Am I more concerned with doctrine than with people’s wellbeing?

It doesn’t matter to me which day of the week is your Sabbath day as long as it’s set aside as a holy day. Pastors work on Sundays, they often rest on Mondays. Most of us can rest on Sundays because a few people work then. 

What does a holy day look like? Peaceful. Joyful. Reflective. Restful. It is a good day to be in church with other believers. Just make sure you keep it as a holy day for the Lord though. It’s too easy to open the laptop, scroll through the news, stress about life like we tend to do on every other day of the week! The Sabbath is for rest from our work and relaxing in the Lord’s presence.

True Christianity is markedly different to all religions in blessing us with freedom from the law. Saul was a zealous religious Jew until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus who asked him why he was persecuting him, that is Jesus. 

Galatians 3:13-14

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Islam is a big threat to peace in our World today. Muslims follow very strict laws and claim Islam to be a religion of peace even though it acts violently against Christians and Jews and feels justified in doing so. Today is an international day of prayer for the persecuted church who are suffering because of this same spirit of violence that uses the law to kill. You will have heard of the terrible murder of Christians that is going on in Nigeria and in other parts of Africa. Do remember and pray for brothers and sisters everywhere who are suffering, we are going to see more of this in the end times. But also pray for the enemies who are in Islam killing Jews and Christians because they believe they are doing the right thing by Allah. Pray they will have their eyes opened to the truth, so they will repent and come to Jesus and find real life.