Luke 6 reminds me of the song about working for the weekend. We work hard to earn time off, but often find ourselves missing something come Monday. I believe today’s chapter gives us God’s wisdom in finding balance. The chapter begins, “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels”. The religious leaders saw this and asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” They were angered by the disciples working on the day of rest. Please understand that God did not define “work” in Exodus chapter 31. Instead He gave Moses the pattern from creation, “for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed”. Man-made tradition added layers of complication to something that was given as a positive thing. Hebrews chapter 4 says that the Sabbath is symbolic of entering into God’s peace. Friend, do you have peace with God? On another Sabbath Jesus was teaching in the synagogue when He saw a man with a shriveled hand. The religious men “watched Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath”. Jesus asked, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” With that, Jesus healed the man, and the religious leaders became furious. Some today are too busy resting to even notice the renewing power of God’s presence.
Next we read that Jesus went to the mountainside to pray and in the morning, “He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles”. We read one was “Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor”. Some think this selection was a error, but do not over-estimate the goodness of man. None of us is beyond corruption. I believe every one of the disciples was tempted and pondered turning away at some point. The miracle is the number that remained loyal. Every Pastor, parent, or leader has doubted themselves. This is why Christ alone stands as our example, and why He could teach with authority.
The rest of the chapter includes God’s wisdom taught by Jesus. He spoke of the transitory times in life, “Blessed are you who are poor… you who hunger now… you who weep now”. He offered hope for tomorrow and for eternity. He also spoke of the hatred toward those that hold to God’s standards, “Blessed are you… when people hate you… exclude you… because of the Son of Man… because great is your reward in heaven”. Most importantly Jesus taught, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”. Love and forgiveness are to flow through us, but some misunderstand the lesson of turning the other cheek. We are to accept insults, but nowhere are we told become defenseless. Love should never surrender to evil. Jesus adds, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”. Mercy is given by the champion, not by the vanquished. And what about not judging others? We are certainly to have discernment about trustworthiness. Those that are faithful with little are given more. Jesus said, “Do not condemn” because every soul is precious to Him. The warning includes the image of overlooking our own faults, “take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”. Jesus notes that “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit”. We are to pay attention to results, not just empty promises. The chapter closes by urging us to build our life on a solid foundation of God’s wisdom. My friend, if you are tired of being restless, maybe it is time to enter into His Peace?