Jesus Teaches

“Jesus Teaches”
Luke 6:20-49
July 27, 2025

Jesus Christ is the Son of Man.  That is a title that denotes His position as both God and Man.  He is the fulfillment of the promise in Daniel 7:13-14 — the One who is given authority over all things by God the Father (the Ancient of Days). 

As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ is authoritative (which is one of Luke’s themes) —

• He is authoritative over Satan (4:1-13) and demons (4:31-37)
• He is authoritative over illness (4:38ff)
• He is authoritative over nature (5:6)
• He is authoritative over men’s lives (to compel them to follow Him, 5:10-11, 27ff; 6:12ff)
• He is authoritative over leprosy and ceremonial cleansing (5:12ff)
• He is authoritative to forgive sin (5:18-20ff)
• And He is authoritative over the Law/Sabbath (6:1ff)

And as the Son of Man, He is also authoritative as the Teacher. 

• Luke began to reveal that aspect of Christ even when He was 12 years old, teaching the religions leaders in the temple (2:46-47).
• He demonstrated His authority in teaching at the beginning of His ministry, revealing Himself as the anticipated Messiah (4:18-19).
• He demonstrated His authority as teacher even in His brief instructions when He called His disciples (5:5ff, 27-28).
• Even those who did not follow Him called Him teacher (though likely to avoid His lordship, 20:21).
• His teaching was of such authority that His opponents recognized that His teaching compelled His followers to act for Him (23:5).

Of all His teaching, perhaps His most well-known statements are made in the Sermon on the Mount.  The sermon is even now widely quoted, but at the same time it is significantly misunderstood.  It is often used as a moral ethic.  While Jesus addresses ethical issues, that’s not the meaning.  It is a sermon about the gospel and the implications of the gospel.  How does one come to faith in Christ?  And what will Christ do in you when you believe the gospel? 

And this is not a message for “others” — it is a “personal” message that is to be considered individually by each person; it is a call for self-examination (“what is the condition of my relationship with Christ” — it is a call be diligent about one’s own righteousness): 

Be discerning of your own spiritual condition.

In calling His people to examine the condition of their own hearts, Jesus’ gives four exhortations to authentic faith…

And with those exhortations, Christ also affirms His authority as the Teacher.

1. Humbly Believe the Gospel (v. 20-23)
2. Soberly Consider God’s Warning (vv. 24-26)
3. Generously Love Your Enemies (vv. 27-35)
4. Genuinely Examine Your Character (vv. 36-49)

Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 6:20-49.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.