Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 6:20-36.
Jesus begins an extended sermon in which He tells His disciples who they are in Him and what their lives will look like as a result. The Beatitudes that Jesus speaks are far more than keys to happiness in this life; rather, Jesus declares that His disciples are blessed by their identity in Him, even when their outward circumstances involve suffering. This blessing belongs to Jesus’ disciples now and will be made fully complete in the resurrection on the Last Day. The woes stand in contrast to the blessings; those who think they have it all apart from Christ have only what they have in this life and will end up far worse in the life to come. The reality of blessing in Christ shapes His disciples’ lives right now to begin to look like His in the love that He has shown to us sinners. Though we often fall short of the love for enemies that Jesus teaches, we cling to Him for grace, remember the identity He has given us in Holy Baptism, and pray for strength to do the good works He has prepared for us to do.
“The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Evangelist wrote his well-researched account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection so that Theophilus would have certainty concerning the things he had been taught. As we still read the Word of God recorded by St. Luke, our gracious Lord gives us that same certainty that Jesus is our Savior.
