I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Luke 6-7.

    Luke’s version of the Beattitudes scares me and rightly so. I live the good life today and Jesus says that those who live the good life now will suffer later. The Church has always preferred Matthew’s version which spiritualizes poverty and suffering because that is easier for those who have it good today to stomach. I am convinced that despite the similarities between the Beattitudes in Matthew and in Luke that Jesus actually preached both messages. I think that those recorded by Luke transition better into Jesus’ teaching about loving our enemies. Before I go on to Jesus’ teaching about loving our enemies I want to make a final point about the Beattitudes here. If we experience the good life we should seek how we can share that with those who are suffering. If we have been given good things in this life it is so that we can alleviate the suffering of others.

    Luke records what we call the Golden Rule in the midst of Jesus teaching that we should love our enemies, which certainly makes it clear what He meant by it. “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” Not do to others what they do to you, or even, what you expect them to do to you. No, let me people take your stuff. Let people hit you. Lend to those who cannot repay, even those who can but will not. Jesus transitions into His teachings on generosity from there, which ties it all together. Don’t be afraid that your generosity might lead you into poverty, not because God will prevent that from happening but because God will bless you even if you go from wealth to poverty. It is also worth noting that Jesus teaches about giving generously right after telling us to forgive those who wrong us and not to judge others. Jesus goes on from here to tell us that the only basis for judging someone is the results of their actions. If they make others better off and/or happier, they are good. If they make others worse off and/or feel miserable, they are bad. He uses the very same logic (and I believe Luke includes it here to push home the message) in response to John the Baptist’s disciples asking if He is the Messiah. Jesus answers their question by asking them to look at what He does and reach their own conclusion. When we preach the Gospel, let us ask others to look at what we do and reach their own conclusion. The important thing is not whether we live an ascetic lifestyle, as John the Baptist did, or enjoy some of the finer things in life, as Jesus did. The important thing is whether we do what we are able to ease the suffering of others.