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6:17-49 And coming
down (from the mountain) with them he stood on a level place. There was a crowd of his disciples with
him and a big multitude of people from all of Judea
and Jerusalem
and the coast country of Tyre
and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be cured
from their diseases. Also those
being tormented by unclean spirits were healed. All the crowd sought to touch him because
power went out from him and cured all.
He lifted up his eyes to his disciples and said. "Blessed are the poor because the
kingdom of heaven is yours. Blessed
are those who hunger now because you will be satisfied. Blessed are those who weep now because
you will laugh. Blessed are you when
men hate you and when they separate you out and reproach you and cast out
your name as being evil because of the Son of Man (Jesus). Rejoice in that day and leap for joy for
behold your reward in heaven will be great.
For they did the same things to the prophets of their fathers.
But
woe to you - rich ones, because you have your consolation. Woe to you who are filled up now because
you will hunger. Woe to those who
laugh now because you will mourn and lament. Woe to you when all speak well of you for
their fathers did the same to the false prophets. But I tell you who are prepared to
listen. Love your enemies. Do well to those who hate you. Bless
those who curse you. Pray about
those who insult you. For the one
who strikes you on the cheek, turn the other one also. And regarding the one taking your
garment. Do not prevent them from
taking your tunic as well. Give to
everyone who asks you for something.
Do not ask for things back from those who take your things. As you would like people to do to you, do
you to them likewise. If you love
those who love you, then what thanks is there for that. Even sinners love those who love
them. If you do good to those who do
good to you, what thanks is there for that?
Even the sinners do the same thing.
If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what thanks
is there for that? Even sinners lend
to sinners when they will receive back something that's equal. But love your enemies and do good and
lend without despairing about getting something back. Your reward will be great. You will be sons of the Most High because
he (the Most High) is kind to the unthankful and to those who are evil. Be
compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge so you will not be
judged. Do not condemn so you many
not be condemned. Forgive and you
will be forgiven. Give and it will
be given back to you measured out well, with the measure pressed down,
shaken and running over. It will be put into your lap. For in whatever measure you measure out,
so it will be measured out for you in return.
Continued
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9:37-51 And it came to pass that on coming down from the mountain they were met by a great
crowd. And behold a man from the
crowd called aloud saying "Teacher I beg you to look at my son because
he is my only born. Behold a spirit
takes hold of him and crying out suddenly it throws him down with the boy
foaming at the mouth. It scarcely ever departs from him without bruising
him. I begged your disciples to
expel it but they were not able."
Answering Jesus said "Unbelieving and perverted generation
until when shall I be with you and have to put up with you? Bring your son here." Yet while approaching him the demon tore
at him and threw him violently.
Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit.
He cured the boy and restored him to his father. All were astounded at the majesty of God.
And
while all marvelled at the things which he did he said to his
disciples. "Take note of what
is being said. The Son of man is
about to be betrayed into the hands of men." But they did not know what this
meant. It had been veiled from them
lest they should perceive it. They
feared to ask him about what was said.
A debate arose Continued
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Continued He told them also a
parable. A blind man cannot guide
a blind man or else both of them will fall into a ditch. So also a disciple is not above the
teacher. But everyone who is fully
taught will be as his teacher. Why
do you see the speck in your brother's eye but you do not consider the
beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother. "Brother let
me take out the speck in your eye" when you do not see the beam in
your own eye. Hypocrite. Take out the beam from your own
eye. Then you will see clearly the
speck in your brother's eye in order to take it out. For there is no good tree producing bad
fruit. Nor again does a bad tree
produce good fruit. Each tree is
known by its fruit. For they do
not gather figs from thorns. Nor
do they pick a grape from a thorn bush.
The good man brings forth good from the treasure of his
heart. The evil man brings out
evil from what is evil. For it is out of the abundance of the heart that one's speaks. And also, why do you call me "Lord
Lord" yet you do not do what
I say? As for everyone coming to
me and hearing my words and doing them.
I will show you what he is like.
He is like to a man who is building a house. He dug the ground and deepened it and
laid a foundation on the rock. A flood occurred and the river dashed
against that house and was not able to shake it because it was well
built. But as for those who hear
and do not follow advice, they are like a man who has built a house on
the earth without a foundation and against which the river breaks. Immediately it collapsed and great is
the ruin of that house.
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Continued
amongst them as to who might be the greatest of them. Jesus, knowing about the debate in their hearts took a
child and stood it beside him. He
said to them. "Whoever
receives this child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives the one
who sent me. For the one who is
lesser amongst you, that one is great." Answering him John said "Master we
saw someone expelling demons in your name and we stopped him because he
does not follow with us." And
Jesus said to him "Do not prevent him. For whoever is not against you is with
you." And it came to pass, as
the time for him came to be delivered up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
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"he set his face to go to Jerusalem" (9:51)
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Both the above paragraphs have an emphasis on
the dispositions of one's heart.
Also note this point is given priority as it is at the end of
the list about qualities required. for the building of an order-based
society. Recall that for those in a society that is based upon Order,
people need to be wary of a tendency in such a society to be hard of
heart. In the first case stress
is placed heavily on the need for a kind heart, almost to the point of
the practicality of this being questionable. In the second paragraph
the disposition of one's heart relates to effectiveness. One may think that the boy referred
to in the second paragraph was having some sort of epileptic fit. But for Luke the first century
writer, this kind of illness could have been more closely associated
with spirit possession than at present.
At the same time the gospel writers deliberately connect the
apparent possession of a person by a demon with the situation of
someone else who clearly has a 'bad spirit' re their approach to
religion and people in general.
Being able to improve the 'spirit' of a situation requires a
child-like heart.
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