Sermon of the Plain.

 The Sermon on the Plain

A Reflection on Luke 6:17–49

He came down from the mountain to a level place,

To stand among the crowd, to look them in the face.

Not above them on a lofty peak apart,

But down where the broken and the weary start.

And He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people. (Luke 6:17)

Blessed are you who are poor—yours the kingdom's door.

Blessed are you who hunger—you shall be filled forevermore.

Blessed are you who weep—your sorrow shall be turned to laughter.

Blessed are you when men hate you for the Son's sake, after.

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (Luke 6:20-21, ESV)

But woe to you who are rich, for you have had your ease.

Woe to you who are full, who never bend the knees.

Woe to you who laugh, whose joy is earthbound, shallow, cheap.

Woe when all speak well of you—for so their fathers did with the false and deep.

Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. (Luke 6:24-25, ESV)

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate.

Bless those who curse your name, for heaven's open gate.

If someone strikes your cheek, turn the other too.

If someone takes your coat, give your shirt, see it through.

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27-28)

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

This is the golden thread, the mercy we pursue.

If you love only those who love you back, what thanks is that?

Even sinners love those who love them—where's the combat?

Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. (Luke 6:31-32)

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged—that's merciful.

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven, your heart will be mended.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:36-37)

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,

Pressed down, shaken together, running over—a treasure.

For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Generosity returns like morning dew.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38)

Can the blind lead the blind? Will not both fall into the pit?

First take the plank from your own eye—then you'll see fit

To remove the speck from your brother's eye with grace.

Hypocrisy first must lose its place.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Luke 6:41-42)

No good tree bears bad fruit, no bad tree bears good.

Each tree is known by its own fruit—understood.

The good man brings good out of his heart's store;

The evil man brings evil, and nothing more.

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. (Luke 6:43-45)

Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

The one who hears and acts builds on rock, come what may.

The flood will strike, the torrent rage, but it will stand—

Built on the Word, held in the Father's hand.

Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. (Luke 6:46-48)

But the one who hears and does not practice—

Builds on sand, without foundation's contract.

When the torrent strikes, collapse is swift and sure.

Only the doers of the Word endure.

But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete. (Luke 6:49)

So let us not be hearers only, deceived by our own ears.

Let the Word take root in action, dissolving all our fears.

For on the level plain, where the broken meet the King,

The true disciple is the one who does the sacred thing.

Amen.