BLESSED ARE THE EXCLUDED

Luke 6:20-26 / Keywords 6:22

Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

 

6:20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,

    for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are you who hunger now,

    for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,

    for you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you,

    when they exclude you and insult you

    and reject your name as evil,

        because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,

    for you have already received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are well fed now,

    for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

    for you will mourn and weep.

26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,

    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

1. The ministry of Jesus is subversive. It is disruptive to an established order and lifts up those who are struggling, often under the weight of an oppressive system. Jesus took the side of the poor, hungry, dejected, and excluded. Who are some of these people today? I can't help but think of criminals, the mentally ill, and disabled. It is easy to judge and condemn those who are different than us, who are deemed unholy, but Jesus loved them, embraced them, and called them blessed. He knew their struggle and had compassion for them.

2. It is hard to accept the woes, but we may be relatively rich, well-fed, happy, and generally well-spoken of. Woe to us if we are not caring enough about all God's children, especially those who suffer under different circumstances. Why is it so hard to come out of our comfort zones and into a life of love that Jesus passionately lived and died for?

Prayer Lord, forgive me for my lack of love for those who are suffering. Give me your heart of compassion and take away my heart of stone.

One Word Yours is the kingdom of God