The Marks of a Christian

MEMORY VERSE: “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” —Luke 6:46

LUKE 6:20-23, 27-36

THE first 26 verses of the 6th chapter of Luke present much the same thoughts as those found in the 5th chapter of Matthew, which is the opening chapter of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Perhaps this is Luke’s more condensed report of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, although some scholars feel that Jesus presented similar thoughts on another occasion. This is not important. It is important that as followers of the Master we be guided and inspired by these teachings.

“Blessed be ye poor,” Jesus is reported as saying, “for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20) Matthew’s record reads, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3) This more complete report defines the type of poverty to which Jesus refers. He is not saying that all poverty-stricken people are to be in the kingdom. To be “poor in spirit” is to be humble, and to be as free as possible from pride and self-sufficiency. One who is “poor in spirit” realizes his need of help from the Lord and reaches out for that help. It is the “poor in spirit” whom God calls into his service, and it is essential for them to remain thus “poor” in order that they may ultimately enter into the kingdom of heaven. This is one of the true marks of a Christian.

Luke’s account reads, “Blessed are ye that hunger now; for ye shall be filled.” Matthew states, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” The reference is not to a physical hunger, but to a hungering for righteousness—a longing to know and to do God’s will. These have their hunger satisfied by the nourishing spiritual “food” of God’s Word—the truth.

Luke says, “Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.” Matthew writes, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Jesus was touched with a feeling of human frailties and sorrows, and his tenderheartedness was evidenced by his doing all he could to comfort the people, even to healing the sick and raising the dead. This must have brought much joy to his own heart. The same attitude should be found in us. We cannot perform miracles as Jesus did, but we can proclaim to the people that the kingdom age of miracles is now near.

Another of the “Beatitudes” speaks of the blessedness of being among the persecuted. But we are not to court persecution. We are not to speak and act intemperately in order to have ourselves persecuted. But if, through our loyalty to God’s Word and the great truths of the divine plan which it presents—a loyalty which includes the proclamation of the message—we are persecuted, then we can truly rejoice.

Jesus did not suffer because he was kind and sympathetic. He suffered because he exposed popular errors and proclaimed unpopular truths. It is our privilege to suffer and to die with him, and for the same reasons. Those who are faithful to this calling will, following the first resurrection, live and reign with Christ a thousand years.

The command to love our enemies and to pray for them is perhaps the most frequently disobeyed command of the Bible, although those who are endeavoring to know and to do God’s will earnestly strive to obey it. Our memory verse reminds us that through the Christian era there have been many who have been Christian in name only. These pay lip service to Jesus but do not follow his precepts, especially on the point of loving their enemies. If the professed Christian nations of earth obeyed this one command, there would be no war among them.

Following his admonition to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us, Jesus said, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) Matthew states this thought a little differently: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) Luke tells us that our Heavenly Father is kind to the unthankful and to the evil; and Matthew quotes Jesus as saying that the Father “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”—Matt. 5:45

So it is obvious that being merciful and perfect like our Heavenly Father, as set forth in this lesson, simply means the practical carrying out of Jesus’ instructions to love our enemies and to bestow blessings upon them even as we bestow blessings upon our friends. This is what our Heavenly Father does, and this is the standard for us. True, those who endeavor to serve the Father faithfully are partakers of rich spiritual blessings which would not even be understood by those not in harmony with him. But the common blessings of life he showers upon all.

QUESTIONS

Cite some of the differences in expression between Luke’s account of the Sermon on the Mount and Matthew’s account.

Are all who take the Lord’s name true Christians?

How can we be merciful like our Heavenly Father?

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