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Most Difficult Discipleship Requirements – Luke 6:20 – 49
Most Difficult Discipleship Requirements – Luke 6:20 – 49
Jesus great ‘signs’ created a following. The Apostles, though noting that Jesus’ demand was unreasonable and seemingly wrong, did as He said anyway. Large crowds came to 1) hear, 2) be healed, and 3) to have demons cast out.
Note the great challenge Jesus gave to those who would follow Him: "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46). A common reaction BY Jesus to such claims of wanting to be a disciple, is to bluntly instruct them on what they were really asking for. He would encourage them to ‘count the cost’ but was also willing to provide the details of what needed to be counted.
Beatitudes and WOES – (20-26)
In particular, I would draw your attention to the fact that Jesus warns that not everyone would be pleasing to God. This he does by pronouncing woes upon certain activities. Also, we would note that following Jesus would bring opposition and trouble, as well as peace and comfort.
Elevation of character – centered on being “AS YOUR FATHER” (27-38).
This is one of the most difficult group of teachings that Jesus gives (much of this also can be found in Matt. 5-7). Jesus is not one to preach to ‘itching ears’ by telling them what they WANT to hear. Jesus is not one to dumb down the requirements just because they are difficult. Jesus isn’t one to teach and not do, hence you need to notice that Jesus didn’t ask anyone to do what He wasn’t willing to do! We were created in the image of God, NOW Jesus lays before us what our lives should look like IF we are imitating God. This section will require of you much thought and meditation. It will require ALL of you, the very dying to self, the crucifying of self and living by His teaching.
Being a ‘GUIDE’ must first be RIGHT (with God in this case) – 39-42
This section is called a ‘parable’ by Luke. Jesus draws us some word pictures of what is required. One cannot be blind and be a guide to others. One cannot be a teacher until he has first learned. One cannot remove specks from other’s eye if he cannot see clearly himself. Surely, we NEED guides, teachers, and eye-doctors. Jesus was not prohibiting such, but qualifying such!
What Kind of TREE are you? 43-45
Jesus points out to us that it is not difficult to tell! Examine the fruits. Is your life filled with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22f), of evil? The danger here is we often are blind to our own faults! We need an objective standard to judge by, and Jesus provides that for us! Examine yourselves (2Cor. 13:5; Gal. 6:4; 1 Thess. 5:21).
Building on the RIGHT foundation – 46-49
Jesus concludes this section by challenging disciples to build on the proper foundation: If you want to call Him LORD, then you will obey Him. It may be difficult, but we will obey. It may bring hardship and condemnation by the world, but we will obey. It may end in martyrdom, but we will obey! Is he YOUR Lord?
Hugh DeLong