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Luke
6:17-26
 | Reading the Text:
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| Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
 | The
Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto. |
| Comparative primary texts about Spirit Possession and Exorcism
and Purity and
Social Relations, from Philo, Josephus, Lucian, Pseudepigrapha, Babylonian Talmud,
Midrash, Philostratus. At Mahlon H. Smith's (Rutgers University) Into His Own: Perspective on the World
of Jesus. |
|
Chapter II, The
Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians,
Polycarp of Smyrna (c 115). |
|
III.XIV.3,
IV.II.4, Adversus
Haereses,
Irenaeus of Lyons.
(c. 180) |
|
II.18, Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
|
Chapter VIII,
On Patience,
Tertullian (c.
202) |
|
IV.14,
IV.15, Against
Marcion,
Tertullian
(c. 210) |
|
Chapter XII, On
Idolatry,
Tertullian
(c. 211) |
|
Chapter
IX, Scorpiace,
Tertullian
(c. 213) |
|
On the
Lapsed --
Cyprian of
Carthage (c. 251) |
| From the Geneva Notes.
 | "Christ teaches against all
philosophers, and especially the Epicureans, that the greatest
happiness of man is laid up in no place here on earth, but in
heaven, and that persecution for righteousness' sake is the right
way to achieve it." |
|
| From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary (c. 1700).
| "Woes are denounced against
prosperous sinners as miserable people, though the world envies
them. Those are blessed indeed whom Christ blesses, but those must
be dreadfully miserable who fall under his woe and curse!" |
|
| From
Wesley's
Notes.
John Wesley
(1703-1791).
| "In the following verses our
Lord, in the audience of his newly - chosen disciples, and of the
multitude, repeats, standing on the plain, many remarkable passages
of the sermon he had before delivered, sitting on the mount. He here
again pronounces the poor and the hungry, the mourners, and the
persecuted, happy; and represents as miserable those who are rich,
and full, and joyous, and applauded: because generally prosperity is
a sweet poison, and affliction a healing, though bitter medicine.
Let the thought reconcile us to adversity, and awaken our caution
when the world smiles upon us; when a plentiful table is spread
before us, and our cup is running over; when our spirits are gay;
and we hear (what nature loves) our own praise from men." |
|
| From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "This one contains little more
than a fourth of the other; it has woes of its own, as well as the
beatitudes common to both; but above all, that of Matthew was
plainly delivered a good while before, while this was spoken after
the choice of the twelve; and as we know that our Lord delivered
some of His weightiest sayings more than once, there is no
difficulty in supposing this to be one of His more extended
repetitions; nor could anything be more worthy of it." |
|
| From The
People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
| "Those who seek to be
universally popular. Whoever does his duty will meet those who
oppose him. Christ was reviled and slandered. These four woes are
addressed to four classes: (1) Those who worship wealth; (2) those
satisfied with their present life; (3) those who live for present
enjoyment; (4) those whose aim is human praise and adulation." |
|
|
| Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
|
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
"First
Thoughts on Year C Gospel Passages in the Lectionary: Epiphany 6,"
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
| "Blessedness in solidarity
with poor and the blessedness of the poor lie ultimately in the
blessedness of sharing the life of the God of compassion and change
and living out that hope, whatever it means in our situation." |
|
|
"Riches in the Rule of God,"
Mary Hinkle, Pilgrim Preaching:
Keeping Company with Biblical Texts and the People Who Hear and Preach Them.
| "It does no good and can do harm for
North American ministers to tell their congregations, 'Just by virtue of
being here today, you are among the very richest people in the world.'" |
|
|
"The Poor in Our Midst," Resources for Prophetic
Worship, Speaking to North Carolina Justice Issues, North Carolina Council
of Churches, 2007. |
|
Laterally Luke, by
Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia. |
|
"Exegetical Considerations:
6th Sunday after Epiphany," Richard
Carlson, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Using Greek for
Sunday Text Preparations.
| "What is the text claiming about the
advent of God’s reign, eschatological reversal, and society’s values and
standards of status, honor, and shame?" |
|
|
Exegesis,
Epiphany 6C, by
Richard Donovan at lectionary.org.
| "There is no
mention of reward and punishment here. Instead, Jesus describes a
reversal that is simply a fact of life." |
|
| Exegetical
Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks
Christian Resources.
| "What Luke has in mind is
nothing less than an urgent call for a new evaluation of possessions
and their place in the Christian life and Christian community." |
|
|
Jesus Now,
Luke 6:17-26. Lectionary, study and worship resources from Faith
Futures Jesus Then & Now. |
|
Wellspring of the Gospel, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Catherine
McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
| "When
have you experienced happiness after sorrow - or vice versa?" |
|
|
"The Values of the Kingdom,"
Expository Essay,
Luke 6:17-26, Dr. William R. Long.
Part 2.
| "When Jesus speaks of the values of his
new world in 6:20-26, we are, or should be, shocked at its directness and
'countercultural' message." |
|
|
"O Brother (or
Sister), Who Art Thou?" Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic
Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family
Activity, Support Materials.
| "When was your last act of charity?
When was the last time you did some good for someone else?" |
|
|
"The Blessing of Persecution,"
Ordinary 6,
Fr. Gerry Pierse, C.Ss.R., from Sundays Into
Silence: Reflections on the Sunday Gospels in the Light of Christian
Meditation. Claretian Publications.
| "Being
faced with our own sinfulness, and the sinfulness of our esteemed leaders,
bring home the point that sin and holiness overlap in everybody." |
|
|
"Damn
Preacher," William Willimon, The Christian Century, 2004.
| "For those of you who are full, stuffed with all that
can be consumed in this culture, having found so many ways to satisfy your
gnawing hunger, what more can God do for you?" |
|
|
"The
Joy of Christ's Disciples," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources.
| "The beatitudes proclaim grace not
law." |
|
|
"'Blessed are they upon God's holy mountain': reflections on Luke 6:17-26,"
David Berg, Currents in Theology and Mission, 2002.
| "We are no longer strangers with
anyone. We are all children of the same Creator God." |
|
| Lectionary
Commentary and Preaching Paths (Epiphany C6), by Dennis Bratcher, at
The Christian Resource Institute.
| "In the end, the blessings
cannot be sought as ends in themselves and do not come by effort.
They are simply the way things are in the kingdom that has now come
in Jesus. If we accept that as truth, what remains is only to live
in that truth (v. 46) and let it transform us." |
|
|
"Turning Our Values Upside Down," chapter 3 in The Sermon On the
Mount by Roger Shinn. Full text online at Religion Online.
| "It is a long time since the human race
first heard these words of the Beatitudes. But they still sound almost as
strange as they ever did. Jesus stands in perpetual conflict with the ways
of the world. Persuasive philosophies keep trying to undermine these
'Blessings.'" |
|
| "Crossing Over the
Great Divide," analysis and reflections by James Squire, in Sabbatheology
by The Crossings Community of St Louis, Missouri.
| "Being "cursed" is for
us already a thing of the past. We no longer seek our satisfaction (from the Latin satis,
having enough) by coveting more." |
|
|
| Articles & Background:
|
"Sermon on the
Plain," wikipedia. |
| "Honoring
the Dishonored: The Cultural Edge of Jesus' Beatitudes," Jerome H. Neyrey.
| "This study of
"poor" and "poverty" brings to the discussion a cultural and social
element. Stated most baldly, "poor" implies not simply scant economic resources,
that is, little land or money, but has a decidedly cultural component as
well." |
|
|
"Global Poverty: Beyond Utopian Visions," Thomas E. Phillips, (other resources at)
"Global Wealth," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2007.
| "The crisis of
poverty in the world’s largest cities, which is growing
exponentially worse in the new era of globalization, should
overwhelm us. However, it should not paralyze us. Scripture may not
offer an easy answer, but it does provide a consistent moral
imperative." |
|
|
"The Needle's Eye: Christians and Their Money," Doris Donnelly, The
Christian Century, 1983. At Religion Online.
| "Because there can be only one way, it
is necessary for the follower of the gospel to sense a real and blessed
harmony (Luke 6:20) between external poverty and interior poverty, because
that harmony validates Christian discipleship and keeps us honest about
what our commitments really are." |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Bartlett, David, "Woe to Us (Jeremiah
17:5-10; Luke 6:17-26)," Journal for Preachers, 2008. Sermon.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Berg, David,
"'Blessed Are They upon God's Holy Mountain': Reflections on Luke 6:17-26,"
Currents in Theology and Mission, 2002. |
| Burghardt, William, S.J.,
"Gospel Joy, Christian Joy," The Living Pulpit, 1996. (see
Joy issue focus of The Living Pulpit 5.4, 1996.) |
| Domeris, W.R.,
"Biblical Perspectives on the Poor," Journal of Theology for Southern
Africa, 1986. |
| Donnelly, Doris,
"The Needle's Eye: Christians and Their Money," The Christian Century,
1983. |
| Ellenwood, Lee K., "Face to Face with the Living God:
Reflections on the Lectionary Readings for February," The Living
Pulpit, 2007.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Hoyt, Thomas, Jr.,
"The Poor/Rich Theme in the Beatitudes," Journal of Religious Thought,
1980. |
| Kersten, Phyllis,
"Shrubs and Scrubs," The Christian Century, 2001. |
| Mánek, Jindřich,
"On the Mount - on the Plain (Mt. 5.1 - Luke 6.17)," Novum
Testamentum, 1967. |
| May, Eric, O.F.M.Cap.,
"'...For Power Went Forth From Him...' Luke 6.19," The Catholic
Biblical Quarterly, 1952. |
| Rogness, Michael,
"'You Are My Son, the Beloved': The Epiphany Gospels," Word & World,
2004. (Section on this text begins on page 89.) |
| Russell, Letty M.,
"Worrying with God," The Christian Century, 1992. |
| Tiede, David L.,
"Expository Article, Luke 6:17-26," Interpretation, 1986. |
| Tuckett, C.M., with a replay by M.D.
Goulder,
"The Beatitudes: A Source-Critical Study," Novum Testamentum,
1983. |
| Willimon, William H.,
"Damn Preacher," The Christian Century, 2004. |
|
| Reviews: |
| Sermons:
|
"Blessing
or Curse?" the Rev. Sarah Shelton, Day 1, 2007. |
|
"Luke's Beatitudes,"
"True Joy
vs. Temporary Happiness," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. |
|
"Sermon for the 6th
Sunday in Ordinary Time," the Right Rev. Robert G. Tharp,
Day 1, 2001. |
|
Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist,"
Commentary and Homily:
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| With Children:
|
"Healthy Touch &
Care," Fr. Max Bowers, Kid's
Church. |
|
"The Difference Between Mark and Daniel,"
children's story by Larry Broding, word-sunday.com. |
|
"God Redistributes Blessings and Heartaches," Sunday School
Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc. |
|
"In Search
of Happiness," children's sermon, coloring page. Charles Kirkpatrick,
Sermons 4 Kids. |
|
"Blessed
Are..." Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com. |
|
| Drama:
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| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
|
Clip Art, Luke 6:17, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators. |
| Clip Art Images:
Luke 6:17-26,
Luke 6:17-26 #2, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú. |
|
Luke 6:17-26 at
Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration.
Liberation emphasis. |
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| Hymns and Music:
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| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index:
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| Movies scenes with the following themes,
listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
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Find Worship Resources & Suggested Other Readings for use
with this text:
|
| Study Links and Resources for the Book of Luke |
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