Last week I listened to some training tapes for a project I am considering. Within those three hours of audio, I began to hear some repeated themes and I was reminded that repetition of a thought or theme is a valuable tool. In the passage below, you’ll notice some similarities in Jesus’ teaching from the more familiar Sermon on the Mount.

I’ve been thinking about Jesus’ teaching from Luke 6 for a couple of weeks now but thought it would be helpful to read the passage in its entirety before comparing and contrasting the blessings and woes pronounced by Jesus to his listeners in this Sermon on the Plain:

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
Jesus Pronounces Woes
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Luke 20-26

What do you notice from the passage? Let’s begin to consider and contrast these words tomorrow.