mercy revolution

Luke 6:20‑49

Introduction Question

If you had 5 minutes to broadcast a message to everyone in the world at once, what would you want to say to them?

Historical Context

Over the last couple of chapters of Luke’s account, Jesus has been gaining a bigger and bigger following. By this point in chapter 6, there are a group of people committed to following Jesus and listening to his teaching (his disciples) and an even larger crowd of interested people from all over the local areas. They all want to hear from Jesus and experience, first-hand, the good work that he’s been doing. A large crowd is in front of Jesus, and through Luke’s record, we can read what Jesus chose to say to them.

Read Luke 6:20‑40

From all that was read, what are your first impressions of what Jesus chooses to say to the large crowd?

Looking at v.20-22, what strikes you about the characteristics of the ‘you’, the disciples, who Jesus describes as blessed?

The categories of people to whom Jesus says ‘blessed’ or ‘woe’ (v.20-26) are very subversive. How might Jesus’ words be challenging, in his time and today?

What would a community look like that really obeyed v.27-31?

In v.32-36, what motivation does Jesus give to do good, even to those who can’t or won’t do good back to us?

Psalm 103 is an ancient Jewish song, which praises God for what he’s like. It echoes even older descriptions in the Bible of God’s character. Jesus says, in Luke 6, that living out his teaching will lead us to reflect some of God’s character (v.36 and 40). Read the words of Psalm 103:8-12. What parallels can you see between God’s character in the Psalm and how Jesus calls his disciples to live?

Read Luke 6:41‑49

What point do you think Jesus is making with each of the two illustrations he uses in v.41-45? Together, how do they challenge and humble those who would see themselves as a good person in contrast to others?

In v.46-69, even though both build a house which might at first glance look impressive and secure, what is actually the difference between the two men?

Quote to Discuss

One New Testament scholar commented on this chapter of Luke:

There are two particularly astonishing things about these instructions. First, their simplicity: they are obvious, clear, direct, and memorable. Second, their scarcity. How many people do you know who really live like this? How many communities do you know where these guidelines are rules of life? Tom Wright — Luke for Everyone

Why do you think there is such scarcity of people living in the way that Jesus teaches? How could you put Jesus’ teaching into practice towards the people around you?

Have more questions?

While Jesus’ teaching might sound very appealing, it’s also very counter-cultural. It goes against how we often live. Christians are people who have asked God for forgiveness for how they’ve not lived according to Jesus’ teaching, and for help to now live according to it. If you think that Jesus’ teaching sounds beautiful for communities, hopefully you’ll like being in the college CU group. You might also want to visit a local church with someone in your college group. If you’d like God’s forgiveness and help to live Jesus’ ways too, you should ask God for that! Find a Christian and pray that with them.

The next study will start at Luke 12:1, so you could continue reading through Luke’s account ahead of that.

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