Melissa Hofstetter shared with PMC, on June 16th, thoughts on the passage of Luke 5:17-31, or the “Sermon on the Plain.” This is the Luke parallel to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew.

Melissa suggests that
kingdom justice, as it’s presented in Luke,
and even gospel salvation — the Good News itself — looks different from different vantage points. Have you ever noticed how closely your perception is linked
to your perspective?
The way we see things
can be utterly dependent
upon our points of view.

Matthew’s re-telling of the Sermon on the Mount is full of beatitudes — blessing piled upon blessing piled upon blessing. In Luke’s telling of Jesus’ teachings from the flatlands, there are blessings, to be sure. But there are also woes: warnings & convictions.

Blessed are the poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God
But Woe to the rich, for you’re receiving your comfort now.

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled.
But Woe to you, who have been taking your fill now.

There is a leveling…

Justice & salvation require level-ground: a straight path & equal footing. This seems to be a clear theme in Luke. Luke has his eye on the lowly.

God’s justice & salvation are most clearly seen by the view from “below.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer discussed this in his Letters & Papers from Prison: “Here remains an experience of incomparable value” writes Bonhoeffer, “We have for once learnt to see the great events of world history from below,
from the perspective of the outcast, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed, the reviled – in short, — from the perspective of those who suffer.”

Have you noticed that? Those who are most disadvantaged are often the most discerning.

Hear more as Melissa fleshes out this theme in Luke, with both her own hilarious story, and the Great Love of God.

download here