Mount vs. Plain:
Beatitudes are written in the 3rd person.
The Sermon on the Plain is written in the 2nd person.
"He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all." Luke 6:17-19
3 types of people present to hear the sermon on the plain:
The 12 apostles
The followers and Believers -- many, many followed Jesus who weren't part of the 12.
And The Multitude -- seeking physical healing and entertainment.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you." Luke 6:20-22
There were also Gentiles present in the crowd that day too. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile towns.
20 "Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man." Luke 6:20-22
Look at these "people Groups" From Jesus's perspective:
Poverty, Hunger, Sad and Hated. He wasn't saying you should seek to be poor or hungry or sad or hated. He just said if you know you are these apart from Christ you are blessed.
If you don't come empty to Him, He can't fill You. If you don't know you need Him, You can't receive Him.
"“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." Luke 6:24-26
Woe to you if you find satisfaction in anythig else but Him. Jesus is the 2-edged Sword.
Whatever stands between you and Jesus, get rid of it!
Rich, well-fed; laughing, spoken well of. What's your great reputation based on?
You can have Jesus or the World. Not both. You should come to Jesus starving for Him..
The context is what makes the difference. Of course we do these things (take care of the weak and voiceless and the poor and widows,,,the vulnerable), but we do it for Jesus.
"The poor you will always have with you,[a] but you will not always have me." Matthew 26:11
"‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'" Revelation 21:4
Have Christ's attitude toward people. He is the reason we do things. There's nothing we need more than Jesus.
What truly separates the world from Believers:
"Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man." Luke 6:22
"Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." Luke 6:26
Jesus did it right.
OT Prophets had really hard lives.
Who are you really?
Seek Him. Whose eyes are we looking through? The world's? Jesus's?
Our motivation is the difference.
"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets." Luke 6:23
I can never finish seeking Him and Running the race until I get to the finish line (which is Heaven).