Jesus often accompanied healing with teaching. Notice in verse 19 the power was literally flowing out of Jesus and healing them all. Jesus teaching consisted of blessings and woes (not curses as in the Old Testament). Jesus blessed the poor (20), the hungry (v21), the sad (v21) and the persecuted (v22) – they would have great reward in Heaven. But He pointed out that the rich (v24), the well-fed (v25), the happy (v25) and the honoured (v26) (probably referring to the Pharisees) had already had their reward. So the emphasis is on, not what we own or have attained, but on what we are. Do we have a God-like character? Are we successful materially or spiritually? Jesus is perhaps asking us to examine our inner attitude. Q. Is it possible to be both materially successful and Godlike in our nature? Read verses 27-38: Verses 31 and 38 sum up this passage: Do to others as you would have them do to you … for with the measure you use it will be measured to you. In fact we are to aim high and imitate our heavenly father by being merciful, just as He is merciful (v36). In other words we will reap what we sow. We bring our own rewards and punishments by the way we act toward others. If we judge we will be judged. If we forgive we will be forgiven. If we condemn we will be condemned. If we give we will receive. Q. So where is the difficulty? See verse 35. Read verses 39-45: So often Jesus states the obvious. How can a blind man lead another? How can you help someone with a speck in their eye if you cannot see because of what is in your own? Primarily Jesus was talking to the Pharisees because they were leading people astray. We cannot lead others where we have not been ourselves. The onus is on us to do something about it. Q. Is it true that people often criticize others because they are guilty of similar or worse in their own lives? Finally Jesus teaches that what is in our heart is what comes out of our lips. Ultimately we reveal if we are ‘a good tree bearing good fruit’ or ‘a bad tree bearing bad fruit’ (v43). Read verses 46-49: Here Jesus is talking to people who call him “Lord” – most of us? It’s not enough to simply hear the word – we must also put it into practice. We should build our lives on the solid foundation of God’s truth and obedience to his will, and not on our own preconceived ideas and mere lip-service. We can be rooted in Christ if our Christian life is based on faith and obedience. Without those two things we will not stand when the storms of life come. Just obeying the rules meticulously like the Pharisees is not enough.
Chapter 7: Faith, compassion, love and forgiveness Read verses 1-10: The Centurion’s love, humility and faith This Roman Centurion was a man of character and integrity. He didn’t just do his job (which was to keep the peace of Rome), he went the extra mile and even built the Jewish people a synagogue (v5). We also see that he was a man who had concern for the welfare of his servants and he was a man of authority – he sent some Jewish elders to ask Jesus to come and heal a valued servant who was ill. But the approach of Jesus made him feel unworthy and so he asks Jesus to stop his journey and merely speak the word which, he knew, would heal his servant. He had faith in the authority of Jesus. Just as soldiers obey an order from a commanding officer, so sickness was subject to the authority of Jesus. Q. What was Jesus’ response and what was the outcome? For healing to happen did the sick servant need to have faith? Did anyone need to lay hands on him? Did he or his family need to be Jews or believers in Jesus? Could he have got better anyway (v2)? There were two intermediaries between the sick man and Jesus (the Centurion and the Elders) and he may not even have 11