Luke 6: 20 26 The Beatitudes

Target year level: Year Three

Scripture text

Introduction

The Gospel is the first of a two-part work, Luke-Acts. Luke-Acts is sometimes thought of as a novel in two parts: the Gospel gives an account of the life and mission of Jesus and the Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the rapid expansion of the early church. The two books were probably written in the latter decades of the first century.

Even though the works are anonymous, authorship is traditionally attributed to Luke. Today, many scholars accept that the author was an inhabitant of Antioch in Syria and a companion of Paul. Luke was writing for Greek speaking, Gentile(non-Jewish) Christians. Luke’s interpretation of events is influenced by his desire to show how Christianity is compatible with citizenship in the Roman Empire, that is, how one can believe in Jesus and, at the same time, be loyal to (if not worship) the emperor.

The author paints a portrait of Jesus who is the fulfilment of God’s promises to Israel. The promises are fulfilled in unexpected ways, in that they include everyone: Jews and gentiles, men and women, tax collectors and outcasts.

Luke draws Jesus as hospitable and caring for the poor and the marginalised. Mary and a number of women disciples play an important part in the gospel.

For further information, see the Teacher Background information, Who wrote the Gospels and when? and the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), Introduction to Luke.

World behind the text

Luke’s Gospel tells the story of Jesus’ public ministry culminating in Jerusalem. The Acts of the Apostles continues the narrative of the Jesus Movement as it moves beyond its predominantly Jewish terrain to the wider Gentile, religiously, linguistically and culturally diverse Greco-Roman World, culminating in the proclamation of the Gospel by Paul in Rome.

In relation to prominent themes and emphases in Luke 6: 20-26 below, it is important to understand that for many who were poor and lacked basic material necessities, life was extremely tenuous and hazardous. Women, particularly those who were widowed, were in a particularly vulnerable situation. As in many societies, minorities were often marginalised and even at times actively persecuted.

A further background factor to understand in relation to Luke’s Beatitudes and Woes is that many early Christians believed that Jesus Christ would soon return and the world would come to an end even in their own lifetime. Luke’s own orientation seems to be that Christians are in ‘for the long haul’ and therefore practical concerns such as caring for the poor and the marginalised are central in the life of individual Christians and of church communities.

World of the text

Prominent themes and emphases in Luke’s Gospel that have a close connection with The Beatitudes and Woes (Luke 6:20-26) are:

care for the poor and the marginalised (cf. Quoting Isaiah 7:22; Rich Man and Lazarus 16:19-31; The Rich Fool 12:13-21; Marginalised Samaritans 9:51-56, 10:29-37)
an emphasis on Messianic joy in response to the wonder of salvation, a joy which bestows blessing on all, especially the poor and the marginalised (cf.4:18 proclamation in the Synagogue at Nazareth)
a focus on mercy, compassion and forgiveness (cf. stories of lost sheep, lost coin, lost son in Chapter 15; the sinful woman 7: 36-58; story of Zacchaeus 19:1-10)
stewardship of wealth is another prominent theme, as highlighted in the parables of the Rich Fool, The Dishonest Steward and the Rich Man and Lazarus
the particular prominence Luke gives to women in his Gospel bringing them from their largely marginalised situation in the Greco-Roman world to a prominent and even central role in his Gospel (cf. the central role of Mary in the Infancy Narrative Luke 1:26-2:38)
Luke’s emphasis on the parallel between Jesus’ ministry to his Jewish compatriots recounted in the Gospel and the ministry to the Gentiles recounted in Acts gives force to his message that these major themes of his Gospel apply in the predominantly Gentile world of Acts

It is clear then that the Beatitudes and Woes at Luke 6:20-26 are a sort of cameo highlighting the major themes and emphases of the Gospel of Luke as a whole. When one compares the versions of the Beatitudes at Matthew 5:3-11 with those of Luke 6:20-16, Luke communicates his concerns in a more concrete, specific way (cf. Mathew ‘poor in spirit’, Luke ‘you who are poor)’. (See Gospel Parallels)

World in front of the text

Luke 6:20-26 Beatitudes and Woes encourages contemporary Christians to:

Correctly evaluate the purpose and responsibilities of material wealth
Recognise how material possessions can lead to selfishness and an unwillingness to share, or to generosity and sharing
Appreciate that at an individual, social, community, national and international level the Beatitudes and Woes are both an encouragement to action for justice and condemnation of inaction in the face of injustice