The Sermon on the Mount recorded in Luke forms a chiastic structure:
Luk 6:20-49
1a) Luk 6:20-26, He taught His disciples, saying, Blessed are you + woe to you;
1b) Luk 6:27-36, Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you + be merciful just as Your Father is merciful;
1c) Luk 6:37-38, Judge not, condemn not, forgive, and give;
central axis) Luk 6:39-40, Can the blind lead the blind? A disciple is not above his teacher, but will be like his teacher;
2c) Luk 6:41-42, Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?;
2b) Luk 6:43-45, A good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit;
2a) Luk 6:46-49, He who hears My sayings and does them is like a house built on a rock.
Jesus is comparing two kinds of fruit, two kinds of trees, and two kinds of people. There are those who are poor in spirit, who hunger and thirst for righteousness’ sake, who mourn over their sins, and are reviled by the world. Then there are those who are rich and feel the need of nothing, who enjoy the world and who are well esteemed by the world. They are two different kinds of people bearing two different kinds of fruit. One kind hears the words of Jesus and does them, and the other kind hears the words of Jesus and does not do them. Let’s not be deceived, the other kind can also call Jesus, “Lord, Lord.”
One kind loves, does good (even when they do not profit from it), is merciful, and forgives, bearing the fruit of the good tree.
One kind does not judge or condemn the motives of another’s heart, and instead of focusing their time and attention on what is wrong with YOU, focuses time and attention on what is wrong with ME, and fixing that.
Now the central axis shows us, that disciples will be growing to be like their teacher. In other words, the true disciples of Jesus, who are bearing good fruit, will look like Jesus. They won’t look like the other kind. The true disciples of Jesus will forgive just as their heavenly Father forgives. The true disciples of Jesus will be kind because their heavenly Father is kind. They will look like Him.
The flip side of this teaching, is that the heavenly Father does good to His enemies. The heavenly Father forgives and is merciful. The heavenly Father gives to everyone who asks of Him. The heavenly Father, out of the good treasure of His heart, brings forth good. Aren’t you glad?
Leave a Reply