The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Sermon on the Plain
Luke 6:20-26 (NRSV)
20 Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
During this series, Mixin It Up, we’ll be exploring what it means to make a commitment through our church’s small groups to meet people’s spiritual and physical needs. The key verses are Matthew 5:3 and Luke 6:20. But each of these verses is set within a bigger context. In Matthew the context is often called “The Sermon on the Mount” and in Luke it is often called “The Sermon on the Plain.” Scholars debate about whether these are two different sermons or the same sermon in which Matthew and Luke emphasized different parts. Whatever the case may be, the context helps flesh out what it might mean to meet people’s spiritual and physical needs.
In Matthew we see the value of mourning with those who are grieving. Where are people in our community mourning and how can you join them in that important ministry of grieving? Likewise, Matthew tells us how valuable the meek are. What does it mean to be meek? What is the opposite of meek? Who are the meek in our community? How can we join them in this great inheritance of the earth? What about those who have a deep hunger for righteousness and purity of heart? Are those characteristics present in you? How can ministering to people’s spiritual needs help develop in you that kind of hunger? Matthew ends with a focus on peacemakers and those persecuted by their faith. Where is peacemaking needed in our community and who is being persecuted for their righteousness?
Luke takes a different tact. He is focused on the very concrete. The poor. The hungry. The weeping. The hated, excluded, and defamed believers. Who are the poor in our community? Who are the hungry? Who is weeping? How can you befriend them? How can you be blessed by their friendship? Have you ever experienced hatred, exclusion or defamation for being a follower of Jesus? Luke takes this blessing a step further with his woes. They are the opposite of those who are blessed. How can the blessed poor, hungry, weeping, and hated help those who are rich, happy, and popular? We won’t ever know what kind of blessings are available from those in deep physical need unless we befriend them and their neediness shows us our own neediness. Over the next several weeks, watch for opportunities as a small group not just to meet needs, but to be blessed by the friendship of those who you serve. Friendship is a two-way street blessing.
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